Agavero Landscape and The Tequila Trail

The Ruta del Tequila Cuervo train from Guadalajara only delivers passengers to the distilleries of Jose Cuervo and Herradura.  "For those two companies the people and local producers are not important and there is no general support for the region, "explains the director of Tourism Amatitán, Azucena Torres Valencia, who along with representatives of Arenal, Tequila, Magdalena and Hostotipaquillo, have formed the new council called Agavero Landscape.

The goal of the project is to help increase the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium companies (MiPymes) in the selected area where Tequila originated as well as to develop the Tequila Trail to the Agavero Landscape, creating a business network for the promotion of cultural and rural tourism. With a common vision we will develop and market tourist based products and services according to demands of the market. 

This project is an opportunity for the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) or ´Fondo Multilateral de Inversiones´ (FOMIN) to closely collaborate with the private sector of Jalisco State, specifically with micro, small, and medium businesses (MiPymes) for the development of a specific region which is expected to produce a model capable of being copied- not only for other regions of Mexico but also other Latin American countries. 

The Tequila Regulatory Council is responsible for managing The Tequila Trail for the Agavero Landscape. Tourists will have the opportunity to explore archaeological sites, old style houses, opal and obsidian mines, distilleries and the magnificent Agavero Landscape. Familiarizing yourself with the route will show you what Jalisco tourism has to offer to world culture.

La Ruta del Tequila

Origin, History and Geology of El bosque La Primavera

The origin is very recent and started when volcanic eruptions occurred (between 14,000 and 27,000 years ago), during which issued a series of pyroclastic flows estimated in the order of 20 km3 which covered an area of approximately 700 km2 and, volcanic activity ended after forming the Cerro El Colli 27,000 years ago, which is the most recent dome.

The forest La Primavera with 140,000 years of existence, is the largest ecological reserve that is near Guadalajara Metropolitan Area; has survived thousands of years to multiple adverse circumstances, however, has been diminished by the action of human, you should want to learn the lesson of which is of great importance, and care for it and preserve it.

The Exciting Geology of Bosque La Primavera

Origen, Historia y Geologia - in Spanish

Fish Kill Under Investigation in Jalisco

MEXICO CITY – Authorities are investigating the deaths of thousands of fish due to a molasses spill in the western state of Jalisco, a spokesman for Mexico’s Profepa environmental protection agency told Efe.

An investigation was opened on Monday after officials received complaints from the Los Pinos fishing cooperative in the city of Acatlan de Juarez, where the Hurtado dam is located, and the government of the city of Tlajomulco.

The fish kill was apparently caused by an “environmental accident,” the Profepa spokesman said.

Molasses “is not a toxic substance,” but it produced a chemical reaction that eliminated the oxygen from the water and killed the fish, the Profepa spokesman said.

A local business dumped the molasses in a ravine and it was washed into the sea by the rain.

Fish Kill Under Investigation in Mexico

Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve

The Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve covers 1400 km² (roughly 350,000 acres) and is located in Southwest Jalisco on the border of Colima. In this mountainous complex over 2000 vegetable species have been registered of which some 20 are endemic. The fauna includes 330 bird species like woodpecker, raven, hummingbird, royal eagle among others. Some 200 mammal species like tlacuache (opossum), deer and large threatened felines like jaguar, puma, and ocelots along with more than 50 reptile, fish and amphibian species. 

But when the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve was created in 1987, it was not because of the wildlife or even the exotic flowers. Instead, the centerpiece of this ruggedly beautiful reserve is a scruffy, weedy plant, named teosinte, that if noticed at all would seem more like a blight than a natural treasure. Teosinte (pronounced tee-oh-SIN-tay) is a wild relative of corn, and this particular variety grows on 15 acres on Sierra de Manantlan and no where else in the world. It has genetic traits found in no other plants - traits that could prove vital to corn fields across the world. It has resistance to diseases that commonly afflict other varieties, and it is a perennial plant that - unlike most domesticated varieties - does not have to be replanted year in and year out.

Teosinte 

Las Joyas research station that was established to protect the habitat around the discovery

Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve Map

Teosinte – maize’s wild ancestor

Sauza Museum - Tequila

The Sauza Museum is less than a block off the plaza and across from Cuervo World which is basically an upscale, mall-like store.   I much preferred this museum which used to be the Sauza family home.  You can only take photos in the courtyard and the store so there is much more history to see.

The Sauza Museum is basically a collection of memorabilia, including paintings, old photos and ancient tools. The Sauzas sold their operation in 1988, although Guillermo Erickson Sauza, a fifth-generation family member, recently began producing his own brand, Los Abuelos, using traditional techniques.

Sauza courtyard

Those were the days

Sauza store