Rincon de Guayabitos
BY JESUS DE AVILA - EDITOR OF PVMIRROR

Situated approximately one hour and a half from the airport of Puerto Vallarta, Rincon de Guayabitos forms a part of what is know as the "tourist corridor" which was developed at the beginning of the sixties with the main purpose to offer a tourist space for families. That is why the majority of the accommodations are bungalows, a comfortable and economically convenient type of accommodation. The place has all the necessary tourist services to guarantee a pleasant stay.

This destination is located in a small bay forming a space where the sea rests and seems like a huge pool, thanks to its geographic characteristics and thanks to the protection of the coral island found in front of its beaches. As a matter of fact Guayabitos has gained the title of "the biggest natural pool of the world", and with the beach extending approximately 3 kilometers, it is a perfect resort for the whole family. The calmness of its surf along the major part of its beach invites you to relax completely while sunbathing and lying down in its fine sand of golden color. On the beach of what is considered the hotel zone you cannot avoid to be influence by the happiness of children playing in the ocean without any risk.

In Guayabitos the beach is also a space of continuous action. At any time during the day it is commerce that rules. There you may buy handicrafts made by hand out of palm leaves, T-shirts, hats, souvenirs and much more. If it is about food, this is a small paradise where typical and traditional food is the order of the day. Since very early the beach front restaurants are open and above all the picturesque stands with different types of food begin to offer typical dishes like fish and seafood on a stick, fresh oysters, tacos with different fillings, as well as fresh fruit, amongst which the sweet and juicy pineapple stand out.

The practice of water sports is very popular, as well as excursions by boat in order to get to know the neighboring beaches or to visit the islands of the crab and the coral which are bird sanctuaries and where its transparent waters are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. During the months of November to March, some vessels also offer trips to watch the whales.

In addition to taking tours to get to know neighboring places like Altavista, La Tobara, Chacala, Freideras, La Peñita, Las Cuevas, Los Ayala, Platanitos, Matanchen and Jamurca, you can also visit the turtle farm in Boca del Naranjo, where you have the opportunity to participate in the incubation, egg collection and/or liberation of the turtles which takes place between the months of August and October.

· Altavista

This is where "Chacatlán" is found, a ceremonial center of an ancient culture named "Tecoxquines" who lived here more than 2300 years ago and whose established kingdom in the town of Zacualpan had more than 20 000 inhabitants.

Altavista is a place where the rock speaks and communicates with the present day man through its engravings, in a "live" place, since today's Huichol Indians come here from far-away communities to worship their Gods. Visiting this place is a unique experience to relive the past and to connect with nature. It is recommended to visit this place in the company of a licensed guide in order to obtain an interpretation of the engravings.

· La Tobara

This place is found some seven kilometers southeast of San Blas and it is considered the most important area of mangroves in Mexico. It forms an ecosystem of natural canals surrounded and covered by exuberant vegetation and a diverse fauna, with the crocodile standing out.

The place is open to the public and since nine o'clock in the morning it is possible to take an exciting boat ride. For lovers of bird watching this could be a truly fascinating trip.

The name "Tobara", comes from the colombianismo "Tobar-Toar", referring to the action of hauling or extracting water.

· Chacala

The name of this beach in the nahuatl language means "place rich in shrimp" and it was discovered in 1524 by Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura.

During the era of the Spanish conquest it was used as a departure port for various expeditions that were organized in order to explore the Marias Islands and Baja California .

Chacala's beach has a length of approximately 300 meters by 40 meters of width. It has a strong surf, fine textured sand of golden color and a soft slope. The vegetation is abundant in the outskirts. Palm trees predominate giving a beautiful panorama. At present the supply of traditional Nayarit gastronomy stands out and the zarandeado fish is the preferred delicacy.

· Freideras

It is a small beach south of the beach of Los Ayala. The access to the place is exclusively by boat, walking along the coast or by motorbike and during the trip-in whatever manner-you can appreciate the splendid and spectacular view of the cliffsf with the waves constantly crashing against them. The beach measures approximately only eighty meters and there is a palapa-palm roof-under which fresh seafood is served.

In this place the surf is very calm and not very deep, making it a romantic and ideal spot to be visited by couples.

· La Peñita

It is the original village in the area that was founded by the "Nahuatlacas" that stayed here during their voyage from the island of "Mexcaltitán" to what is today's Mexico City .

Its name comes from the Náhuatl word "Xalli-tem-pa", which means "place at the bank of the sand". It stands out for its commerce. Its beach is long and perfect to admire incredible and multi-colored sunsets.

· Las Cuevas

It is an incredible semi-virgin beach, surrounded by volcanic cliffs and rocks. Its name is due to the waves that have eroded the walls forming small caves by smashing onto the rocks throughout the years. The area has a great quantity of marine fauna and birds, the water has an impressive greenish turquoise shade and the sand is soft and light colored.

The road towards this beach is found north of Guayabitos approximately at 14 kilometers.

· Los Ayala

The name was taken from the last name of some brothers that were engaged in robbing the hacienda of the lacenita. They were hiding in some caves located north of the la laya.

This village has just recently begun its tourist development and it is experiencing an increase in its offer of accommodations. The surf is high and calm on its beach. For a long time this spot has been preferred by visitors of the outskirts.

· Platanitos

It is located just on the border between the municipality of Compostela and San Blas. In order to reach this place you first must go to the village of Las Varas and from there take the detour towards Zacualpan-Platanitos-San Blas, approximately some 35 kilometers from Guayabitos.

The ocean of its bay is ideal for families and on its beach there are more than twenty restaurants offering fresh seafood dishes. From there you can take a trip to Punta Custodio where there is a center for the protection of crocodiles.

· Matanchen

The Bay of Matanchen is characterized by being a virgin area. The vegetation of this place is composed of brushwood. It is perfect for people who like being alone enjoying the silence, listening how the waves break upon their third contact with the sand. The extension of the beach has a length of seven kilometers by thirty meters of width, the texture of the sand is fine and invites to take a rest and sunbathe. The water is tepid and the ocean offers shades that go from blue to green.

This area also was famous for being a spot for pirates and buccaneers during the time of the conquest. They were attracted by the products that were traded by the English, Dutch, Chinese and Spanish ships.

In this place you can practice water sports, too, like surfing, sailing, scuba diving and jet-ski, football, beach volleyball, hiking and bike tours. Delight your palate with the delicious typical dishes of the region prepared on the basis of fresh seafood.

Matanchen is located some 15 kilometers southeast of San Blas, taking the state highway # 54. When you visit this place don't forget your mosquito repellent. The tourist office is located in the city hall of San Blas.

· Jamurca

Hidden between the mountains there is a place where the "Marakames" of the Huichol culture used to purify their body and spirit through hot water baths. This place has a thermal water spring and at present it offers additional tourist services such as swimming pool, restaurant and a natural grave to plunge into and to relax while being spoiled by the medicinal attributes of the water.

To reach this place you have to take the detour that exists in the village of "Las Cuatas", located on the highway bound for Tepic, right after Las Varas.

· Boca del Naranjo

It is situated approximately six kilometers north of Guayabitos, taking the detour that brings you to the village of "La Lima de Abajo", a road that leads to a beach with a strong surf, a beach rich in palm trees and huge extensions of mangroves, perfect to practice kayaking.

One may mention that Guayabitos is considered a local tourist destination, which is why the prices for food and the rates for excursions are cheaper.

The place has everything to satisfy the visitor. There is a good variety of restaurants, clothing stores, souvenirs shops, arts and crafts, supermarkets, bars and discos, medical services and much more.

Every year during the month of November, the international air festival called "Fly In" takes place in Guayabitos, where an extensive variety of airplanes gather, coming from various countries.

It is important to point out that up to this day, the first of December of 2004, there are neither banks nor atm machines in this town and credit cards are not accepted. There is a bank and atm machines in La Peñita.

With the exception of school holidays like Christmas, New Years, Easter and the week after Easter - when not even a needle fits and it is almost impossible to walk between the crowd-the place is very quiet and it seems as if it does not matter at all to the few people that do live there whether it is Wednesday or Sunday.

The residential area is found in the northern part of Guayabitos where the majority of the villas and homes are owned by Mexicans using them only during the weekends or during the holidays, as well as by retired foreigners. This destination also offer facilities for those who like to vacation with their motor homes.

At the entrance of the town, right next to the police office and the medical services there is a small tourist office where you can obtain a promotional pamphlet on Guayabitos and its outskirts.