La Yesca, Nayarit: How to Get There, Dam and Sierra
La Yesca, Nayarit is the mountain municipality on the state’s eastern edge, right on the border with Jalisco. It is huge, more than 4,300 km² and the second-largest municipality in Nayarit, yet it is home to only about 13,700 people, spread across canyons, high plateaus and mountain villages such as Puente de Camotlán, Huajimic and Guadalupe Ocotán. It is also where you’ll find the La Yesca hydroelectric dam, one of the tallest dams in Mexico, and a small, quiet mining town that serves as the municipal seat.
This is not a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else. Getting there takes several hours on mountain roads, and the fastest way in is usually from Jalisco, not from Tepic. This guide covers how to get to La Yesca, Nayarit, from Tepic and Guadalajara, what to see, the weather by season and what to know before heading into the sierra (the Spanish word for a mountain range).
La Yesca Nayarit at a glance
- Population (2020 Census, INEGI): 13,719. The largest town is Puente de Camotlán (2,341), followed by Huajimic (1,106) and Guadalupe Ocotán (1,099). The municipal seat, La Yesca, has just 514 residents.
- Area: 4,328 km², 15.5% of the state. Only Del Nayar is larger.
- Elevation: from about 300 m at the bottom of the canyons to 2,700 m on the peaks. The seat sits at roughly 1,400 m; Huajimic and Puente de Camotlán at about 1,130 m.
- Neighbors: Del Nayar and Santa María del Oro to the west, Jala and Ixtlán del Río to the south, and several Jalisco municipalities (Hostotipaquillo, Tequila, San Martín de Bolaños, Bolaños and Mezquitic) to the east and north.
- Indigenous communities: after Del Nayar, La Yesca has the highest share of Indigenous residents in the state. Guadalupe Ocotán is a Wixárika (Huichol) community.
- Time zone: Nayarit runs one hour behind Jalisco. If you drive in from Guadalajara, set your watch back an hour.
How to get to La Yesca, Nayarit
Deep canyons cut the La Yesca sierra into pieces, and no single road runs through it. Each town has its own access route.
From Guadalajara (via Hostotipaquillo)
This is the most direct route to the municipal seat and the dam. Take the 15D toll highway from Guadalajara toward Tepic and exit at Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco (about 97 km, 1 h 30 min). From there, the Hostotipaquillo–La Yesca road runs about 67 km: it drops down to the dam on the Río Grande de Santiago and then climbs back up to the town. Allow 1 h 45 min to 2 h for that stretch; it is narrow, with tight curves and long grades. All in, Guadalajara to La Yesca is about 163 km and 3 to 3.5 hours.
From Tepic
It may seem odd, but the quickest way from Tepic to the municipal seat is to head into Jalisco: take the 15D toward Guadalajara, exit at Hostotipaquillo and follow the same dam road. That’s about 200 km and 3.5 to 4 hours. For Huajimic, the route goes through Santa María del Oro and then northeast on mountain roads: about 140 km and 3 to 3.5 hours.
To Puente de Camotlán
Puente de Camotlán, the most populated town, is in the north of the municipality (see the table). Huajimic and Puente de Camotlán are about 52 km apart on a mountain road, roughly 1.5 hours.
| Route | Km | Approx. time | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalajara → La Yesca (seat) | 163 km | 3 h – 3 h 30 min | 15D to Hostotipaquillo + dam road |
| Tepic → La Yesca (seat) | 200 km | 3 h 30 min – 4 h | 15D to Hostotipaquillo + dam road |
| Hostotipaquillo → La Yesca | 67 km | 1 h 45 min – 2 h | Hostotipaquillo–La Yesca mountain road |
| La Yesca → La Yesca dam | 41 km | 1 h – 1 h 15 min | Same road, downhill |
| Tepic → Huajimic | 140 km | 3 h – 3 h 30 min | Via Santa María del Oro and mountain roads |
| Tepic → Puente de Camotlán | 180 km | 4 h – 4 h 30 min | Mountain roads |
| Guadalajara → Puente de Camotlán | 220 km | 4 h 30 min – 5 h | 15D and mountain road |
Road distances calculated in 2026; times assume good weather and no stops, and can stretch considerably in the rainy season. If you’re coming from outside the state, see how to get to Nayarit.
What to see in the La Yesca sierra
La Yesca hydroelectric dam
The La Yesca hydroelectric plant, officially named “Alfredo Elías Ayub”, closes off the canyon of the Río Grande de Santiago right on the border between La Yesca and Hostotipaquillo. The dam wall is 220 m high, it can generate up to 750 megawatts, and its reservoir covers about 33 km². Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) built it between 2007 and 2012, and it was inaugurated on November 6, 2012. It is a strategic facility: enjoy the views of the reservoir and canyon from the road, and stay out of restricted areas.
The municipal seat: a mining town
La Yesca is a small town of steep streets at about 1,400 m, with a mild climate and plenty of forest around it. Mining is still part of local life; at least one gold and silver mine operates in the municipality. Don’t expect tourist infrastructure. What you’ll find is the slow pace of a mountain town.
Huajimic
Huajimic is one of the oldest villages in the sierra. It was founded in 1610, and its name comes from the Cora language, referring to a place where guamúchil trees grow in abundance. It has about 1,100 residents, a plaza with an entrance arch, and it serves as a supply point for the surrounding ranches.
Puente de Camotlán
With 2,341 residents, Puente de Camotlán is the municipality’s largest town and the commercial hub of northern La Yesca. Its name has Nahuatl roots and refers to a place where sweet potatoes (camotes) abound.
Guadalupe Ocotán and Wixárika culture
Guadalupe Ocotán is a Wixárika community with its own traditional authorities. If you’d like to visit, go with someone from the community or a local guide, ask permission before photographing people or ceremonies, and buy crafts directly from the artisans. To understand the symbols you’ll see, read our guide to the ojo de dios (God’s eye) and the Guardians of the Peyote route.
La Yesca weather by season
The canyons are hot and the high country is mild. Approximate values for towns between 1,100 and 1,400 m (2001–2024 averages):
| Season | High | Low | Rain | Trip notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec – Feb | 24 – 26 °C (75 – 79 °F) | 10 – 11 °C (50 – 52 °F) | Little | Cold nights: pack a jacket |
| Mar – May | 29 – 33 °C (84 – 91 °F) | 12 – 16 °C (54 – 61 °F) | Almost none | Best driving season; May is the hottest month |
| Jun – Sep | 27 – 31 °C (81 – 88 °F) | 17 – 18 °C (63 – 64 °F) | Heavy (July and August are the wettest) | Green landscapes, but landslides and swollen creeks |
| Oct – Nov | 27 – 28 °C (81 – 82 °F) | 13 – 16 °C (55 – 61 °F) | Tapering off | Good time to go: green fields, dry roads |
Tips for traveling to La Yesca, Nayarit
- Vehicle: choose one with good ground clearance and solid tires. Fill up in Hostotipaquillo or Santa María del Oro; gas stations are scarce in the sierra.
- Drive in daylight: roads are narrow, with loose livestock and curves without guardrails.
- Cash: bring enough; there are no ATMs outside the larger towns. Cell coverage is patchy, so download offline maps.
- Lodging: options are basic and limited (guesthouses and rooms in the larger towns). Check our directory and confirm before you go.
- Combine your trip: from the south you can continue to Jala and the Ceboruco volcano, or to Ixtlán del Río.
Mountain cooking is built on corn, beans, cheese and dried beef; for dishes from the rest of the state, see Nayarit cuisine. To see how La Yesca fits into a wider trip, browse all destinations in Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to La Yesca, Nayarit?
The most direct route to the municipal seat is the 15D Guadalajara–Tepic highway to Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, then 67 km on the mountain road that passes the dam. It’s about 163 km from Guadalajara (3 to 3.5 hours) and about 200 km from Tepic (3.5 to 4 hours).
Where is the La Yesca sierra?
In eastern Nayarit, on the border with Jalisco, within the Sierra Madre Occidental. It stretches from the Río Grande de Santiago canyon up to plateaus above 2,500 m.
What is the population of La Yesca municipality?
According to the 2020 INEGI census, 13,719. The largest towns are Puente de Camotlán, Huajimic and Guadalupe Ocotán; the municipal seat has 514 residents.
Can you visit the La Yesca dam?
You can see the reservoir and the canyon from the Hostotipaquillo–La Yesca road. The plant itself is a CFE facility with restricted access, so don’t enter work areas without authorization.
What is Huajimic?
A village in the La Yesca sierra founded in 1610, with about 1,100 residents at roughly 1,130 m. From Tepic it takes 3 to 3.5 hours via Santa María del Oro.
When is the best time to visit La Yesca?
November through May, when it doesn’t rain and the mountain roads are in better shape. From July to September, rain brings landslides and flooded creeks.
Area map
- 1La Yesca (municipal seat) Mining town at about 1,400 m; 67 km from Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco.21.3194, -104.0115 · Open in Google Maps
- 2La Yesca hydroelectric dam 220 m dam on the Río Grande de Santiago; opened in 2012.21.195, -104.1072 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Huajimic Village founded in 1610, at about 1,130 m; 140 km from Tepic.21.6819, -104.316 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Puente de Camotlán The municipality's largest town (2,341 residents).21.6974, -104.081 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Guadalupe Ocotán Wixárika community; visit with permission and a local guide.21.8898, -104.3551 · Open in Google Maps