SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES

Touring San Blas? Surrounding Areas. Departing from San Blas, take Highway 15 about 50 km (31 mi) northwest to reach the town of Santiago Ixcuintla, a picturesque destination with interesting tourist attractions. This is the place of origin of the famous Ixcuintli dogs, which have been around since the Aztec era. Nearby you can visit Mexcaltitan Island, which lies in the middle of the Mexcaltitan Lagoon. To arrive there, take Highway 15 about 34 km (21 mi) northwest from the city center of Santiago Ixcuintla, then take the turnoff at Km 10, which leads to the Batanga dock. From there, it?s about a 15-minute boat ride to the island, which has several streams and rivers. Mexico?s Tourism Secretariat declared this destination one of the nation?s so-called Magical Towns. During the rainy season, the lagoon?s waters rise and inundate the island, forcing residents to get from one place to another by boat or canoe, which is why the sidewalks are 1 meter (3 feet) high. During your visit, you can check out the San Pedro y San Pablo church, the Aztlan Museum and the main square. As you walk along the streets you?ll see numerous artisans selling their crafts.

Route to Tepic. Tepic lies 62 km (38 mi) west of San Blas. To arrive at the state capital of Nayarit, take Highway 15 to Highway 54. Tepic is a modern city with numerous plazas, parks and important historic buildings. It also offers several museums and excellent tourism facilities to assure that you have a pleasant and entertaining stay.