NAYARIT INTERIOR TRAVEL GUIDE

If You Go

Ixtlán del Río

Located 102 km (60 mi) southeast of Tepic and143 km (90 mi) north of Guadalajara on Carretera 15; the highway runs right through town.

One block from the main plaza, Plaza Hidalgo ($, Calle Hidalgo 101 Poniente, tel. 324/243-2100, Ixtlán del Río) is a modest hotel with a/c, a small parking lot, laundry, and a café. There are several restaurants in the neighborhood.

Los Toriles Archaeological Site

Entrance to the ruins is free. The site is just a few kilometers south of Ixtlán del Río; a sign points the way.

Jala

Jala is located just off the Tepic-Guadalajara Highway. It's about 91 km (57 mi) southeast of Tepic.

Amatlán de Cañas Well off the main highway. It's 143 km (90 mi) from Guadalajara to Ixtlán (or 102 km/60 mi from Tepic), then 14 km to Ahuacatlán. There, turn south for 33 km (19 mi) to Amatlán de Cañas.

Bungalows Los Pavorreales ($$, Calle Guerrero 6, tel. 324/247-0730, www.lospavorreales.com) has a cold water swimming pool and bungalows with or without kitchenette.

Laguna Santa María del Oro

Located 53 km (31 mi) southeast of Tepic off the Tepic-Guadalajara Highway.

Bungalows Koala ($--$$, cell phone 311/264-3698, www.koalabungalows.com) has pleasant if simple rooms and houses to rent, camping, RV sites, and a restaurant overlooking the lake. Their activity center offers kayaking and canoeing as well as other activities such as rappelling. Stop in and have a meal or a drink...and get the skinny on what?s going on in the area.

Santa María Resort ($$$$, tels. 01800/786-2742 in Mexico, 311/213-2654, www.santamariaresort.com.mx) offers nice wooden cabins with porch and ample bathrooms with bathtub. Restaurant, outdoor infinity pool, and kayaks are available.