El Tuito

Located south of Puerto Vallarta lies the municipality of Cabo Corrientes, marking the southernmost point of Banderas Bay. El Tuito, its capital, is a small town (population less than 4,000) located approximately 1,085 meters above sea level. Its name derives from the ancient Náhuatla language spoken by the Aztecs and means “little beautiful valley.” As you drive into town, you will be immediately taken by the uniformity of its buildings, painted with a mixture of local clays that gives their walls a unique orange tinge. Cottage industries abound, from organic coffee and artisan cheese to raicilla, the local moonshine, not available legally until very recently.

Just barely considered part of the Costalegre, this inland town near Tomatlan lies along Highway 200. It's easy to miss and one that I have missed until our trip to Tehuamixtle out on the coast. I will definately make time for a few hours in El Tuito on my next Vallarta trip.

Buildings around the plaza

Buildings around the plaza

Activities on the Plaza

A building on the plaza

El Tuito, Jalisco, Costalegre, Mexico

Majahuas to Tehuamixtle

A very long day trip from Melaque - Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico

We had never been out to the coast in this area - mainly because the beaches are a long way from the highway. Had no idea of road conditions of distances between towns. We started with Majahuas and worked our way north.

The Majahuas turn off is the first road just north of the bridge north of Tomatlan. The fisherman's Coop "Roca Negra" is there that manages the Majahuas Biological Station and turtle sanctuary. A little inland is a new Aquaculture facility raising shrimp, pargo and puffer fish. This facility is government funded in conjunction with the Spanish government. Scientists from both countries are working there.

To continue north from Majahuas we had to return to the highway and take the La Gloria exit about 5 miles further north. La Gloria also has a Sea Turtle Research Station but we continued north to La Cruz de Loreto and up the coast from there. Very easy to feel lost on the criss-cross roads just north of La Gloria as they follow irrigation ditches and farm fields.

Las Penitas is the next landmark north but is only a small lighthouse and a few seldom used palapas. It's a pretty beach. The next thing north of note is Villa del Mar with a few vacation accomodations and two stores before we reached Tehuamixtle.

Tehuamixtle is very cute at the bottom of a valley on a beautiful little bay. We ate at one of the two not inexpensive beach restaurants. The land to expand the town is minimal due to the steep terrain but the realtors have it all sectioned off and forsale. A one time experience that I won't do again but I'm sure it will fit into other gringos dreams. The road out to El Tuito and the highway is very rough and takes over an hour

Majahuas

Las Penitas

Villas del Mar

Tehuamixtle
Majahuas to Tehuamixtle web page

Agua Caliente

We went up the coast yesterday looking for the SPA I've heard advertised and we did and didn't find it. Agua Caliente is located just beyond the Tenacatita turnoff along Highway 200. Infact if you use the back road out of the town you towards the coast you will come out on the Tenacatita road. We went East under the bridge to the public area, found the hot springs and noticed a tent and a few people up the river. I thought they were camping so didn't bother with a foto - but it turns out that was the SPA. It was confirmed when I found another travel-log website with pictures.

The public area would work just as well (and save you $60) but you need a shovel to dig out a hole you can sit or lie in. Some spots are hot enough to burn and there is a strong sulphur smell.

Link to the SPA website (notice no fotos but some Info)
Puresa Spa

The river with hot springs along the bank

Looking up the river towards the Spa

Some of the discoloration from the sulfur waters

Agua Caliente, Costalegre, Jalisco

Update on Calechosa Bay

I was just over there today to see if the surf was up and it was. It had been over a year since my last visit and I hadn't seen Roy's house or the new development called Calechosa Bay. This beach is also known as Ranchito and is located behind the small community of the same name.

It looks like the road is slightly improved but will need 4-5 bridges to access the area in the summer during the rains unless you have a large 4WD vehicle. So far 3 structures are started, two houses and the "model home / sales office". All have a very long way to go. The picture also shows what the hillside looks like from Febuary thru June with no rain for many months. A dry jungle is pretty much the ecology we live in here.

I did include a picture of the beach which is beautiful but not for swimming, really only surfers use it and it's difficult for them to enter and exit the water. Many jump off the rocks on the far right to avoid the shoreline.

Costalegre Jalisco Mexico

Ecotourism for Villa Purificacion

Villa PURIFICACION, Jalisco
There arrives an excellent option for ecotourism

Drafting of the South
buzon-AT-periodicoelsur.com
Monday February 4, 2008

Villar PURIFICACION, Jalisco (BI) .- With an investment of one million 737 thousand pesos, funded by the National Commission for Development of Indigenous Peoples for the infrastructure of 10 huts, two canteens, a suspension bridge, walkways and signs indicating where services will be offered accommodation, meals, boat ride, guided tours and horseback riding. The State Governor, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, opened this area near the dam Jocotlán, municipal delegation Purification Villa, a new ecotourism project, which will certainly attract thousands to this point and will generate significant income and make a large regional impact.

"We come here to verify what was done, we believe it is possible to improve the area, without assaulting culture, without assaulting the environment, without assaulting the customs of the people, but to help their own people to be the beneficiary of what can be done here, "said state Representative, in the presence of at least 20 people in indigenous communities of Villa Purification and personalities of the three levels of government and the three branches of government.

In addition, they announced that the most important thing now is involving the Government in conjunction with them in promoting the visit of people who want to have different experiences, unmatched, to live with the culture of the natives, as well as of landscapes and diverse activities to develop the place.

He took advantage to tell that the State Government is working on projects for such areas and communities, ranging from training for aquaculture, construction of a wharf at the dam, in addition to roads, education and more infrastructure: "In all this we will be working in the coming times, always with a view to better conditions for you and for their families," he concluded.

For its part, also presiding over the inauguration, the Director General of the National Commission for Development of Indigenous Peoples, Mr Luis Hector Alvarez, welcomed the implementation of this project ecotourism, given that native peoples have historically had the brunt historic growth of our country.

Villa Purification is located in the southwest of Jalisco, near the coast, the indigenous community occupies 36 thousand hectares recognized and 20 thousand hectares more are in the process of restitution. Jocotlán lies within the area surrounded by jungle forest streams.

Sur de Jalisco Article