Student Tour Operator Profile: Veracruz Tours
Viva Veracruz!
Mike Vondruska showcases the outdoor delights of the area to students.
Fostered by a love of ecotourism and adventure, in 1994 Mike Vondruska said “bottoms up” and traveled south of the border to explore what the Mexican east coast of Veracruz had to offer. Here he found not only a region of geographic diversity – from tropical jungle rainforests and rugged mountains, including Pico de Orizaba, the third tallest mountain in all of North America, to laid-back sandy beaches – but discovered that Veracruz was Mexico’s capital of white-water rafting as well. So Vondruska founded Discover Veracruz Tours to showcase the outdoor delights of the area to students and other travelers in search of adventure.
Vondruska is an accomplished juggler and often can be found in a local U.S. school teaching the art and craft of juggling to students. Needless to say, this makes him skilled at showmanship, which is evident in the tours he puts together.
Early in 2011, students from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy pulled into the port of Veracruz on the first leg of their cruise. The students were on a 50-day Adventures in Training at Sea on the T.S. Kennedy. The 540-foot-long vessel houses approximately 600 and the necessity to work off some pent-up energy on shore was a must.
DVT put together an itinerary that included a visit to Mexico’s major aquarium and a historic ship inspection for starters. A day’s journey to El Tajin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, explained the importance of the ancient archaeological ruins and gave students the opportunity to see the amazing aerial ritual of the Papantla fliers. The following day, challenging white-water rafting activities encouraged team-building and released any leftover energy.
Other outdoor adventures available include rappelling down cliffs and over waterfalls, zipline action, river and lake kayaking, ATV dune rides, jungle and mountain trail hikes, and snorkeling. Special interest groups like photography clubs, scuba divers and those wanting to learn kite surfing can also be accommodated.
Not only are student groups welcomed with challenging educational outdoor activities, but Spanish-speaking experiences and cultural immersion tours are available as well. In addition, faith-based groups can be arranged to mix sightseeing opportunities and active adventures along with the mission goals.
Information about the tours offered here and a variety of small group itineraries can be found on links on the company’s website to You Tube, Facebook, and a number of testimonials and videos of recent tours.
Contact Veracruz Tours
630-274-5341
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