San Blas is a city and port of about 10,000 people (2010) facing the Pacific Ocean in Nayarit state of Mexico. It is a relaxed beachside town, complete with a lively village plaza.
Understand
At one point San Blas was earmarked for tourism development. The town (and beach) are plagued by small biting no see-ums, and as a consequence no mass-scale tourism happened.
Get in
It is about 160 km (99 mi) north of Puerto Vallarta, and 64 km (40 mi) west of the state capital Tepic, and three hours drive from Guadalajara.
Small bus station beside the Plaza. You are able to catch buses direct from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. It is easiest to transfer buses in Tepic.
Buses from Tepic run hourly.
- 🌍 Central Camionera, Sinaloa 47, Centro, ☏ +52 323 113 0366. 24 hours. Bus station in downtown San Blas. Serves Nayar, Pacifico and other bus lines. Best service to Tepic.
Get around
San Blas is a small town and you can get to the beach and most restaurants and bars by foot.
You can catch local buses to towns along the immediate Pacific Coast.
See
- Spanish fort overlooking the harbour
- The area has an abundance of migratory birds in the surrounding estuaries and lowland palm forests, attracting significant numbers of birders. The Christmas Bird Count regularly finds well over 200 species, with a record 292 species in 1983.
- The formerly elegant Playa Hermosa, built in 1951, is on a lonely and beautiful stretch of beach about a mile from the plaza. In the 1960s, Hollywood had a brief hideaway flirtation with San Blas when actors, including Lee Marvin, discovered San Blas for its fishing. The hotel is now abandoned.
Do
- Surfing. You are able to hire surfboards on the street running between the plaza and the beach, and also from beachside restaurants.
- Chill out on the beach. There are many palapa restaurants where you can buy meals and enjoy a cool beer. It's beautiful beaches include Playa El Borrego, Los Cocos, Playa Las Islitas, and the Bay of Matanchén. It has a boardwalk and its tourist pier in the Bay of Matanchén.
- Relax in the plaza, there are many stalls to browse and cafes, restaurants, and liquor shops in the surrounding streets.
- Take a jungle boat tour through the mangroves of La Tovara, an area of natural channels, mangroves and the estuary, to cool off in its waters, and the crocodile. Precautions must be taken; for example, applying insect repellent, because in that area, as in all of San Blas, mosquitoes called gnats abound.
Buy
There are many stall on the plaza selling Mexican crafts: hammocks, jewelry, craved wooden animals, decorated ceramic plates, artwork, etc.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Restaurant Mar y Sol have cabinas for rent right on the beach. Negotiate a weekly rate.
- Stoners Surf Camp - also on the beach.
- 🌍 Hotel Hacienda Flamingos, Calle Juarez Pte. 105, Sin Nombre, Centro, ☏ +52 323 285 0930. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Upscale historical hotel in an old hacienda. Rooms are large and comfortable and situated around a garden courtyard. Breakfast included. Convenient location, 2-block walk to zocalo. M$1100.
- 🌍 Casa de las Cocadas, Av. Benito Juarez 145, ☏ +52 323 285 0960. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Spacious, clean, comfortable rooms. Small pets allowed. Good breakfast. M$1200.