ComalaComala at a Glance
Costs: $40-90 typical daily budget - very affordable small‑town Mexico; cheap local food and lodging.
Safety: Generally safe for visitors - generally tourist-friendly; use normal precautions after dark.
Best Time: November-May - dry, sunny months are best for volcano views and town strolls.
Why Visit Comala?
Designated a Pueblo Mágico, this whitewashed town attracts travelers for its colonial charm, panoramic views of the Volcán de Colima and its relaxed café culture. Comala’s plazas and narrow streets pair well with local coffee, traditional pozole and artisanal crafts sold by nearby families. The town’s literary and cultural associations add an evocative backdrop to slow afternoons and regional festivals.
Best Things to Do in Comala
Mountain
Volcán de Colima
Active stratovolcano in Mexico with frequent eruptions
Mountain
Nevado de Colima
Active stratovolcano on Jalisco-Colima border
Archaeological Site
Capacha
Preclassic archaeological site with distinctive pottery finds
Park
Volcán Nevado de Colima National Park
National park protecting Colima volcano and volcanic landscapes
Comala Bucket List
Don't Miss
Plaza de Comala - Sit in Plaza de Comala to watch daily life amid whitewashed buildings and palms.
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel - Visit Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel to admire local religious art and architecture.
Museo Regional de Comala - Explore the small regional museum showcasing local history, crafts, and rural traditions.
Hidden Gems
Casa de los Tres Patios - Discover Casa de los Tres Patios for charming courtyards and artisanal displays.
Coffee fincas near town - Tour nearby coffee fincas to learn processing methods and enjoy fresh-roasted samples.
Mirador de la Cruz - Walk up to Mirador de la Cruz for quiet sunset views over Comala valley.
Day Trips
Volcán de Colima viewpoint - Take a day trip to viewpoints facing Volcán de Colima for dramatic volcanic panoramas.
Colima city centre - Visit Colima city for museums, colonial plazas, and regional gastronomy experiences.
Nearby Cities #
Best Time to Visit Comala
Visit Comala in the dry season (November-April) for clear skies, pleasant days and cooler nights. The rainy season (May-October) makes the hills lush but brings frequent afternoon storms.
Dry Season
Pleasant daytime warmth and crisp nights - perfect for wandering gardens, colonial streets, and nearby volcano viewpoints without afternoon downpours.
Rainy Season
Daily afternoon rains green the hills and cool the air - driving and some trails may be muddy, but waterfalls are spectacular.
Cool Season
Coolest, driest months with brisk mornings - best for coffee plantations, fewer mosquitoes, and cozy evenings in town plazas; bring a light jacket.
Comala's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 15°C to 36°C. Moderate rainfall (932 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 15° - 32° | 23° | 29 mm | mostly sunny | 64% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 very high | 11.0h |
| February | Ideal | 15° - 33° | 24° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 61% | 1.6 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 11.4h |
| March | Excellent | 15° - 34° | 24° | 1 mm | clear | 53% | 1.8 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 11.9h |
| April | Excellent | 16° - 35° | 26° | 1 mm | clear | 46% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 extreme | 12.5h |
| May | Excellent | 18° - 36° | 27° | 15 mm | mostly sunny | 51% | 1.9 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 12.9h |
| June | Good | 21° - 34° | 30° | 120 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 13.2h |
| July | Acceptable | 21° - 33° | 27° | 201 mm | overcast | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 13.1h |
| August | Acceptable | 21° - 32° | 26° | 222 mm | overcast | 82% | 1.3 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.7h |
| September | Acceptable | 20° - 32° | 26° | 214 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 12.1h |
| October | Very Good | 20° - 33° | 26° | 87 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.6h |
| November | Excellent | 18° - 33° | 25° | 26 mm | mostly sunny | 73% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.1h |
| December | Ideal | 16° - 32° | 24° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 68% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 high | 10.9h |
How to Get to Comala
Comala is easiest reached by flying to Colima (CLQ) or Guadalajara (GDL) and continuing by car or bus to Colima city and on to Comala. Intercity buses between Guadalajara and Colima are frequent and comfortable; local taxis or colectivos handle the final leg to Comala.
Colima / Playa de Oro International Airport (CLQ): The nearest airport to Comala and Colima city. From CLQ you can take a taxi or rent a car-taxi to Comala or Colima city typically takes 20-40 minutes and costs roughly MXN 300-600 depending on exact pickup/drop-off.
Guadalajara International Airport (GDL): Guadalajara is a major international hub about 2-3 hours from Comala by road. From GDL you can rent a car or take an intercity bus to Colima city (bus travel commonly 2.5-3.5 hours, fares around MXN 250-450) and then a short taxi or local bus to Comala.
Train: Mexico has no national intercity passenger rail service in this region, so trains are not an option for reaching Comala.
Bus / Intercity coach: Intercity buses run from Guadalajara and Manzanillo to Colima city; Colima bus station has services and local buses/taxis to Comala (short trip, low fare). Premium coach lines (e.g., ETN/Primera Plus/ETN) operate on the Guadalajara-Colima corridor with comfortable coaches and luggage space; expect 2.5-3.5 hours travel time depending on service.
How to Get Around Comala
Comala is best reached by bus or car from Colima or Guadalajara; once there, taxis, local buses and walking make it easy to explore the compact town and nearby viewpoints. Renting a car gives maximum flexibility for regional day trips.
- Intercity bus (Colima-Guadalajara routes) (MXN 250-450) - Comfortable private coach operators run frequent services between Guadalajara and Colima city. Buses are reliable, air-conditioned and a popular choice for visitors without a car. From Colima city take a short taxi or local bus up to Comala.
- Taxi / Private transfer (MXN 200-600) - Taxis from CLQ or Colima city provide a fast direct connection to Comala and its hilltop viewpoints. Negotiate or use official airport taxis; private transfers can be arranged through hotels for convenience.
- Rental car (From MXN 400/day) - Hiring a car is excellent for exploring Comala, the surrounding coffee farms and Colima region at your own pace. Roads to Comala involve short mountain drives-drive with care, particularly in wet conditions.
- Local bus / Colectivo (Low (MXN)) - Local buses and colectivos connect Colima city with Comala and neighbouring villages. They are inexpensive and frequent for short trips; schedules can be irregular in off-peak hours.
- Motorbike / Scooter (MXN 150-300/day) - For nimble local travel around Comala and nearby scenic roads, scooters or motorbikes are an option in good weather. Exercise caution on steep or winding sections and check hire insurance.
- Walking - Comala’s main streets, plazas and viewpoints are best explored on foot-walking reveals the town’s architecture, cafés and local life. The town is small but uphill in places.
Where to Stay in Comala
Budget
Comala centro - MXN 200-600/night
Comala has a few cheap guesthouses and hostal-style rooms aimed at budget travellers and backpackers.
Mid-Range
Historic centre - MXN 600-1,400/night
Popular mid-range boutique hotels and cosy colonial-era guesthouses-book ahead for festivals.
Luxury
Comala centro / small boutique hotels - MXN 1,400+/night
A few upscale boutique options exist but no large resort chains; expect charming, higher-priced colonial stays.
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Comala’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Comala
Nightlife in Comala is quiet and focused on restaurants, small cantinas and cultural evenings rather than clubs. Weekends can bring live music or community events in the plaza, but nightlife is generally low-key.
Shopping in Comala
Comala offers small artisan shops selling local crafts, food products and coffee; you’ll find souvenir stalls around the main plaza. For supermarkets or a wider selection, head to the city of Colima.