Amatlán de Cañas (always referred to as simply Amatlán) is a small colonial town in the state of Nayarit in western Mexico. The town is known for its relaxing waters and nearby natural mountain scenery. The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.
Understand
[edit]It is a very small town with a population of 3,267 (2020).
Get in
[edit]
Amatlán is located between the cities of Tepic and Guadalajara. It is about 120 km from either city (2 hours by bus or car).
By bus
[edit]ATE and TAP (part of Omnibus de Mexico) operate frequent buses to Amatlan from either Tepic or Guadalajara. From Tepic, you may need to change buses in Ixtlán del Rio. From Guadalajara, buses to Amatlán depart from the Central Vieja (old bus station downtown), not the new bus station in Tlaqapaque. An ATE bus leaves Tala for Amatlan at 08:00.
- 1 Terminal de Autobuses Amatlan (Bus station), Ruta Estatal Ahuacatlán - Agua Escondida 248. 05:00 - 19:00. Small bus terminal with a couple ticket counters and a few benches that constitute the waiting area. There are no shops or food vendors inside the terminal, but a lunch counter next door serves inexpensive food.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Plaza Principal (Zocalo), C. Abasalo. The town square is a pleasant place to walk, sit, and people watch. Tall, lush trees provide shade on sunny days. The town hall is here and nearby streets have shops and small cafes.
- 2 Parroquia Jesús Nazareno (Church of Jesus of Nazareth), Calle Juarez 1. Colonial era church built in 1750 using quarry granite and bricks. Small but beautiful with a very tall, 2-level bell tower. The church contains a number of statues of various saints including San Isidro Labrador and San Juan Bautista (John the Baptist).
- El Pilon - nearby mining village (with still active mines producing gold, silver, and lead)
Do
[edit]- El Manto, Carretera Ahuacatlán– Amatlán, Km. 14, El Rosario. 20 km north of Amatlan is a popular natural spa with mineral waters running through a ravine with steep rock cliffs. It is a scenic spot for floating, swimming, and soaking.
- Volcan Ceboruco - active stratovolacano with one large caldera and a second crater within it, the last major eruption was from 1870 to 1875. Visitors can hike trails to the summit (2,280 meters).
- Toriles (also known as the Ixtlan del Rio Archaeological Site), between 500 BC and 500 AD, indigenous people in eastern Nayarit built "shaft tombs", which were essentially deep wells in which they "buried" their dead
- 1 La Bocacalle, Malecon. Family-friendly riverfront park with picnic tables, outdoor grills, river access for swimming or wading, and hiking trails through the woods.
Spas
[edit]The town is famous for its thermal mineral waters and several spas and pools are here, including a cluster of spas and hotels on the Malecon.
- 2 Balneario Aguas Termales (Hot Spring Baths), Malecon, ☏ +52 333 498 7818. Outdoor pools with hot spring waters. Massages available. Picnic tables and grills are available or prepared food is available. Facilities are dated, but water is very clean (pools are emptied at the end of each day). M$80 (children under 5 free).
- 3 Hotel Balneario Arenas, Leona Vicario 3, ☏ +52 333 421 3352. Thermal mineral spa with hot water pools that also has hotel rooms available. Hotel rooms are small and basically furnished (little more than a bed). No air conditioning in the rooms. No on-site restaurant.
- 4 Balneario Amatlan, Malecon, ☏ +52 324 247 0473. Spa with mineral pools of various temperatures, from slightly warm to YOUCH! Showers and bathrooms available. Tables and outdoor grills available. M$90 (adults), M$50 (children).
Buy
[edit]- 1 Chocolatera y Galletera Olga Lydia, Ruta Estatal Nayarit Ahuacatlán - Agua Escondida 27, ☏ +52 324 247 0528. Daily 09:00 - 21:30. Artesanal chocolatier and cookie bakery (both of the basic food groups!) They also sell homemade jams, empanadas and more. The corn cookies are quite unique and should not be missed.
Eat
[edit]With its proximity to Jalisco, it's no wonder that many of the favorite regional dishes of that state are also common in Amatlán de Cañas (as well as regional dishes of Nayarit, of course). Keep your eyes open for lengua entomatado (braised beef tongue bathed in a tangy tomato sausce). The town is also known for its traditional chocolate production (see "Buy").
- 1 Los Tukanes, Morelos Guerrero Carrizal, ☏ +52 324 247 1313. Daily 10:00 - 19:00. Friendly restaurant with large outdoor dining area. Serves carne asada (grilled meats) and seafood. Prices are low but portions are appropriately small.
- 2 Taqueria "Don Chilo", Calle Juarez. Th-Su 15:00 - 21:00, closed M-W. This place will either be a magnificent culinary adventure, or it's going to be as gross as eating raw oysters on the half shell. Don Chilo specializes in "tacos de cabeza" (head tacos). Head tacos are made from various parts of the head (cow, pig, or sheep) including jowls, tongue, and brains. Many regard tacos de cabeza as a delicacy. Don't knock it 'til you try it! (Don Chilo also serves tacos made from more conventional cuts of meat, but where's the adventure in that?) M$150.
- 3 Finca de Piedra, Vicente Guerrero 15 (at corner of the Malecon), ☏ +52 324 247 1346. F-Su 07:00 - 15:00, closed M-Th. Weekend brunch restaurant with a casual outdoor dining area, friendly service, reasonable prices and large portions. Hand-made tortillas made in house accompanying various breakfast entrees. Excellent chilaquiles.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Boja-Boja, Calle Juarez. Small budget hotel with basic furnishings.
- 2 Los Pavorreales, Calle Guerrero 6, ☏ +52 324 247 0730. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Peaceful hotel with beautiful garden landscapes. Rooms are in bungalows scattered among the propery. Rooms are clean and spacious, some have A/C but some don't, so be sure to specify if you're arriving on a hot day. Outdoor swimming pool available.
- 3 Hotel el Malecon, Ruta Estatal Ahuacatlán - Agua Escondida 248, ☏ +52 324 247 1129. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional hotel with small but clean and comfortable rooms. 100 meters to the town's famed thermal spas. Do not arrive or stay out too late because they lock the front doors at night.