Port of Balzapote
San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz
This is the only port in Los Tuxtlas and attracts square grouper and round shrimp fishermen in inclement
weather. It is possibly the best swimming beach in Los Tuxtlas but not advisable for non-swimmers because
of  drop-offs from harbor excavations.

Its existence as a port arose from Veracruz City's need to enlarge its own port, and the consequent
dismantling of a Tuxtlas hill  to provide gravel. The port of Veracruz is now expanding and has made
arrangements to further shave the surrounding hills of Balzapote.

Mel Gibson used the northwestern end of Balzapote beach which was not affected by gravel mining to film
the Spanish arrival scenes for his movie Apocalypto.
The village, population 505, is so called
"godforsaken" and few tourists make the
effort to visit its pristine beaches and forlorn
remnants of a major enterprise in Los Tuxtlas

Access is via the Catemaco - Montepio Road,
at an unmarked turnoff, shortly after passing
the minefield of the Biosphere presence, app
22 miles. Piratas also infrequently serve the
community. There are no usual  tourism
facilities aside from tiny grocery stores.
Several of the homes near the shore offer
camp sites and some convert their kitchens to
restaurants

Surfing is allegedly good, according to some
survivors of the stretch of beach and hills
around the bend from bordering Montepio.
Historically the entire area from La Barra to Montepio, including Balzapote was owned by a French family which lost its clout after
the French expulsion from Mexico in the 1860's. The area was almost unoccupied until the land give aways of the 1960's which
attracted settlers from the northern reaches of San Andres Tuxtla.