Puerto Vallarta is only one side to the state
IAN STALKER
Tourism officials in the Mexican state of Jalisco want tourists to see more than sea. The state is home to Puerto Vallarta, long popular with foreign vacationers, but tourism minister Vanessa Perez Lamas says that that oceanside city is only one interesting aspect to Jalisco, home to a town named Tequila that’s found in the very heartland of tequila country.
“Tequila is not just a beverage,” she said during a presentation in the recent Gala Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit tourism show, held in Puerto Vallarta. “We are… able to offer combinations (of ocean and inland experiences on the same holiday).”
Upcoming Tequila visitors will be able to take a train dubbed the Tequila Express, which operates in an area known for tequila distilleries.
“If you want to have a… party, the Tequila Express is amazing,” Perez Lamas continued.
The Tequila Trail links communities prominent in the production of tequila, with those tracing part or all of it able to tour distilleries owned by such famed brands as Jose Cuervo and Sauza, and also view fields of agave, the plant needed for tequila production.
Visit Guadalajara says of the nearby trail that visitors “can sip your way through the history of tequila.”
Jalisco is also home to several towns that have been designated as Magic Towns by Mexican authorities, receiving that label because those officials decided that they are particularly interesting for visitors.
“We really want people to know that when you come to Puerto Vallarta, there are opportunities to go to the mountains and see these small towns on day trips,” Perez Lamas added. “These Magic Towns are very close to Puerto Vallarta and are worth visiting when you’re staying in Puerto Vallarta.”
Jalisco is also home to Guadalajara, home to mariachi music, like tequila seen as emblematic of Mexico.
Perez Lamas also praised Jalisco’s Costa Alegre, which features beaches and jungle-covered mountains, and is seen as providing different stays than standard resort experiences, thanks to its quiet nature.
As well, she applauded the decision to build a new highway between Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, saying it makes it easier to explore Jalisco, which she said has a “huge variety of destinations” that will be of interest to visitors.
