Ahuacatlán, Nayarit: Magical Town of the Southern Corridor

A Magical Town at the Foot of El Ceboruco

Ahuacatlán is one of the Magical Towns that make up the tourist corridor of southern Nayarit. At the foot of the El Ceboruco volcano, it is a destination with more than five hundred years of history as a stopover on the old Camino Real between San Blas and Guadalajara.

Key Facts

• Distance from Tepic: 77 km
• Inhabitants: ~7,300
• Altitude: 1,000 m above sea level
• Ideal if you like: culture, adventure, traditional sweets

How to Get There

It can be reached from Tepic or Guadalajara via Federal Highway 15 or the Jala–Compostela toll road. The trip from the Nayarit capital takes about an hour.

What to See and Do

• Church of San Francisco de Asís and the Parish of the Immaculate Conception.
• El Ceboruco Volcano — hiking trails with unique landscapes and traces of past eruptions.
• Las Tinajas Water Park — natural pools surrounded by vegetation.
• House of Culture inside the town hall, with exhibits on local history.
• October Festivities — the biggest celebration of the year, featuring Nayarit’s only traditional bullfight on October 4.

What to Eat

At the stalls around the Jardín de los Hijos Ausentes, in front of the church, you’ll find tostadas de pata, “Chago” tortas and the famous “tortillitas,” the town’s favorite snack. For dessert: mango cajeta, a local pride.

Practical Tips

Combine your visit to Ahuacatlán with Jala, Ixtlán del Río and Amatlán de Cañas to complete the southern corridor in a weekend.

Area map

1. 1
   Ahuacatlán Magical Town at the foot of Ceboruco.21.05255, -104.48421 · Open in Google Maps
2. 2
   Ceboruco volcano (crater) Active volcano, 2,280 m; last eruption 1870–1875.21.1252, -104.5076 · Open in Google Maps
3. 3
   Jala (Magical Town) Magical Town in the southern corridor, below Ceboruco.21.1031, -104.4368 · Open in Google Maps
4. 4
   Ixtlán del Río Magical Town in the southern corridor.21.038, -104.3697 · Open in Google Maps
5. 5
   Amatlán de Cañas Magical Town in the far south, known for hot springs and sugar mills.20.80782, -104.4046 · Open in Google Maps