Sunday, February 15, 2009

Tapalpa Jalisco

Tapalpa is located in the Sierra de Tapalpa, which is part of the Sierra Madre, at around 6,700 feet. The nearest airport is Guadalajara, 1 1/2 hours to the north. Coming from Guadalajara one takes the toll-road to Colima toward the Pacific Coast and takes the Tapalpa exit. The Pacific Coast (Tecoman) is about 2 hours from Tapalpa.

Pine forests and large open valleys with pastures dominate the area. Main industries are lumber and agriculture and tourism that is mostly geared toward people from Guadalajara coming up to the mountains to escape the heat and pollution of the City.

Tapalpa has been chosen “Pueblo Magico” by a nationwide government program that promotes typical Mexican towns and helps with funding the upkeep of the town and with restoration projects.

Lots of people comment on how attractive Mazamitla is but Tapalpa is more roomy, still very Colonial and up in the pine forest. We weren't able to find the surrounding tourist sites so we headed south on a very nice road that soon turned to difficult dirt. Not wanting to back track we pushed on for 30 kilometers or so until we came into the agricultural town of San Gabriel (Venustiano Carranza).

Looking across town

Part of the town Plaza

If you like bricks

Las Piedrotas that we never found
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Jalisco Tourism

Jalisco is in west-central Mexico and its capital is Guadalajara. The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range traverses the state, separating the Pacific coast from a high plateau region. The Sierra Madre region is largely volcanic, and earthquakes are frequent. The state's many lakes include Chapala, Mexico's largest.

Jalisco Tourism - Spanish
Artisans of Tonala
Sparks Mexico Web