• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

What to Do in Tepic, Nayarit in a Weekend

Last Updated: November 3, 2021 · Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

Are you visiting Tepic, Nayarit? This city is bursting full of sights and smells. Perfect for a weekend trip, Tepic offers a variety of attractions and nearby towns which together create one weekend full of road trips and adventure!

My story guide includes what to do and see in and around Tepic, Nayarit, including La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro, the popular coastal town of San Blas, and the Matanchén Bay.

Que lindo es Tepic, y todo Nayarit! -Banda El Recodo

Table of Contents show
Guide for Visiting Tepic in Nayarit
Tepic Day/Evening 1
Tepic Cathedral
Tepibus (Night tour)
Late-night treats at Café La Flor de Cordoba
Tepic Day 2 + La Laguna
Getting to La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro
What to do at La Laguna
Late Lunch in Tepic @ Burrito Piñata
Museo Regional de Nayarit / Nayarit Regional Museum
Other Must-See Sights in Tepic
Half Day in San Blas + Matanchén Bay
Final Thoughts: Spending the Weekend in Tepic, Nayarit

Guide for Visiting Tepic in Nayarit

Huichol Nayarit woman selling handicrafts

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Paul and I start the day off running errands. We take a bus to Sayulita to pick up our rental car from Budget (which we don’t highly recommend). After a delicious poké + smoothie bowl brunch at Organi-k in Sayulita, we head to Puerto Vallarta to tie off some last-minute to-dos.

The road to Tepic from Sayulita/San Pancho roughly takes about 2 hours 20 mins+ via Highway 200. You can also take a bus to Tepic via Hwy 200 for a budget-friendly alternative. We had to rent a car because of Yoda, our traveling kitty.

We arrive in Tepic in the late afternoon and check-in to our Airbnb at Elbita’s little guest home. This is the first road trip Paul and I take since moving to Mexico in April earlier this year (Yes, we’ve been quite settled in our pueblo known as San Pancho).

Also Read — 13 Cutest Beach Towns & Destinations in Nayarit, Mexico

Tepic Day/Evening 1

Weekend in Tepic, Nayarit | Bits of Bri

For the sake of this guide, here’s what we did + what we missed out on (but that you should try to do while you’re there!).

Tepic Cathedral

For our first night in Tepic, we walk to the centro downtown area, where the neo-Gothic Tepic Cathedral lights up the sky. The plaza principal will immediately sweep you up in its charm with its neatly-trimmed trees and shrubs that look like they come straight out of a Super Mario video game.

The square is full of entertainment and games. There was a small crowd gathering around some street performers, kids running around, vendors selling flashy toys and trinkets, and the fountain is spraying a light mist of water just in front of the brightly-lit Cathedral colored in purple lights.

Tepibus (Night tour)

After we explore the plaza and its lively side streets, we grab a torta (sandwich) at a local shop and head back to the plaza to get on the nighttime Tepibus! The Tepibus was recommended by our Airbnb host, so we ended up going for it that night in order to avoid the heat during one of the daytime bus tours.

We board the Tepibus, grabbing a seat on the top of the bus. It was a cute trolley bus and it only costs $40 pesos per person. Definitely snag a seat on top to get the full experience of the city’s sights at night!

The tour takes about an hour. The bus takes you to see Tepic’s top sights and even hidden attractions, explaining each place with an amusing Spanish audio tour.

The atmosphere of the bus is fun with music, singing, and even some scary storytelling! Don’t forget to duck your heads when going under trees as some branches and cables tend to hang low!

Late-night treats at Café La Flor de Cordoba

After our awesome Tepibus tour, Paul and I were so tired but at the same time, craving sweets. Luckily, there’s a café that stays open late on the main plaza where you can get cakes, coffee, teas, and more. We ordered one pan de platano (banana bread), an oreo cheesecake, and two fruity tisanes for bedtime. The portions are big and the prices are a-ok but we were a little disappointed by the taste!

Tepic Day 2 + La Laguna

Weekend in Tepic, Nayarit | Bits of Bri

The whole weekend announced rain for both Tepic and Santa Maria del Oro. But luckily that didn’t stop us from going!

We heard of Santa Maria del Oro and its legendary Laguna (lagoon) which sits inside an old volcano crater. Yes, it sounds magical and it is indeed a beautiful place. On your road trip there, you’ll have sweeping views of the Sanganguey volcano and lush green fields full of wildflowers.

Getting to La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro

La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro is approximately 55 km east of Tepic. Getting there is easy if you have a car, but otherwise, you need to take a bus first to the town of Santa Maria del Oro, and from there another bus/van to the lagoon. Additionally, you can rent or take a bike and travel from Santa Maria del Oro to the lagoon via the bike path (which looks pretty neat and was totally empty!).

There is a lovely view of the lagoon from atop the road before winding down the next 1-2 miles to the lake. Make sure to stop here to snap some pictures and if you like, browse the handicrafts laid out on the tables nearby. 

What to do at La Laguna

Once down at the lagoon, parking is relatively straightforward. Since it was low season, we just parked in front of the restaurant right in front of the SAMAO (Santa Maria del Oro) colorful letters.

There was hardly anyone in sight, so we just hiked along the road parallel to the lagoon. There are dozens of campsites where you can camp and eat at the adjacent restaurant. It’s the perfect quiet setting for a peaceful getaway!

santa maria del oro lake

We didn’t get the chance to rent a kayak or paddle to go out on the lagoon, nor did we get the chance to swim because the water was a little high (and it started to rain). However, I do believe renting a kayak/paddleboat/canoe/boat/or bike is possible via the little tienda that sits just next door to the restaurant under the tree by the roundabout. I am unaware of prices.

Once it began raining, Paul and I began to explore the roads via our rental. It was super mysterious for some reason because the road was very overgrown and never ended. Houses became richer and sparser, so at one point (after about 15-20 minutes) we decided to turn around and just have a drink at the restaurant while overlooking the lagoon (beware of the prices!).

Next time we’ll have to dive into the inviting, blue water as soon as there’s nice weather!!

Late Lunch in Tepic @ Burrito Piñata

The hour drive back to Tepic left Paul and me hungrier than ever. Luckily, we knew of the perfect place to get lunch; at the Burrito Piñata, a popular vegetarian Mexican restaurant.

The Burrito Piñata is actually owned by a friend whom we had the chance to meet here in San Pancho. He also is working on another Burrito Piñata, but this time it’s a co-working space for designers and other like-minded folks who earn a living online.

In fact, that’s how we ended up meeting him because our internet in San Pancho is always going out, so one day we tried out that new co-working space in town. Isn’t it funny how things work out?

Anywho, the Burrito Piñata in Tepic is the perfect place to get authentic Mexican cuisine. Not only is the food made with love by down-to-earth people, but the atmosphere of the restaurant is also cozy and inviting, with newspaper-plastered walls and tri-colored seating and miniature donkey piñatas all over the place.

It’s located about 10-15 minutes by foot from downtown Tepic. Their menu is simple and festive! Best of all, it’s affordable and delicious!

Traveler’s Tip: Don’t miss out on Burrito Piñata’s delicious apple-strawberry fritter served with a side of ice cream!

Museo Regional de Nayarit / Nayarit Regional Museum

We sadly didn’t have time to visit the Nayarit Regional Museum because of closing hours on weekends (9-3 on Saturday, closed on Sunday, and open 9-6 weekdays).

Nonetheless, a visit to the museum is extremely worthwhile as it is full of pre-Hispanic traditions of Nayarit out on beautiful display throughout seven different exhibition halls. We regret not checking ahead for the opening hours (what NOT to do while in Tepic..).

You can find more information about what to expect at the museum here. Entry costs $50 pesos.

After we saw that both this museum and the Juan Escutia House-Museum were closed, Paul and I went back to the main square to go inside the Tepic Cathedral. A mass was in session at the time, so we stood at the back and listened in for a while. The inside of the neo-Gothic cathedral is beautifully decorated, so make sure to stop by, even if just for a moment!

Other Must-See Sights in Tepic

Weekend in Tepic, Nayarit | Bits of Bri

Here are some other top Tepic sights and attractions we didn’t have time for, but that I would recommend looking into before your trip.

  • Emilia Ortiz Contemporary Art Center (free entry)
  • Amado Nervo House-Museum (free entry)
  • Museum of the Five Peoples (free entry)
  • La Loma Park
  • Hiking to Mirador Las Aguilas

As you can see, there are many things to do and see in and around Tepic!

Half Day in San Blas + Matanchén Bay

Take advantage of Tepic and its environs by visiting San Blas and Matachén Bay. San Blas is a bustling local town marked by its rich history as a seaport for the Spanish colonialization.

To get there, take the interstate from Tepic all the way to San Blas. The trip is quick, with lots of rolling hills in between to observe.

Paul and I park our car on a quaint side street. We stroll along searching for some breakfast when we stumble upon a quaint, authentic Mexican restaurant. We walk to the Center Plaza, where historic buildings still standing (some crumbling) make the atmosphere enchanting.

Paul and I didn’t have much time to explore. Plus, we were traveling with our cat Yoda so we were slightly limited.

In any case, here is what I recommend you to visit if you’re spending some time in San Blas.

  • Visit the Contaduría, a 1770 stronghold that sits atop the San Basilio Hill.
  • Tour the Rosario Temple ruins (down the hill from Contaduría).
  • Check out the Battalion of San Blas
  • Surf and beach it up at Las Islitas
  • See turtles, crocs, and more at the Cocodrilio Kiekari
  • Take a river tour through the mangroves at La Tovara National Park

After our quick tour around San Blas, we packed up the car and headed toward the Matachén Bay to check out the beach. There was hardly anyone, with the exception of restaurant staff workers waving down our car to park at their restaurant.

We hopped out of the car and took a quick dip in the bay. Hammocks were lined on the edge of the water and children were playing happily in the sand. Matachén Bay seems like the perfect location for young couples or families since there are little to no waves in the bay.

Right when we went to leave and head back home to San Pancho, a sweet lady approached us selling her fresh-out-of-the-oven banana bread with chocolate chips for only 70 pesos. It was the perfect treat for the ride home!!

Final Thoughts: Spending the Weekend in Tepic, Nayarit

Tepic is the capital of the state of Nayarit, and while I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite city visited thus far in Mexico, it definitely offers an arrange of culture, art, and history for nationals and internationals to discover!

Have you been to Tepic? What would you recommend doing while there? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for making it this far in my guide to Tepic! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out.

  • Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
  • Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
  • Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
  • Share via EmailShare via Email

By: Bri · In: Mexico, Riviera Nayarit

you’ll also love

drone view of Papaya Playa Project hotel in Tulum Mexico9 Best Eco Boutique Hotels in Tulum
colorful Real de Guadalupe pedestrian street in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico20 Things to Do in San Cristóbal de Las Casas: Mexico’s Colorful Mountain Town
floating down sian ka'an lagoon in mexicoFloating Down Ancient Mayan Canals in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steve Bennett says

    January 23, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    Nice blog post Brittany. I’ve been to San Blas and the ruins, as well as the bay – gorgeous! Glad to know that you made it there.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      January 24, 2019 at 5:35 pm

      Thank so much, Steve! It was a quick and fun weekend trip with Paul and Yoda. Hoping to get to Guanajuato or San Miguel de Allende this spring!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

3 Days in Jaisalmer, India + Camel Safari in The Thar Desert

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

Rooftop cafe in Antigua Guatemala overlooking volcanoes

15 Best Hotels in Antigua: Where to Stay in Guatemala’s Colonial Gem

French Candied Chestnuts Recipe

girl at restaurant in san pedro la laguna

12 Best Places to Eat in San Pedro La Laguna

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 >>

I used to loathe eating alone in public but Japan literally is where you go to do just that! 🍜🍡🍣

My confidence level after walking into this bar and taking up space with no fear 🥲❤️‍🔥

Have you ever felt intimidated to eat alone in public or alone as a woman? 🙈 

S/o to all the courteous men and women who made me feel so welcome as a solo female traveler in Japan. No matter whether I was eating at 9pm in some random place on a rainy night or midday in a stand-up bar drinking beer, I was never judged nor “talked up” once. And it was amazing and freeing and sooo appreciated 🤍⚡️

#japantravel #solofemaletraveler #japanfood #solotravelstories #localtravel
Dear me, thank you 🥰 This is your sign to tak Dear me, thank you 🥰 

This is your sign to take yourself to your dream destination (even—or especially—if you have to go solo!) ✨✨✨

Follow along to see my adventures in Japan! 🇯🇵 

#japantrip #solotraveling #japanawaits #travelingsolo #mindfultravel
Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India) 🇮🇳 

1. Waiting on India's first digital nomad conference to start! (CYF CON) 

2a. The funkiest hippie/night market in Anjuna

2b. Overlooking the beautiful and historic Panjim (the capital of Goa) 🌴

2c. One of the oldest + most popular Portuguese Baroque-style chapels in Goa (Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim)

3. I specifically requested a yellow scooter just so I could take a picture like this lol 🛵

4a. Kitty portrait inside a really cool speakeasy

4b. Feeling cute at the cutest little outdoor gin cocktail bar 

4c. Sunset over Chapora Bay + Arabian Sea

4d. Nightlife / beach shacks on Arpora 

5. Looking out at the sea from atop the ruined Chapora Fort

6. Bollywood dancing with the gals 💃🏼

7. Street shot in Panjim 📸

8. Wandering around the Fontainhas Latin Quarter (Panjim)

9a. Morjim Beach (shot from atop Chapora Fort)

9b. Local Goans + holy cow walking on Mandrem beach at sunset 🌅 

10. Enjoying our stay at the lovely  @anamivagoa 

PS. All of these memories and experiences wouldn’t have been possible without @nurall_co 💛 Nurall's next remote work retreat is in KHAO LAK, THAILAND 🇹🇭this July 2023 (cost: $900 USD only). Comment or DM me for an extra 5% off if you’re interested in signing up!

#goa #indiatraveldiaries #morjim #anjuna #panjim #slowtravel #remoteworklife #nomadiccreators #digitalnomadgirls
Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling up your business, a digital nomad / remote work retreat is one of the best ways to work remotely and travel! 💻✈️

I’ve rounded up some of the best curated trips and retreats out there in my latest blog post (🔗 in bio to check it out!) 

Featured in my guide are:

@nurall_co 
@beunsettled 
@minoma.co 
@workwanderers
@the_nomad_escape
@remoteyear

Types of experiences you could discover with these guys range from training for 🥊 Muay Thai in Khao Lak, Thailand (@nurall_co co) to 🥾 hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain (@beunsettled) to ⛺️ camping out in the desert of Morocco (@minoma.co), and more!

WHY JOIN A NOMAD / REMOTE WORK RETREAT? 👇

Retreats offer curated itineraries/experiences designed to bring you epic adventures in bucket list destinations, plug you into the local scene, and collab with like-minded souls — all while leveling up your business/entrepreneurial skills and remote lifestyle and giving you creative space to cowork in beautiful places. 🤗

On a digital nomad retreat, you might...

💡Strike a new business idea
⚡️Spark a sweet romance with a stranger
👀 Get your project noticed by an investor
🥰 Form a life-long friendship (or a few!)
🌿 Build a new brand from scratch
💃 Change directions completely in your personal life
🧘‍♀️ Strengthen your sense of self, confidence, and spirituality

These are just examples of the very many outcomes you could gain from attending a digital nomad retreat.

In short, these programs have the power to evoke positive change in your life and, more often than not, your investment is rewarded handsomely (in more ways than one). ✌️

I’m long-time digital slomad, but after discovering Goa, India with @nurall_co I’m most definitely going to attend more retreats like this in the future! ✨✨

*Not spons, btw! Just sharing ways you can find a community of digital nomads, whether you want to be one or already are one! 👩🏼‍💻💛

My blog guide shares the deets about price, location, etc — go check it out and save this reel! ✨

#digitalnomads #remoteworkandtravel #grouptravel #grouptrip #remoteworklife #laptoplifestyle #digitalnomadgirls
< 1 week until we get to do this again! Adventur < 1 week until we get to do this again! 

Adventures await us in our beasty 1990 Roadtrek 🚐🌲🥾 — she’s been sitting out winter in Washington while we tanned our toes in Mexico 🇲🇽 

I’ve never been able to choose between the mountains ⛰️ and the sea 🌊 … you? 

Tell me what kind of summer you’re manifesting in the comments! 🧡

#vanlife #summeriscoming #granolagirl #roadtrek #pnwadventures #outdoorsy #homeiswhereyouparkit
And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 I’m stoked (read 90 And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 

I’m stoked (read 90% nervous, 10% excited), to share that @slomadstories is officially OUT THERE! 

I actually had the first episode published on April 4th, but was too shy to share about it until now. 

But, as you’ll hear when you tune in... (🥳) this podcast isn’t just about highlighting raw, meaningful stories of adventure by ordinary people who seek an extraordinary life — YES, it’s mostly about that — but the very heart of this podcast is about DOING things despite how much they SCARE you or thrust you into the UNKNOWN.

I’ve always *tried* to live my one very short life by seeking to know, chasing curiosity, and jumping headfirst into the journey. 

— This podcast is simply a new endeavor, a new project that WILL NOT stop whispering at my heart. I’ve been trying to deny this urge, this tug, for so long! The whispers started in 2020 when a person who I thought would become a close friend bailed on the idea to start one together. So I let the idea go, for a while. But then it came back twice as strong in 2022, when I was living as a temporary nomad in Portugal for two months. It was there that I had my podcast cover art designed. That was already 1.5 years ago! 

Life passes us by...

We hear the whispers, we see the project coming to life in our heads, we feel the pull...

But we say no over and over again, and we make very legitimate excuses, until ultimately, the idea, the spark, the magic, fades; it chooses someone else to birth the idea and manifest itself into creation (something I learned reading “Big Magic” by Liz Gilbert, it’s amazing, go read it!). 

I have no idea why I felt the need to start a podcast, it’s not like I am already juggling enough.

But I wanted to, for me.

For you ✨ 

For everyone who ever chased that feeling, that tug. 

Because that?? 

That’s been my life for the last decade. I moved abroad countless times — and stayed — from Nepal to Mexico and beyond, and I would’ve never done ANY of it if I had not listened to the whispers.

This podcast is about continuing in the pursuit of the unknown, seeking more, and taking decisive action.

Welcome to Slomad Stories, & thank you for being here. 🧡

Xx,
Bri
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • My Blog Course
  • Slomad Stories Podcast
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

0 shares