Laguna de Tampamachoco is the softer, wilder side of Tuxpan. The shallow lagoon sits between town and the Gulf, with mangroves, migratory birds, fishing boats, and waterfront restaurants around its edge.
Local operators use the lagoon and connected waterways for short boat and kayak trips. It is not untouched wilderness, but it gives a much better sense of the river mouth than you get from the beach road alone.