Tepic - a little corner of Mexico

So what should time-poor travelers do if they want to explore Mexican culture? A good option is to visit the city of Tepic, the capital of the western state of Nayarit.

Beautiful view in Santa María del Oro.

City of the past

Tepic was founded in 1531 as “Villa del Espíritu Santo de la Mayor España”. The “father” of the city was none other than the Spanish military and explorer Hernán Cortés, commander of the first European army to invade the Aztec empire. Hernán Cortés founded Tepic as a base for his search for Cibola – the seven cities made entirely of gold in local legend.

Although gold was not found, the Spanish found another "treasure" in Tepic itself: the fertile land and valley climate here were very suitable for growing peanuts, lemons, sugarcane, coffee and tobacco, agricultural products that were "as precious as gold" to Europe at that time.

Many tourists choose to explore Tepic by taking a bus with a funny name: “Tepibus”. Each Tepibus trip lasts about two hours, taking passengers to explore famous destinations in the city, while displaying traditional music and drama on the bus. Visitors should take the Tepibus in the evening, because that is the time when the city is most beautiful.

Like many Mexican cities, the heart of Tepic is its central square. With its numerous fountains, trees and flower beds, Tepic’s central square is the perfect place to escape the heat or simply enjoy a few hours of quiet. On weekend evenings, many musicians and actors flock to the square to show off their talents to the public for free.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or Tepic, was built right next to the city's central square. It was opened in 1750 and has undergone many renovations and expansions since. Notre Dame Cathedral is a prime example of Neo-Gothic architecture with two towering bell towers, in the middle is the main hall combined with the clock tower. Visitors should remember to dress modestly and politely when visiting the church because ceremonies are still held here regularly.

Not far from the Tepic Church is the Nayarit Museum, which houses the work of generations of archaeologists excavating cemeteries on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Nayarit Museum’s collection of ceramics, figurines, and sarcophagi has attracted attention both in and outside Mexico. If you want to learn about the ancient Mololoan culture, visit the Nayarit Museum.

The Nayarit Museum also houses many artifacts excavated from the La Loma archaeological site, located about half an hour's drive from the city. The site is the remains of a civilization that dates back to before Christ. Archaeologists know very little about the valley's early inhabitants. They appear to have had a fairly developed society, as the La Loma excavation site has traces of structures such as a clinic, a kindergarten, and a playground. The La Loma archaeological site is now open to visitors.

The Huichol are one of several ethnic minority communities living around Tepic. Their village, Zitákua, is becoming a popular destination for many tourists visiting Tepic. It takes just over an hour to hike from the city to the village. The villagers make a living by growing corn, raising livestock, and making handicrafts such as brocade, corn leaf sandals, dolls, and silver jewelry. In recent years, homestays have flourished in Zitákua. The revenue from tourism is used to preserve the traditional culture of the Huichol.

Relax in nature

Tepic is located on ancient volcanic soil, and in addition to the fertile soil, ancient eruptions have also blessed this place with the beautiful Santa María del Oro Lake. The lake is about an hour and a half drive from the city of Tepic, passing the Sanganguey volcano and beautiful wildflower fields. The crystal clear lake is located in the crater of a volcano, surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests. Many visitors to Santa María del Oro are captivated by the beauty of the lake and just want to immerse themselves in the blue water. To make that happen, visitors should go to the village of Santa María del Oro, located on the lake, to rent a kayak or snorkel to explore for themselves.

There are several hot springs near Tepic, the two most popular with tourists are Jala and Nuevo Ixtlán. The hot springs are located right in the middle of the mountains and forests. Many tourists spend the day exploring the jungle before stopping in Jala and Nuevo Ixtlán to “recharge” by soaking in the hot water. The natural hot springs in Nayarit are famous for their moderate temperature (just over 50°C) and high sulfur content, making them ideal for those recovering from illness or wanting to regain their strength. Jala and Nuevo Ixtlán have invested heavily in building resort infrastructure in recent years to prepare for groups of visitors staying for several days.

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