Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Before you go
Your trip to Mexcaltitán.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Mexcaltitán – Nayarit
How to get there
-
Aeropuerto Internacional de Tepic Amado Nervo (TPQ) Tepic · 128 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Tepic, the capital of Nayarit, is about 100 km away and has an airport (TPQ). From Tepic you drive to Santiago Ixcuintla and from there to the La Batanga pier. Speedboats take about 15 minutes to the island. There are buses from Tepic to Santiago Ixcuintla; from the pier onward transport is by boat.
How many days
One day is enough for the plaza, the temple, the Museo del Origen, a speedboat ride on the lagoon and a meal of shrimp or zarandeado fish. One night on the island lets you see the lagoon calmly at the start and end of the day.
When to go
It is warm year-round. From November to May there is little rain and lower humidity; from June to October is the rainy season, when the streets can become canals. On June 28 and 29 the feast of San Pedro and San Pablo takes place, with a regatta of boats.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not on the island, which can be walked in a few minutes. To reach the pier: car, taxi or bus to Santiago Ixcuintla; with your own car it’s easier to coordinate speedboat schedules.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Mexcaltitán
-
Morning
Crossing and Museo del Origen
Take the boat at the La Batanga pier and cross the lagoon to the island. Start at the central plaza and visit the Museo del Origen, which has a model of the island and a reproduction of the Códice Boturini.
-
Afternoon
Temple, island streets and lunch
Enter the Temple of San Pedro y San Pablo and walk the streets that lead from the plaza to the water’s edge. Have lunch of shrimp or zarandeado fish at one of the restaurants with lagoon views.
-
Late afternoon
Boat ride on the lagoon
Arrange with a boatman for a tour of the lagoon and the mangroves around the island, when the light is low and birds often appear. Then return to the pier.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Mexcaltitán?
Visit the Museo del Origen and the Temple of San Pedro y San Pablo, walk around the island, take a boat ride on the lagoon and eat dishes of shrimp and zarandeado fish.
Why is Mexcaltitán called the Mexican Venice?
Because in the rainy season the water rises and the island’s streets become canals, traveled by canoe. That is why the sidewalks are high.
Is Mexcaltitán the Mexica’s Aztlán?
Some researchers support that hypothesis, which others dispute. The Museo del Origen in the plaza is dedicated to it.
When is Mexcaltitán’s festival?
On June 28 and 29, the feast of San Pedro and San Pablo, with a regatta of boats carrying the patrons’ images across the lagoon.
What to eat in Mexcaltitán?
Dishes of shrimp, the basis of the island’s cuisine, and zarandeado fish, fish split open and grilled over coals, for which Mexcaltitán is cited as the place of origin.