Added: 01/12/2006 |
San Blas: a good choice for ecotouristsSan Blas is a small fishermen's town of some 10,000 inhabitants mostly dedicated to agriculture, fishing and tourist services. Though a small village, San Blas founded in XVII century was an important port for over two centuries, as well as a main shipbuilding centre at the period of the Spanish colonization.
San Blas is located about 70 kilometers northwest of the state capital of Tepic (265, 817 inhabitants in 2000), on the Pacific coast of the state of Nayarit amid lush tropical estuaries and lagoons. San Blas is less than an hour away from Tepic, two hours from Puerto Vallarta, along the coast border, three hours from Guadalajara - the second largest city in Mexico, and four hours from Mazatlan. The impressive view of the tropical landscape when traveling by land is beautified by the plantations of banana, papaya, mango, tobacco, coffee, and sugar cane covering every spot along the way and creating vegetation tunnels that resemble a kaleidoscope.
The town offers a variety of clean and comfortable tourist facilities. Sightseeing may include visits to the remains of the old fort and Customs House of colonial times, as well as the Hill of the Contaduria and the ruins of the Temple of San Basilio dated XVIII century. Christian tourists can see Tepic (3146 feet above sea-level), which is the residence of the bishop. Religious services in Tepic, Compostela, San Blas, Acaponetam developed and thrived after the foundation of the Bishopric of Guadalajara in 1548.
The San Blas coastline has more than 30 kilometers of untampered beaches like El Rey, El Borrego, Las Islitas, Aticama, Miramar, Los Cocos, Santa Cruz, and Platanitos. There you will find small Palapas where the regional food is prepared by skilful hands, while the land and the sea provide the ingredients: fish, shrimp, oysters, banana, bread, and more.
The average winter temperature in San Blas is +21 °C (70 °F), while in summer it averages +30 °C (86 °F). In July-August period heavy night showers are a common phenomenon. In addition to a long list of water fowl and shore birds residing in the location, the other flora and fauna, both in the tropical flood forest and the sea, are spectacular and include orchids, crocodiles, tropical fish, migrating whales, flowering tropical vines, iguanas, and both sea and land turtles.
The Las Palmas Crocodile refuge is one of the numerous local attractions of San Blas where quantities of these large reptiles can be seen in their natural environment. The refuge carries out a crocodile breeding program organized by the local community assisted by the government in order to preserve and protect the endangered American crocodile.
As to commercial fishing, this includes ocean, river and farm shrimp, octopus, lobster, stone oyster, 'pleasure' oyster, clams, and local fish like red snapper, mahi mahi, sea bass and Spanish mackerel.
San Blas area is excellent for nature lovers and presupposes unforgettable jungle and river tours to take you through the estuaries, waterways and thick lowland vegetation for the unique birding and ecological experience. Head for San Blas to find the heaven on earth!
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