Mexcaltitán
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◈ This place has a historic relationship with legendary Aztlán—the place from where the Náhuatl pilgrimage departed, which then culminated in the founding of the great Tenochtitlan, today’s Mexico City.
Its name means “home of the Mexicans”; many pre-Hispanic vestiges were discovered here, among them the figure of the mythical “heron eagle”. Thanks to this, historians mention the island as a ceremonial center of the Nahuatlaca tribes.
The similarities between this population’s piece of land with the map of Tenochtitlan, both have four parallel roads and a circular one.
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◆ Visit El Origen Museum’s
◆ Enjoy the nature that surrounds the island.
◆ Try the prawn tortillas.
Enjoy the trip across the lake.
❖ El Origen Museum
A construction from 1815 in perfect harmony with the parish; perhaps it’s the battlements or its rounded arches and Tuscan columns. This is where an interesting collection of archeological pieces that span from 2200 B.C. to 1530 A.D. is kept.
Warriors, animals, clay figures, ball games and representations of animals are just a small part of what this cache of 5 thousand objects from the western region holds. The diverse codices that narrate the founding of this island are particularly captivating.
❖ Templo de San Pedro
y San Pablo
In the main plaza you will find this temple dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Built during the second half of the 19th century, it has one nave with a barrel-vaulted ceiling; a door with a rounded arch that is guarded by two Corinthian columns holding up a small cornice; above it you will see a window crowned with a frontispiece.
To one side, it has a two-level tower with four bell towers. The second level is crowned by a linternilla (lantern) that holds up a heavy cross.
❖ Casa China
The island was an important settlement for Chinese immigrants who arrived on the island during the second half of the 19th century, causing an economic boom among the population and the region by trading different goods.
They provided the fishermen with the basic tools they needed and traded with their produce, which they stored in dried prawn containers or chiquihuites (palm baskets) to export to their country, and they brought cloth, porcelain and ivory.
It is thanks to this activity that this house acquired its reputation and was referred to as the “Chinese House”. Today it is closed, and adorned by their famous pillars, an historic place within this Magical Town.
❖ Take a Boat Trip and Visit the Mangroves
Coastal lagoons, mangrove forests, deltas and swamps converge around this Magical Town.
Nature has provided ecosystems replete with mangroves for a very particular kind of adventure. This is also the place that makes fishing a thrilling experience.
❖ Explore the “Venetian Circuit”
An obligatory stop when visiting this Magical Town is this large circular road surrounding the town’s center.
Along the way, you will find some interesting buildings and meeting places that have played an important role in Mexcaltitán’s history, such as Casa China, the fishing cooperative, the craftsmen and craftswomen. During festival days, it becomes the setting for pilgrimages.
❖ Fall in Love with its Kitchen’s Pre-Hispanic Flavors
The basic ingredient of its gastronomy is prawn, its great variety, size and freshness is never lacking on the islanders’ tables.
Here, the star dish is the tlaxtihuil, of pre-Hispanic origin; it is a prawn meatball broth, made with mole stew. Furthermore, the restaurant menus include pescado zarandeado (grilled fish), empanadas, tamales, and their famous prawn tortillas.
❖ Festival of the Christ of the Urn
The second Saturday of every month this Christ is worshipped. A mass is held and the Christ of the Urn is taken along on a walk along the so-called “Venetian Circuit” until reaching the port, where he takes a trip over its warm waters, to then return to the temple that shelters him.
Magical Towns in
Nayarit
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