Tampico, Mexico

Ariel · Dec 1, 2008

In the 1980's and 90's, Ed Campbell and his wife made numerous trips from Seabrook to various Mexican ports and to the Bahamas in their Cape Dory 25 "Cassiopeia". They wrote several cruising guides titled "Campbells Guide To Cruising Texas" and others. If I remember correctly he wrote one about Mexico. Ed retired to somewhere near Corpus Christi and I believe he is still actively sailing. Snoop around the book stores for his books, or try to locate him on the web. He wrote great sailing directions. He is a great guy and loves to talk sailing.

Dave
s/v ARIEL

RAD · Dec 1, 2008

Franklin

Here's a post from a little while back on the subject and I'm sure Phil aka Nice & Easy the author will chime in

"I have been keeping an eagle eye on hurricane Ike for a few days now. Finally looks like we are out of danger, unless of course it makes a turn to the north.

But all the computer models keep shifting it farther and farther south. Maybe this thing will end up in Mexico. A direct hit on Tampico would not hurt my feelings. I hate that nasty, dirty, stinky, unfriendly, corrupt place. And besides that, I can drive from here to the Belize border without consulting a map, but I will get lost in Tampico. "

sailaway78 · Dec 1, 2008

Tampico

Franklin,
I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to go to Tampico. It is a filthy, corrupt, nasty place.
I have never been in there by boat, but have been there many times driving. One thing you would certainly need to do, is take lots of cash. Bribery is a way of life in Mexico, but even more so in Tampico. I have had cops there tell me it was 20 bucks, just for checking my paperwork. Once I had a cop tell me that I would have to wait till Monday morning to see the judge, and it was Friday. I knew exactly what that meant, but a 20 fixed the problem. If you are wanting a short trip, try La Pesca. It is about 150 miles S. of Brownsville, a very small fishing village. There are no marinas, but a good anchorage just inside the jetties, on the north side of the river. Fuel was available about a mile upstream last time I was there. Limited provisions available at a little store in town. But haven't been there for a three or four years. I think you went to Vera Cruz this past summer, and I can assure you that Vera Cruz is as good as there is down there. I love that place. Villahermosa is also pretty nice, but thats a pretty long haul. Not a lot available other than that, until basically you get to the Yucatan. There is a cruising guide available, that covers the west coast of Mexico, and the Yucatan. It is a Florida to Panama Canal guide, and it it pretty good. I will try to come up with the name of it, or find it somewhere. Katrina got my copy. Best of luck to you, and if I can be of any help, will be glad to if I can. But I will see if I can come up with the name of that guide.

sailaway78 · Dec 1, 2008

La Pesca

Franklin,
Just inside the jetties, at La Pesca,a little past the lighthouse, starboard side going in, there is a little indention in the bank.
It was a dock of some kind at some point in time. Water in there is around 8' deep. You can anchor in there, and just drag your dinghy up on the beach. Actually what I did was tie to a piling on one side, and actually dinghyed the anchor to the beach on the other side. This little hole is big enough for one boat, barely. But have never seen another one in there. La Pesca is just a quiet little fishing town.There is a bus you can take into town that comes out to the light house on a pretty frequent schedule. The fuel dock is/was about a mile upstrean, starboard side. I have left all kinds of stuff out down there, and the only thing that ever goes missing is fish hooks and line. The little kids will snatch that up in a heartbeat. I usually take some just to give them, keeps them from stealing. But they use it to eat, so I never got too pissed about it. The cruising guide I was trying to think of is by a Capt. Pat Raines, and is Florida to Panama, or something like that. There is a lot of good info in it, one of the best for the Mexican coast. Don't have much knowledge of Tuxpan. Have only been in there once, but if memory serves, the river has plenty of water, and there is fuel and provisions available. Don't remember any dock facilities. Most of the fuel docks in Mexico, you have to pull up to a commercial dock, which is usually a rough concrete bulkhead. Sorry I can't be of more help. But I can certainly recommend you don't go to Tampico.

jimisbell · Jun 28, 2009

South of Tampico??

I dont know what ever became of this thread, but I am planing a trip for after hurricane season 2009 to go south. I have been warned away from the Rio Dulce so am looking for another destination. A place where I can leave my boat safely for 6 months at a time and use it in the winter to close by cruising grounds. I have heard that some new marinas are going in south of Tampico...perhaps Tuxpan?? Anyone know about these new places???