SIGHTSEEING IN THE TEPIC AREA (Just skip this part if your only interested in the chicas)

I stopped here on my road trip to Guadalajara. It is a fairly large city located in a beautiful valley surrounded by volcanic peaks. I found a trail leading up the side of Volcan San Juan. I climbed up the side of the volcano in order to get a better vantage point to take the following picture of the town and surrounding area. I found it was a great trail on which to get a little much needed aerobic exercise but I got winded a lot faster than in Tucson, probably because of the higher elevation.



I was in Tepic over a weekend and all the museums were closed. I was able to enjoy walking around the central area of the city in the cool morning and I took some nice pictures of their cathedral.



Because the museums were closed that Sunday, I decided to take a day-trip to a nearby beach area called San Blas. This place is the perfect place for people that don't like the big beach resorts of Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta. There are no big hotel zones here. The day I was here in early May, I never saw another Anglo.



Driving South from San Blas are a string of other beautiful beaches. You can drive your car out onto most of them. There are posted signs for beach access. The Sunday I was there a lot of Mexican families were enjoying picnics on the beach.



On the road back to Tepic, I passed through some beautiful orchards of bananas and mango trees.

In San Blas did you take the panga up to El Tovara spring and swimming hole?

East of Tepic is the volcano lake crater called Santa Maria de Oro. Nice crystal clear water and has some restaurants and hotels around the shoreline.

I'll be there in late June to see my fav's daughter graduate from the University of Nayarit. You should check that place out for hotties.

I can't monger in Tepic, too many relatives and friends, but my wife and fav are both from here and I get plenty.

Did not do either of the places you mentioned but "quien sabe" I will probably return to this lovely area some day.

IMHO, by not mongering there you are not missing very much.