Compostela: Coastal Towns, Coffee and Culture
Accommodation in Compostela
Compostela combines cultural discoveries in the municipal seat with coastal towns, nature experiences and a distinctive coffee and tobacco culture. You can choose different focuses for your trip: murals and history, regional cuisine, beach days or wildlife watching in protected natural areas. Which vacation rental in Compostela suits your plans depends on which of these aspects of the municipality you would most like to discover.
Culture and History in Compostela
In the streets of Compostela, nine murals in the Rutas Mágicas de Color tell stories of local culture, history and traditions. The municipal seat is also home to the colonial-era parish church of Santiago Apóstol. If you are interested in traditional crafts, you can learn about the traditional leatherworking process in Compostela.
Near the town of Chacala lies AltaVista, an archaeological site dating to around 300 BC. The petroglyphs are considered to offer insights into the lives and beliefs of the Tecoxquin. Related themes include health, fertility, weather and cultivation. AltaVista complements the cultural impressions of the municipal seat with an archaeological perspective on past ways of life.
Coffee, Tobacco and Regional Cuisine
The Ruta Tabaco y Café brings together several experiences related to coffee and tobacco. These include a guided tour of coffee plantations with a tasting, a guided walk through the historic center and a hands-on cigar-making workshop. The route is listed as running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with both the start and return at the ExConvento de la Cruz. This lets you explore culture, coffee and craftsmanship as different parts of a shared theme.
At the Mercado Municipal, dishes on offer include pescado zarandeado, ceviche, shrimp broth and pollo al Ixtlán. Food is also part of the experience at Playa Platanitos: You can enjoy grilled pargo or huachinango at the beach palapas, and fishing is also possible there. These dishes offer a concrete taste of the variety of regional cuisine.
Coastal Towns and Nature Experiences
Rincón de Guayabitos is located in Bahía de Jaltemba, within the municipality of Compostela. The town stretches about 2 kilometers in length and 30 meters in width, and is known for its gentle, consistent waves for surfing as well as boat trips around the bay. For bird enthusiasts, its location along a seabird migration route offers opportunities to watch birds from the beach. From July to October, Rincón de Guayabitos, Frideritas, Los Ayala and neighboring beaches are mentioned as whale-watching locations; tours are offered from the beach.
Isla del Coral is an ecological protected area with white-sand beaches, blue water and coral reefs. It is a habitat for sea turtles, seabirds, fish and starfish, and can be reached by boat from Rincón de Guayabitos. The gentle surf at Playa Platanitos, along with opportunities to swim and relax, offers a different coastal experience. Playa Tortugas stretches for 8 kilometers; access is via a path through the vegetation.
More Things to Do in the Municipality
At Parque Natural Punta Custodio, you can learn about sea turtles and volunteer in programs to monitor egg-laying and protect the eggs. There is also a sea turtle camp where visitors can learn more about the animals. Cycling as an ecotourism activity and camping are listed for the municipality’s forested area. If you are planning an outing in the municipal seat, you’ll find Lake El Molino there, one of the most visited places; swimming pools and hot springs are also considered worthwhile destinations in the municipality.
When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore helpful to first decide on the focus of your trip: coastal towns and boat trips, cultural experiences in the municipal seat, or activities in the forested area all suggest different kinds of stays. As a rough guide to travel times, Compostela is about 50 minutes from Tepic, 2 hours and 30 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, and 2 hours and 40 minutes from Guadalajara.
For the broader travel guide: Nayarit.
More Destinations
More places in the same destination:
