Chacala
Chacala is a peaceful fishing village home to approximately 300 full time residents and receives many seasonal residents and visitors during the winter months. It is a favored beach destination for Mexican families during the most popular vacation periods such as Semana Santa (Easter Week) and New Years. Chacala has one of the most pristine beaches along the coastline; soft golden sand lined with coconut trees and palapa (thatched-roof) restaurants. The town still retains an unhurried lifestyle and the locals are very friendly and welcoming.
It name means “where the shrimp are” in Nahuatl, the language of the Nahua peoples of central central Mexico.
Arts and Music
Every year in March Chacala plays host to its Festival de Musica y Artes. The festival features a wide variety of, artists, writers, and musicians. Local musicians, and community performances are joined by headliners from Mexico and beyond.
The festival also showcases local chefs, brewers, and distillers.
More more information please see links below:
- Chacala Music and Art Festival
- Chacala Artists Residency
- Chacala Literary Festival
- Chacala Mariachi Institute
- Chacala Cultural Foundation
Another great music and arts festival along the Riviera Nayarit is the San Pancho Music Festival in February. San Pancho is located 40 minutes south from Chacala on intestate 200.
More information about the San Pancho Music Festival can be found here:
Food and Restaurants
Chacala is indeed “where the shrimp are”. Purchase kilos of inexpensive, and delectably sweet shrimp fresh from local Pescaderías, along with whatever catch of the day is in season.
Bring your local catch down to the restaurants on the beach to have them prepare you a brilliant ceviche, or a traditional Pescado Zarendeado, a barbecued whole fish with a savory rub.
Many of great restaurants on the beach serve a wide variety of seafood prepared in several classic styles. Off the beach you will find restaurants serving a more terrestrial fare.
Polo Club
The La Patrona Polo and Equestrian Club in San Pancho offers a spectacular venue to catch a world class polo match, and partake in their inspiring haute cuisine brunches in one of their two culinary centers.
Matches are played on one of three primary fields, two open, and one indoor area.
Besides polo matches, La Patrona also hosts equestrian tournaments and exhibitions, and classes with training facilities.
For more information please click the link below:
Nayarit
Easily explore the rest of what Nayarit has to offer from Chacala.
Visit many of the neighboring small towns along the Riviera like Sayulita, San Pancho, or Guayabitos on their respective market days, and tap into the local community.
Modern luxuries, commercial centers, golf resorts, and entertainment venues can be found in towns along the Bahia de Banderas like Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, and Punta de Mita, or in the interior in Nayarit largest city Tepic.
Jalisco
Jalisco is a large and populous state that surrounds Nayarit, and has a multitude of cultural destinations.
The town of Tequila is only 2h 50min west from Chacala, and is home to many famous distilleries.
Past Tequila is Mexico second most populous city of Guadalajara, with its famous art districts of Tlaquepaque, and Tonala.