Municipio: Catemaco, Veracruz
Location: Sontecomapan
Type: port and boat rental
Fees: negotiable
Schedules: on demand, avoid in inclement weather
This is the port of Catemaco.
Aside from housing the local fishing boats, the touristic lanchas exploring the mangrove channels of
Laguna Sontecomapan and the water taxis running to surrounding communities, the embarcadero
(dock) also functions as a departure point and commercial port for the Tuxtlas southeast coast
including Los Arrecifes and Perla del Golfo, both of which are a lot faster to reach by boat than a
torturous trek through the Sierra Santa Marta.
Access is easy via the usual potholed but paved highway from Catemaco, or a pirata from the north
Catemaco depot. A small parking area abuts the docks with the usual urchin car watchers. Several
restaurants also huddle around the dock. Best place to eat, though, is La Barra restaurant on the
highway across the entrance from the embarcadero, (Nov 06).
Usually some fish sellers will eagerly demonstrate the contents of their coolers. The fish is usually
very fresh, and cheap, and often worth a trip just to revisit the area.
Aside from the mangrove exploration trip (350 pesos for a minimum of 6 people), a less expensive
water taxi to La Barra is also available.
A private ride to and from Arrecifes will cost a minimum of 600 pesos (March 07). Communal boats,
charging 50 pesos each way, leave once a day and do not return till the next day. The boats travel
without canopies to avoid being blown by the wind. The views along the route are absolutely
marvelous. In 2004 eight passengers without life vests drowned off Perla del Golfo when their boat
was hit by a storm wave.
The embarcadero recently had a face lift with the installation of floating docks. The channel to the
laguna still needs to be dredged (03/07).
Location: Sontecomapan
Type: port and boat rental
Fees: negotiable
Schedules: on demand, avoid in inclement weather
This is the port of Catemaco.
Aside from housing the local fishing boats, the touristic lanchas exploring the mangrove channels of
Laguna Sontecomapan and the water taxis running to surrounding communities, the embarcadero
(dock) also functions as a departure point and commercial port for the Tuxtlas southeast coast
including Los Arrecifes and Perla del Golfo, both of which are a lot faster to reach by boat than a
torturous trek through the Sierra Santa Marta.
Access is easy via the usual potholed but paved highway from Catemaco, or a pirata from the north
Catemaco depot. A small parking area abuts the docks with the usual urchin car watchers. Several
restaurants also huddle around the dock. Best place to eat, though, is La Barra restaurant on the
highway across the entrance from the embarcadero, (Nov 06).
Usually some fish sellers will eagerly demonstrate the contents of their coolers. The fish is usually
very fresh, and cheap, and often worth a trip just to revisit the area.
Aside from the mangrove exploration trip (350 pesos for a minimum of 6 people), a less expensive
water taxi to La Barra is also available.
A private ride to and from Arrecifes will cost a minimum of 600 pesos (March 07). Communal boats,
charging 50 pesos each way, leave once a day and do not return till the next day. The boats travel
without canopies to avoid being blown by the wind. The views along the route are absolutely
marvelous. In 2004 eight passengers without life vests drowned off Perla del Golfo when their boat
was hit by a storm wave.
The embarcadero recently had a face lift with the installation of floating docks. The channel to the
laguna still needs to be dredged (03/07).
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Places of Interest around Laguna de Sontecomapan, Catemaco, Veracruz
Embarcadero
Embarcadero
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