Howard Johnson by Wyndham Veracruz
Rooftop pool with open Gulf views near the aquarium
About this hotel
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Veracruz keeps its rooms simple, but the rooftop pool is built for the view rather than the swim itself, angled to give guests a straighter line to open Gulf water than most Centro Histórico rooftops manage from behind the harbor's ship traffic. Its Boca del Río location, a seven-minute walk from the Aquarium of Veracruz, puts it closer to open coastline than the older port district, and the restaurant and airport shuttle handle the practical side of a stay without much fuss. Palapa Perea, five minutes away, covers a casual dinner outside the hotel. At 8.0 out of 10 across more than four thousand reviews, it's a dependable mid-range pick for travelers who want a rooftop pool angled at the Gulf rather than the harbor skyline.
- Rooftop pool
- Open Gulf views
- Near the Aquarium of Veracruz
Our take
This hotel suits travelers who want a rooftop pool with genuine open-water views and don't need boutique styling, particularly families heading to the aquarium nearby who want an easy, straightforward base. It's a weaker fit for anyone chasing the Centro Histórico's colonial atmosphere, since Boca del Río trades that for a beachier, more suburban feel with fewer plazas within walking distance.
- ✓Head to the rooftop pool in the early evening for the clearest Gulf views before the light fades.
- ✓Walk the seven minutes to the Aquarium of Veracruz in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in.
- ✓Use the airport shuttle if you're arriving late, since Boca del Río sits a bit farther from downtown taxis.
Why we love it
- Rooftop pool with open Gulf views
- Seven-minute walk to the Aquarium of Veracruz
- Restaurant, gym and airport shuttle on-site
- Mid-range rate in Boca del Río
Why guests love itI chose Howard Johnson mainly for the aquarium's proximity but ended up spending more time than planned at the rooftop pool, where the view opens onto the Gulf rather than the packed rooftops of the old port, a small but real difference from where I'd stayed in the Centro Histórico the year before. The aquarium visit itself became almost an afterthought by the second day.