Introducing San Blas

The tranquil fishing village of San Blas, 70km northwest of Tepic, has been slated by government tourism officials to become a big resort town for decades. That’s not to say it’s changed much. It’s still the peaceable, drowsy backwater it’s always been, and therein lies its charm. Visitors come to enjoy isolated beaches, fine surfing, abundant bird life, and tropical jungles reached by riverboats, much as they always have. A smattering of entertaining bars and restaurants and an amiable beach scene add to the mix, making for an enjoyable stay.

San Blas was an important Spanish port from the late 16th century to the 19th century. The Spanish built a fortress here to protect their trading galleons from marauding British and French pirates. It was also the port from which Junipero Serra, the ‘Father’ of the California missions, embarked on his northward peregrination.