Colonial Nayarit, the magic of traditional Mexico

Nayarit has a rich cultural history that shows in its buildings, museums, and traditions. The first colonial towns were built in the valleys between the mountains and the coasts of Nayarit.

Many of these towns had beautiful haciendas and large churches. The people who live in these towns are naturally great hosts, and the old mansions that have been turned into hotels offer comfort and warmth.

Tepic, Nayarit

Nuño de Beltrán founded the city in 1531 as Santiago de Galicia de Compostela. It was the capital of the kingdom of Nueva Galicia, which included the states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, Aguascalientes, Durango, Sinaloa, and San Luis Potosi. Tepic has modern buildings and services, but it also has a lot of history that can be seen in its streets and traditions.

There are a lot of colonial buildings and a beautiful Plaza de Armas in the city's historic center. The Temple of the Cross of Zacate and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption are two that stand out. The Cathedral was built between 1804 and 1896 in a Gothic style, and its towers are 40 meters high.

Fray Junipero Serra lived in the Ex-Franciscan Convent before he went to California to spread Christianity. The Government Palace is from the 19th century, and inside you can see murals by Jose Luis Soto. You can also go to the city's interesting museums, like the Regional Museum, which has artifacts from the area's archaeological digs and works by the best Nayarit artists.

Tepic, the capital of Nayarit, colonial city with modern services and starting point for the other tourist regions of Nayarit.

The Juan Escutia Museum is on the farm where the historical hero was born in the 18th century. The museum has weapons, paintings, uniforms, flags, and other items from different Mexican battalions. The Amado Nervo Museum is in the 19th-century house where the famous author known as the "First Poet of America" was born. There, photos and furniture from that time are on display.

The Museum of the Five Towns shows the life, customs, crafts, and traditions of the four ethnic groups of Nayarit (Cora, Huichol, Tepehuana, and Mexicanera), as well as mestizos. It also has displays of arrows, bullets, hats, and typical clothing. There are paintings, photographs, and sculptures on display at the Emilia Ortiz Museum.

The Interactive Museum of Science and Innovation of Nayarit is a place where people of all ages can learn about science through interactive games, workshops, and shows. Most of the beaches in Nayarit are no more than 90 minutes away from Tepic.

Nayarit's haciendas are historic manors that play key roles in the state's history.

You can also visit the Ex Haciendas, such as the Ex-Hacienda de San Cayetano, which was built at the beginning of the 18th century and was one of the most important cattle ranches in the area. The Ex Textile Factory of Bellavista is seven kilometers from Tepic. It was built in the 1800s and used to be a spinning and weaving factory.

One of the most advanced sugar mills of the 19th century was started at the Ex-Hacienda de Puga. The Ex-Hacienda de Mora is a building from the XVII century. It has a stone facade with semicircular arches and is surrounded by patios and gardens. The Ecological Park is also worth seeing. It has games for kids and a small zoo.

Ahuatlán, Ixtlán del Río, Amatlán de Cañas

Ahuatlán

Mango jam is one of the things that Ahuacatlán is known for. In its Historic Center, you can feel the calmness that is typical of Mexican provinces. You can go to the churches of San Francisco de Asis and the Immaculate Conception, as well as the House of Culture and the Municipal Presidency. Because the weather is so nice, it has several beaches, such as Acatique, Las Tinajas, and Cueva del Jaguar.

Amatlán de Cañas

In this town, life moves slowly because time has stopped. Amatlán is in a valley surrounded by high peaks and deep canyons that make the area's natural beauty unique. You can go to the temples of San Juan Bautista and Jesus Nazareno. The hot springs are its main draw. El Manto has three beautiful waterfalls and natural pools with running water.

Ixtlán del Río

It has all the services of a city and the traditions and routines of a small town. Walking around Ixtlan del Rio is the best way to see all of its corners and old buildings, like the Church of San Juan Apostle and the Museum of Regional Anthropology, which is part of the Municipal Presidency.

In the town, iced drinks and ice cream are a tradition, but you can also buy traditional sweets from a cart in front of the gates every afternoon. These sweets have been made by the same family for many decades. 9 km away is the archaeological site of Los Toriles.

This important indigenous settlement is a great example of the architecture and culture of the Postclassic period. It has 93 mounds now, but the round building that is a symbol of the area and is called "Ehécatl-Quetzalcóatl" stands out.

Xalisco, Jala, Compostela

Compostela

Compostela has narrow streets and old mansions. It is located 36 kilometers from the city of Tepic. It highlights the Temple of the Lord of Mercy, built in the sixteenth century, one of the oldest in Nayarit, and the Museum of History and Archaeology exhibits pieces of archaeological sites in the region and the history of the colonial era and Independence.

Xalisco

It is in the Tepic metropolitan area. The Miguel Hidalgo Plaza, the market, the Community Museum, and the springs, especially the Los Rosales resort, are some of the things to see and do there.

Jala

A magical town with streets made of cobblestones and old adobe houses with roofs made of tiles. The town of Jala is at the base of the huge Ceboruco volcano, where you can get a great view of all the nearby towns. Also, you can walk to the main crater and see the amazing landscape made of hardened volcanic lava that looks like a scene from the moon.

The Lateran Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption stands out in the town. It is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles and has beautiful stained glass windows in many colors. In the main garden, you can have a gordita and a tejuino, which is a drink made from corn and sugar cane or piloncillo.

Here there is an ancestral tradition of "curanderos", people who are dedicated to harmonizing both the physical and spiritual part, so in case you want to know a little more about this tradition Jala is an excellent choice.