San Sebastián del Oeste is a must for residents and tourists and it is a small town that is located about 70 kilometers from Puerto Vallarta, nestled in the mountainous area of Jalisco.
In this earthly paradise known as Bahía de Banderas, not everything is sea. On one hand, there are the blessings of having wonderful beaches along with the exuberant and happy life of the tropics in the region of Puerto Vallarta. It's true, and what a great privilege it is. However, another of the attractions of this area are its mountains. The majestic Sierra Madre Occidental practically gets into the Pacific Ocean to create an incomparable binomial of sea and mountain, forest and jungle, which make the bay unique. Sierra Madre Occidental It practically enters the Pacific Ocean to create an incomparable combination of sea and mountains, forest and jungle, which make the bay unique.
A Pueblo Mágico and attractive town, this unique villa dates from the colonial era. In the years of Spanish rule, Real de San Sebastián was a thriving gold and silver producer center. Trough the years, the mining activity went off and the town started losing wealth and inhabitants. However, San Sebastian today still has echoes of past splendor in its charming streets, houses and haciendas.
Like taken from a postcard
Arriving from the road to this town located 1,480 meters above the sea level has its charm. The landscapes are wonderful and the reward for traveling the road full of curves that leads to San Sebastian is to arrive at a place that looks like something out of a postcard. It is a town of a calm rhythm of life, in the middle of forest and mountains with friendly people. in the middle of forests and mountains, with simple and friendly people.
One can visit it only for a few hours and will have a great time in San Sebastian. Others stay overnight to immerse themselves in the peace of this town of white-walled houses with roofs of clay tiles. This style, by the way, was inherited by the houses of the old Puerto Vallarta, which was populated by migrants from the mountain range since the 19th century, after the decline of mining.
Like all traditional towns, the church stands out in the center. In this case the temple is dedicated to San Sebastián Mártir, the patron saint, and dates from the 17th century. Opposite, there are the traditional portals, with shops and crowded restaurants.
Mario lives in Guadalajara and loves this Jalisco town. He explains his reasons: "The view is beautiful, the cobblestone streets and its environment is that of a magic town, with its uniformly white facades and red roofs. Absolute tranquility and several cottages / hotels to stay. Walking, it is covered in a couple of hours. "
Constructions with history, cobblestone streets
San Sebastian attracts and subjugates nationals and foreigners. Houses and haciendas full of history, quiet cobbled streets, cafes, bars, cozy little hotels (some stand since the 18th or 19th centuries), constitute a good part of the offer for the enjoyment of the visitors.
Wow, you eat well here. Together with establishments delicious regional and mexican food, the town can boast of having high-quality European-type restaurants, excellent decoration, good service and a pleasant atmosphere.
You can drink and buy a remarkable organic coffee planted in some of the coffee farms in the vicinity. Likewise, in the bars of San Sebastián they offer the powerful raicilla, as well as cocktails made with this distillate related to tequila.
Lookout to the past and the bay
A must visit is the House Museum of Doña Conchita Encarnación. It is small, it is housed in an old building located in the center of the town and rescues the historical memory of the region and its owner's family.
No less important is the Mirador de la BufaNo less important is the Mirador de la Bufa, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view. You have to arrive by ATV and at the end you have to walk through the middle of a beautiful forest of pines, oaks and ash trees. Hopefully, if the weather permits, you can see the Bay of Banderas and Puerto Vallarta, plus, of course, the nearby mountains and valleys.
Something that is usually done in San Sebastián and its surroundings is to practice hikingYou can walk a lot, which, you know is a magnificent exercise for the body and allows you to admire the natural and architectural wonders of this magical corner of the Jalisco mountain.
By Diego Arrazola
