Beach 33 km northeast of Papantla
A small beach village where the Cazones River meets the Gulf, with quiet beaches, mangrove boat rides and seafood.
Barra de Cazones is a small village at the mouth of the Cazones River, on the Gulf coast north of Papantla and about 45 kilometers from Poza Rica. It has very few permanent residents and in recent years has turned to tourism, but it is still far quieter and simpler than Tecolutla or the Costa Esmeralda.
The village sits between the river and the sea, so you can spend the morning on the beach and the afternoon on the water. The beaches nearby, such as Playa Azul, are long and calm on most days, good for swimming and walking, and there is a reef offshore that draws snorkelers and divers when the water is clear. Boatmen take visitors up the river and into the surrounding mangroves.
Food is the other reason to come: small family restaurants and posadas along the beach serve ceviche, fried fish, garlic shrimp and seafood tamales. It is a good choice for a day trip or a slow weekend away from the busier beach towns.
What to see and do
Swim and walk on the calm beaches near the village, such as Playa Azul.
Take a boat ride up the Cazones River and into the mangroves.
Snorkel or dive on the reef offshore when the water is clear, with a local guide.
Eat ceviche, fried fish and seafood tamales at the family restaurants on the beach.
Getting there
Barra de Cazones is about an hour to an hour and a quarter north of Papantla by car: go to Poza Rica and take the highway toward Tuxpan, then turn off to Cazones de Herrera and the coast. Buses run from Poza Rica to Cazones; check locally for onward transport to the beach.
33 km northeast of Papantla
Directions from Papantla on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Barra de Cazones
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Barra de Cazones.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Barra de Cazones.
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Photos
Weather warm
Barra de Cazones shares the climate of Papantla, 33 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec.
Make Papantla your base
Barra de Cazones is an easy trip from Papantla, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Papantla
-
El Tajín
· Archaeological site · 5 km away
The great ancient city of the Gulf coast, with the Pyramid of the Niches, many ball courts and voladores at the gate. -
Cuyuxquihui
· Archaeological site · 17 km away
A small Totonac city founded as El Tajín declined, with a pyramid at the edge of a cliff and a large ball court. -
Gutiérrez Zamora
· Town · 25 km away
A riverside town on the way to Tecolutla, home to some of the oldest vanilla-curing businesses in the region. -
Tecolutla
· Town · 33 km away
Papantla's nearest beach town, at a river mouth on the Gulf, with a sea turtle camp and boat trips into the mangroves. -
Costa Esmeralda
· Beach · 54 km away
More than 50 km of calm Gulf beaches between Tecolutla and Nautla, with fine sand, seafood and mangrove boat trips.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.