Puerto Vallarta's History

During the first part of the 1800s, at the mouth of the Cuale River—then inhabited primarily by crocodiles—there were practically no human dwellers. Between the rugged sierra, the ocean and the powerful Ameca river, this beautiful piece of Mexican geography remained isolated from the rest of the world. The hubs of economic activity were up in the mountains, in the towns of Cuale, San Sebastián and Mascota, where silver mines abounded but where salt, an essential element for processing the metal, was not to be found.

In 1851 Guadalupe Sánchez, a boatman from Cihuatlán who used to bring salt from San Blas or the Marías islands to Los Muertos beach, became weary of waiting for the muleteers to come and pick up the load. Sometimes it would take them days to reach this solitary spot. As he was still a young man of 19 and had just married, Guadalupe saw it fit to establish himself in this beautiful place he would call Las Peñas. This, in a few words, could very well be the story of the founding of what we now know as Puerto Vallarta.

At the bottom of the page is a link to more Vallarta history than you may want to know

Beach Plaza on Playa los Muertos 1950's

Areal view of Vallarta in the 1950's

Vallarta Malecon in the 1950's

Virtual Vallarta Article

Tlaquepaque

Tlaquepaque, once a town of it's own and bedroom community of the rich in Guadalajara, has been incorporated into the city. Lately it has attracted artisans of many talents and has become an expensive artsy-crafty shopping center. The pedestrian only streets that branch off the plaza do make for relaxing window shopping. Take your time and you'll also see much of Mexican history on display. Tlaquepaque underwent major commercial renovation in the 1970's to improve tourism.

In the middle of the plaza is El Parian, which was built in 1878, a block square cantina ringed by botanero restaurants and inside has a huge courtyard with central bandstand for entertainment. Some restaurants are only botaneros and some have full menus ... but you can just have a beer or Margarita and listen to Mariachis in the early evening.

I stayed at the Hotel Posada de la Media Luna which is right on the corner of the plaza and very convenient. They do have a parking garage agreement nearby but I was using buses at the time. A taxi ride to central Guadalajara should be less than 100 pesos but the taxis on the plaza are famous for overcharging

El Parian outer botana bars

El Parian inner restaurants and central bandstand

Pedestrian only shopping street

Pedestrian only shopping street

Hotel Posada de la Media Luna

Tuxpan River Valley

The most important River in southern Jalisco is the Tuxpan River wich originates in Mazamitla and fertilizes the municipalites of Tamazula, Zapotiltic and Tuxpan. The Tuxpan valley is a beautiful drive from near the Colima border up to Mazamitla. It starts in rich farmland of mostly sugar cane, thru small towns with sugar mills, higher into more varied farmland and finally the pine forests of the mountains. Highway #110 is the road through this area and signs will say Jiquilpan/Mazamitla (Jiquilpan is on the other side of Lake Chapala almost in Michoacan)

Small town across the valley

Sugar cane valley

Young sugar care

Jocotepec

Jocotepec is located in the state of Jalisco, approximately 40 kilometers south of Guadalajara and at the western end of Lake Chapala. Even at the elevation of 5130 feet, the presence of the lake provides for a year-round mild and pleasant micro-climate.

The village of Jocotepec (place of the plum trees) was founded in 1529. It is the county seat (municipio) for a number of smaller surrounding towns. It's a very typical Mexican town, and has traditionally been known for the quality serapes woven there. It features a large street market on Thursday mornings and an active mercado and plaza any day of the week.

Jocotepec is my favorite place to stay when I'm in the Lake Chapala area with a few inexpensive motels just east of town on the road to Chapala. We also have friends that live downtown.

Aerial view of Jocotepec


Jocotepec Plaza


Jocotepec Church on Plaza


Jocotepec Malecon on Lake Chapala

Mascota and Highway 70

Highway 70 construction and Mascota
from Vallarta, Jalisco - Mexico

Highway 70 leaves Vallarta just south of the Nayarit border, north of the airport and next to the new Vallarta Home Depot. It's about 40 kilometers of small towns and farmland before you start into the mountains. The road is actually very good except they have cut thru some impossible hillsides making yearly roadwork a necessity. Right now (November 2007) they are working on about five major sections both east and west of Mascota. Most of the work is on the west side.

After crossing the bridge below it mostly flat land until you drop back down into Mascota. Mascota is very Colonial in a non-fancy way with one church in ruins looking as if it was a religious center for the area many years ago. Lots of classic construction and cobble stone streets.

The last few fotos are from one of the very few scenic lookouts along the road after leaving Mascota and heading toward Talpa and Ameca.

Looking down on Mascota from the east


Mascota church


Mascota house


Mascota church and ex-convent

Mascota trip fotos