Nautla comes from the Nahuatl naui, 'four'; and from tlan, that means 'place'; so it is known as 'Four Places'.

In the 16th century the king gave to Juan de Cuenca the lands of the actual Nautla, San Sebastian, and La Peña, so that they established the residence of where to stay.

[2] The village is in the middle of the Nautla and Misantla Rivers, both of which finish in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nautla has an area of 358.63 km, which represents 0.49% of the state of Veracruz.

As the village is near the sea, the city has maritime activities like fishing, also many people dedicates to tourism.