[ Post a Response | THE TEPIC AND NAYARIT, MEXICO JOURNAL ]
Posted by Cuyler Salyer
(cuylers) on 11/17/2007, 8:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Lake Tepetiltic"
200.56.175.3
Hi S+T;
Opps, I have actually been there and did not remember the name. After writing my first reply
I pulled out some Nayarit Govt.Tourist Brochures and wow, there is was on a map. It's real close.
Laguna de Tepetiltic is 43 km from downtown
Tepic. It is off of the old 2 lane (Free) road to Guadalajara just east of Tepic. I forgot, that I had been there exploring one Sunday outing driving with my wife and cousin. You can get there in less than 45 minutes from downtown Tepic.
It actually is just across the Turnpike to Guadalajara from Laguna Santa Maria del Oro exit, which has cabins for rent and a rental
space camp ground. You could do them both in a day easy.
You have to turn off the old 2 lane free road onto a dirt road for about 5 km to get there. We tackled it in a Dodge Grand Caravan in 2004 and it was bumpy and rutted, but safe. You should either pay a taxi to take you there and pay him to hang around a few hours or rent a car and drive in. By the way rental cars are more expensive in Mexico probably run you about $50.00/ day and Insurance. Don't even think about driving in Mexico without it!
Why so expensive? Well no. 1 is because the cars don't last as long because of the roads and the price of a new car here is about 25-30% more expensive than the same model in USA. Preferably rent a high centered vehicle, but we made it in our Van.
It's a rather plain little Pueblito, but cute with probably a couple of hundred people living there. The brochure says it has a Malicon along the lake. It does, but it's rather small one. There was only one Restaurant there, but maybe a few Common Comidas too by now? The Restaurant probably seats 50 people and is down by the lakeside. You can sit and order and watch the wild bird life and cows walking along the lake. There is a path to walk around the lake. Only one corner of the lake is developed and from the restaurant you get beautiful views of the hilside (the side of the Caldera).
You can swim in the lake, but with the cows using
the shoreline for pasture, don't swallow the water. There are no outlets for these waters
from these Caldera Lakes.
You can walk all over this little town in about
an hour. Friendly nice people. Not that many
people come up on winter weekends because
of the dirt road (excepting Mexican Holidays). We had the restaurant to our selves for over two hours on a Sunday afternoon after Church. Talk about relaxing.
By the way you are on the right track about coming to this Laguna, BUT come with enough time to visit some of the other natural gems here. Nayarit is loaded with them. You could spend months visiting them all, very unique. I don't want to spoil your surprise, so check in with the Tourist Office when you get to Tepic. The main one is at the Church of the Cross (Truly a miracle in of itself), just west of Park La Loma.
They usually have an English Speaking Tour Guide
and have tons of pamphlets of all these Gems to
see. I kid you not.
Cordially,
Cuyler Salyer
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