Magical Towns to Visit near Puerto Vallarta

Looking for a new adventure in Puerto Vallarta? There are plenty of them! Eco-adventurers can dive and snorkel in the deep Pacific Ocean, take a boating or a sport-fishing tour on Banderas Bay, or explore the coves and isolated beaches nearby. Those keen on adrenaline can drive their own ATV through the Sierra Madre Mountains, take a zip-line tour over the forests or enjoy a surfing safari; and lovers of cultural tourism and history can enjoy fabulous tours through the mountains and the marvelous landscapes of Jalisco and discover two Magical Towns to visit near Puerto Vallarta.

Vallarta’s Tourism Infrastructure:

Puerto Vallarta is the most popular vacation destination by the Pacific, so the tourism infrastructure is well-developed and offers an array of options to cater all types of visitors. The hotels in Puerto Vallarta range from hyper luxurious resorts located in exclusive areas to moderate boutique hotels in the downtown area. There are elegant and expensive restaurants as well as simple and moderate venues, and different types of activities and tours for every taste and budget.

Magical Towns:

According to SECTUR (Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism) there are 83 Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos) scattered throughout the country up to date. These towns share the characteristic of being unique in some way and holding some cultural or historical value that tourists may appreciate.
Two of these 83 Magical Towns are located in Jalisco, at relatively short distance from Puerto Vallarta:

• San Sebastian del Oeste:

Located only 37 miles away from Puerto Vallarta, San Sebastian- as it is known by everyone- is an enchanting little town of 600 residents. During the colonial period, it had a population of as many as 30,000 inhabitants who were devoted to the search of lead, silver and gold in the area. Over time, the minerals were exhausted and people left the city.

Nowadays, San Sebastian still retains its ancient colonial charm in its quaint main plaza, its picturesque white houses and its wide cobblestone streets. Here and there during your trip around the town, you’ll see the new plantations of coffee and Agave. Tourists visit the town to explore the Historic Hacienda Jalisco’s mining museum, enjoy the marvelous view of the Pacific from Sierra de la Bufa and buy organic coffee from its very growers.

• Tequila:

The Valley of Tequila is located in Jalisco, around 4 hours by car from Puerto Vallarta and 1 hour from Guadalajara. The rolling hills of the Sierra Madre Mountains are tinted here and there with deep blue agave plantations and adorned by the dormant Tequila Volcano. The Magical Town of Tequila is the country’s main producer of Mexico’s national beverage: tequila, of course. There are several distillery tours and tequila-themed museums to visit during your stay; and the town itself is a beautiful place to walk around.

The main plaza is charming and picturesque, and it is surrounded by the main church and several nice bars and cafes that are worth a visit, too.

Traditions, history and culture are part of these towns’ magic. Take the chance and pay them a visit during your stay in Puerto Vallarta. Taste exquisite organic coffee in San Sebastian and the best Mexican tequila in Tequila. Walk, meet the people, admire the colonial architecture and enjoy the highest peace ever imagined.

Cecilia Vittori
Images: Flickr /authors: San sebastian (appaloosa); Tequila (Alejandro Castro)