Mazamitla

Mazamitla is a cool mountain town high in the Sierra del Tigre of Jalisco. It's rustic, and way more wood than you'll find in hotter drier places, but people visit for that particular feel of a small friendly town, close to the forests of pine and oak, and with mountain biking, horseback riding, and ATV coming and going more than crowds of shorts-clad vacationing gawpers.

The El Salto Waterfall is some 35-meter of pure spectacular waterfall and the Parque Mundo Aventura promises a world of adventure. One zip line is 300 meters long. There are hanging, swaying suspension bridges, and all kinds of things for couples, friends, and families. The park is about a half-hour south east of town in the surrounding mountains. It's nothing short of spectacular. 

Mazamitla has long been known for the wooden cabins which very much defined the lodging experience for many decades. Today, you'll find a wide variety of lodging, and much of it is no longer quite so rustic. Innkeepers seemed more than happy to provide the modern accommodations, and even the cargo-shorts set went in for a bit more comfort. And there's all kinds of food too. The big central market is under a beautiful tile roof, and you'll find not just local artisan treasures, but every imaginable delicacy. 

People come to explore the Plaza Municipal Jose Parres Arias, the main central park. Nearby the San Cristóbal church is usually open, and the Parque La Zanja is a little bigger and just as close. It's a cool town for wandering the tiny city center, and with always a view toward the surrounding peaks, forests, and hideaways.

Most guests are going to arrive to the little town from Guadalajara. The trip takes just about two hours and the opening of the highway was a big boom for the local economy here. Both Autotransportes Mazamitla and Sur de Jalisco make the trip regularly from the main bus station in Guadalajara. The journey is spectacular and leaves most travelers positively anxious to get here.