San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico

The tropical landscape with its plantations of banana, papaya, mango, tobacco, coffee and sugar cane and mangrove swamps teaming with birds and sightings of crocodiles and turtles make the San Blas region a great place for an eco vacation. Bird watching, jungle tours and horse back riding are available but do not come expecting a vibrant beach side tourist community.

San Blas is a small unassuming town of 10,000 inhabitants that work in fishing, agriculture and tourism. Located on the Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan the region has more than 30 km. of un tampered beaches and great surfing. Bus service from Puerto Vallarta to San Blas is frequent and very reliable but be prepared for lengthy travel times as the roads are narrow and windy and the buses have to stop frequently to serve the region.

San Blas Jungle Tours
Local jungle tours are available from two main starting points but we recommend starting by the main bridge at the entrance to San Blas as this will provide a longer and more enjoyable trip going through more of the mangroves.

The early morning with its cooler temperatures and tranquil waters offer better opportunities to see more wildlife while also having you back before the day gets too hot. Once the large tour groups arrive from Puerto Vallarta you can expect the water traffic to adversely disturb the wildlife and thereby reduce your sightings.

Jungle Tour Guides
The local tour guides are very knowledgeable and have a keen eye for spotting and identifying wildlife. Guides can be found congregate by the bus stop near the bridge offering two hour trips for around 360 Peso/boat. You can go as a couple or share the boat and reduce your expense.

San Blas Accommodation
Accommodation ranges from relatively expensive hotels to modestly priced accommodation in the 300 - 450 Peso/night range.

On our 2007 trip we discovered the Aticama Bed and Breakfast located just 8km from San Blas on a wonderful stretch of beach that we shared with a handful of people until the weekend.On Sundays the beach becomes a vibrant gather place for Mexican families who come to enjoy a game of soccer, a swim or just the company of friends.