san blas mexico

Matanchen, Nayarit, Mexico

The little village of Matanchen is about 3 miles south of San Blas on the road to Vallarta. The beach from there to Aticama is also called Matanchen.



Right before you get into town there is a pond on the right - a crocodile lives here but you have to look close because it looks like a log. As you get into town you will come to the main embarcation point for La Torava. About 5 years ago they build a large parking lot and put up several buildings to welcome the tour buses coming in from Puerto Vallarta.

A big shock for those of you who have not been here for a while - the old Hotel Colon and the surrounding coconut plantation has been removed and replaced with a huge beer deposito. You can see it for miles around - even from the once pristine beaches of Las Islitas.

If you keep going staight onto the dirt road you will reach Matanchen Bay. Off to the right is Las Islitas. The deepest and best swimming beach is about a mile down by the 'little islands'. On the left is Matanchen Beach - a long strech of sandy beach great for walking.

Matanchen is famous for it's banana bread - and they also offer cocadas, corn bread and bread make with yaka - a local fruit. If you go down the road a bit towards Las Islitas you will come to Juan Bananas who actually started the banana bread craze that has been going on here for the last 30 years.

As you leave town going towards Vallarta you will see a sign for the crocodile farm off to the left. If you don't have time to take the boat trip to La Tovara, a short trip to the crocodile farm makes a good alternative. On the other side of the street you can see the ETC Beach Club. This place has a pool and is open on weekends and holidays serving seafood and drinks.

A bus leaves every hour on the hour form the main bus stations in San Blas for El Llano. You can get off at Matanchen. It costs about 5 or 6 pesos.