La Panga - 100 pesos
boat towed ferry between La Barra & La Chorrera
laguna side of La Barra,  22 miles from Catemaco
Take the ferry
Playa Escondida
Name: Spanish "hidden beach"
Access: off Catemaco - Montepio highway, 19 miles
visit Playa Escondida
Parador Icacos
Description: working ranch on the beach with shabby hotel and restaurant
Name: Spanish & Nahautl "cocoplum inn"
Facilities: rooms, restaurant, camping
Access: off Catemaco - Montepio highway, 18 miles
Visit the Parador Icacos and Playa Jicacal
Playa Jicacal
Description: almost inaccessible beach, stream and small hill
Name: Nahuatl "calabash beaches"
Access: long walk from either La Barra or Parador Icacos, beach is usually firm enough to drive
Visit the Parador Icacos and Playa Jicacal
La Barra de Sontecomapan
Description: sandspit between Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Sontecomapan
Facilities: lodging, restaurants, boat rental, ferry
Access: off Catemaco - Montepio highway, exit near La Palma, 22 miles from Catemaco
Visit La Barra
La Chorrera
Description: hill, boat & ferry dock, and tiny beach across from La Barra
Name: Mexican Spanish "place with a lot of water"
Facilities: ferry dock
Access: boat or ferry from La Barra
Capulteotl
Description: hamlet below small hill with long beach
Name: Nahuatl "God's village"
Facilities: restaurant
Access: ferry from La Barra, then almost 2 miles dirt road east
more details soon
Playa El Morro
Description: cattle ranches and sand dunes along beach
Name: Spanish "Beach of the rocky hill""
Access: ferry from La Barra, then almost 3 miles dirt road east
Punta Los Morritos
Name: Spanish "small rocky hill point"
Facilities: 0
Access: 1 1/2 mile dirt road from La Chorrera
El Carrizal
Description: working ranch at junction of El Carrizal river and the gulf
Name: Spanish "the reed"
Facilities: 0, river boat tour possible, low tide fording to more southern beaches is possible
Access: ferry from La Barra, then almost 4 miles dirt road east
more details soon
The touristically highly viable coast of Catemaco is largely undeveloped due to poor access roads, lack of interest by large
landowners and ineffective government. Much of the coast is for sale.

All of the coastal land is private property concentrated in mostly the ejido of Sontecomapan and the Agricultural Colony of
La Palma. Direct coastal access is only at Jicacal and La Barra.

Laguna Sontecomapan exits to the Gulf of Mexico at La Barra via a deep water channel which splits the coast into two
sections. The eastern (southern) half is only accessible with a ramshackle one boat ferry. From the ferry dock opposite La
Barra, a dirt road leads to Capulteotl and connects to a sand road leading to El Carrizal. From there a dirt road runs through
to the beaches and major towns of the Sierra Santa Marta.

Tourism in the area is accommodated by dilapidated hotels in Playa Escondida and Jicacal. La Barra offers cabaña style
hosting and rooms for rent. Across from La Barra the mini eco resort of Rancho Los Amigos attracts those to "get away
from it all". The La Barra beach is littered with numerous palapa style restaurants.

Activities include eating seafood, boat tours, beach walks, bird watching, kayaking, snorkeling and eating more seafood.
The Coast of Catemaco
Catemaco, Veracruz
links
beaches
For hotel and restaurant information, see
catemaco.info - Hotels
access
A paved highway runs from Catemaco to Sontecomapan. Much of the road is encumbered by topes (speed bumps).
From Sontecomapan the road continues north to Playa Escondia and Jicacal. There is no gas station on the way.
A few miles north of Sontecomapan, a branch road leads to La Barra.. Although paved for 1 kilometer, the remaining 8
are in deplorable condition. Acces to the south coast of Catemaco is only possible via a one car, boat towed ferry.

Because of monopolies and governmental indifference, there is no comfortable public transport from Catemaco to the
coast.
Communal pickup taxis, called piratas, leave from their north terminal in Catemaco.
From Sontecomapan, a water taxi is available for transport to La Barra
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