Tomatlán: Historic Center and Festival Traditions

Tomatlán combines a historic center with religious festival traditions and cultural and recreational attractions across the municipality. Some celebrations offer specific dates to plan around, while places outside the town center offer additional points of interest. When choosing a hotel in Tomatlán, you can first consider whether you want to focus mainly on architectural history and festivals in town, or also explore beaches, water activities, and archaeological sites in the municipality.

Historic Center and Architectural History

Most of the town’s architectural heritage is located in the historic center. At the center of the municipal seat stands the Franciscan temple of Santo Santiago Apóstol, one of the oldest buildings in Mexico. The Templo de Santo Santiago dates from the second third of the 18th century and was later modified. Its construction period and subsequent alterations offer two specific points of reference for its architectural history. For visitors interested in architecture, the historic center is a natural focus for this part of the trip.

Religious Festivals and Event Dates

The celebrations of the Virgen de Guadalupe include processions of worshippers from Campo Acosta, Nahuapa, José María Morelos, and other places. In the afternoon and evening, lit candles, music, and fireworks are part of the festivities. A float carrying a girl portraying the Virgin of Guadalupe is also part of the celebrations.

The Santo Santiago celebrations include a horseback procession through Tomatlán’s main streets on July 25. The July festivities in honor of the patron saint also include processions and concerts. By comparison, the celebrations of the Virgen de Guadalupe feature different elements, such as candles, fireworks, and the float.

Another festive period is the Fiestas Charro Taurinas. They take place between the last week of April and the second week of May and include charreadas, bullfights, and serenades. The program may vary from year to year; check the event dates before your trip if you plan to attend this festival.

Handicrafts, Coast, and Archaeological Traces

Visitors can find local handicrafts in the center. This adds another cultural point of interest in the town center alongside the architecture and festivals. Individual vendors and the availability of their handicrafts may change.

Beyond the town center, the municipality has other places with their own attractions. Peñitas Beach is surrounded by rocks engraved with petroglyphs from the Nahua culture. The waves at Costa Majahuas are suitable for surfing; at Presa de Cajón de Peñas, visitors can go windsurfing and water skiing. Thus, rock carvings, surfing, and water sports at the reservoir offer distinct points of interest.

Archaeological remains of the cultures that inhabited this region are also preserved on the banks of the Río Tomatlán. These include unique petroglyphs, among them a Patolli game board, an ancient Mesoamerican game. Only two examples of Patolli are known in western Mexico. This find adds an archaeological trace along the riverbank to the municipality’s cultural appeal.

Getting to Tomatlán

From Puerto Vallarta, Tomatlán can be reached by heading south on Federal Highway 200. Check current road conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: La Cruz De Loreto, Mazamitla, Ipala, Mascota, Unión de Guadalupe, Tesistan, San Sebastián Del Oeste, San Nicolás de Ibarra.

For the broader travel overview: Jalisco.