Pacific Coast

Region

Tropical beaches and highland cities along the Pacific. Guadalajara is the home of mariachi and tequila, Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita are beach towns, Michoacán has Pátzcuaro and the monarch butterfly reserves, and Oaxaca has its famous food, Monte Albán and the surf beaches of Puerto Escondido and Mazunte. November to April is dry.

Pacific Coast MitlaParícutinVolcán de ColimaLake ChapalaEstadio AkronSierra Madre del SurYagulLake PátzcuaroJanitzioCeborucoJuxtlahuacaIslas Marietas National ParkTequila VolcanoLake CuitzeoGuadalajara CathedralNevado de ColimaOaxaca CathedralSierra Madre de OaxacaTeatro DegolladoTeopantecuanitlanLagunas de Chacahua National ParkMorelia CathedralCapachaGuadalajara metropolitan areaLa Quebrada (Acapulco)GuadalajaraOaxaca CityPuerto VallartaTequila, JaliscoMoreliaPátzcuaroPuerto EscondidoMonte AlbánAcapulcoZapopanChilpancingoColimaTepicManzanillo, ColimaTlaquepaqueTaxcoUruapanIgualaSan Juan Bautista TuxtepecTonalá, JaliscoZamora, Michoacán

Pacific Coast essentials

Country: Mexico
Driest months: Feb-Apr
Pay in: Peso ($)
Language: Spanish
Emergency: 060

Where to Go in Pacific Coast#

City Oaxaca City Oaxaca CityOaxaca city famous for its culinary traditions City Guadalajara GuadalajaraCultural hub and second-largest city in Mexico City Puerto Vallarta Puerto VallartaPopular tourist destination on Pacific coast Island Revillagigedo Islands Revillagigedo IslandsRemote Mexican Pacific volcanic islands and marine reserve Island Socorro Island Socorro IslandVolcanic island in Revillagigedo known for diving Island San Benedicto Island San Benedicto IslandVolcanic Revillagigedo island renowned for marine life History Monte Albán Monte AlbánAncient Zapotec ceremonial center with hilltop ruins History Mitla MitlaPre-Columbian Zapotec archaeological site with intricate stone mosaics History Teopantecuanitlan TeopantecuanitlanPreclassic Mesoamerican archaeological site with monumental architecture Nature Parícutin ParícutinCinder-cone volcano that erupted from a cornfield in 1943 Nature Volcán de Colima Volcán de ColimaActive stratovolcano in Mexico with frequent eruptions Nature Sierra Madre del Sur Sierra Madre del SurCoastal mountain range in southern Mexico, rugged terrain

Regions & Cities#

Guadalajara Explore Guadalajara Guadalajara keeps mariachi bands and cantinas close to its historic core; visitors pursue live music, sample tortas ahogadas and birria, day-trip to Tequila’s agave distilleries, and browse colonial plazas and contemporary galleries. Oaxaca City Explore Oaxaca City Oaxaca draws culinary pilgrimages for mole and mezcal, artisan markets like Benito Juárez, and easy visits to Monte Albán’s Zapotec terraces; streets host tlayudas, textile workshops and frequent informal music. Puerto Vallarta Explore Puerto Vallarta A seaside malecon, hillside villas and sheltered bays define Puerto Vallarta; visitors stroll sculpted boardwalks, fish or dive off the bay, and dine on grilled mahi-mahi and shrimp at open-air restaurants. Tequila, Jalisco Explore Tequila, Jalisco A small town framed by rows of blue agave; Tequila draws distillery tours, tasting rooms, and mule-cart views of terraced fields. Morelia Explore Morelia Morelia’s pink cantera cathedral and 18th-century aqueduct anchor a compact colonial center where festivals animate plazas; visitors sample carnitas, explore baroque churches turned museums, and head out to monarch butterfly sites in the state. Pátzcuaro Explore Pátzcuaro Highland mist curls over Lake Pátzcuaro’s islands and colonial plazas; visitors linger for Purépecha markets, woodcarving workshops, lakeside fish and the island cemetery processions. Puerto Escondido Explore Puerto Escondido Puerto Escondido draws surfers to Zicatela’s heavy break and crowds who prefer La Punta’s calmer waves. Monte Albán Explore Monte Albán Monte Albán sits on a leveled plateau above the Oaxaca Valley with plazas, ball courts and carved stelae from the Zapotec civilization.

Pacific Coast at a Glance#

Local Time
12:23 PM
GMT-6
Population
21,885,629

Best Things to Do in Pacific Coast#