THE PACIFIC COAST

Located in western Mexico, the Pacific coast region stretches across 1,700 kilometers (1,054 miles) of beaches, mountains and valleys, spanning from the state of Sinaloa to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca. The climate is hot and tropical (temperatures range from 15° C, or 59° F, to 32° C, or 90° F) along the coast, while the zone that makes up part of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range gets much cooler.

In the southern portion of the state of Sinaloa, Mazatlan stands out for its celebrated carnival, one of the country’s most important festivals. Just below Sinaloa is the mystical state of Nayarit, where the ancient wisdom and traditions of the Huichol and Cora Indians live on. It’s there where you’ll find multicolored handicrafts made from wood, cloth or beads.

Further south, in Tapatio territory (the state of Jalisco), four gems stand out: the beautiful city of Guadalajara, resort hotspot Costalegre, beach resort Puerto Vallarta and el Volcan de Fuego (The Volcano of Fire), which lies on the Jalisco-Colima border. In the state of Michoacan, the beach of Maruata is excellent for surfing, while state capital Morelia has fascinating architecture.

In the state of Colima, beach town Manzanillo hosts important fishing tournaments.

Moving southward, in the state of Guerrero you can stroll down the cobblestone streets of picturesque Taxco, where you can buy the finest sliver jewelry. Along Guerrero’s coast, you can enjoy the Beach Resorts at Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, where the calm waters invite you to relax, or you can visit Acapulco, widely considered one of the most famous bays in the world.

Finally, there are numerous options in Oaxaca, a state highly regarded for its regional cuisine and arts, which is home to such famed artists as Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Toledo and Rodolfo Morales. There, you can visit the state capital Oaxaca City and nearby archeological sites Mitla and Monte Alban, a World Heritage site. Or you can bask in the sun at Zipolite, a popular nude beach, or Huatulco, one of Mexico’s fastest growing tourist destinations, which offers the unparalleled beauty of its pristine bays.