Tuxpan is known as a quiet paradise for tarpon fishermen. Tarpon can be caught from the river at any time, but the peak season is in June. The most important activity of the port town, though, is cattle and petroleum shipping.
Four miles to the east of Tuxpan is the Gulf of Mexico and a beautiful beach. Delicious tiny shrimp, taken from the nearby lagoons and served with a hot sauce (salsa picante), are a specialty of local restaurants. An attractive, divided riverside drive adds to the charm of this tidy fishing port.
A bridge across the Tuxpan River takes you to the smaller river town of Santiago de la Pena on the south shore. You then head southwest through verdant tropical country peppered with gas flares from oil wells.
