Ceboruco
A picnic in the crater of an active
volcano?
YES !
Depart at 7 AM - - - - - - 9 Hrs
This is a long day trip, but well worth the time spent to see some of the
most beautiful places in our state of Nayarit.
We leave at 7am. The drive to Tepic takes us up to 4,500
feet in 40 miles through 9 vegetative zones including the coffee plantations
that grow beneath the canopy of the Mango trees, avocado orchards and
incredible views looking out over miles of green jungle mountains and valleys.
We stop for breakfast at a lovely vegetarian restaurant called Girasol before
driving through Tepic, past the sugar cane and tobacco factories to the Maxipista,
or "freeway" towards Guadalajara. We drive on this road for less than
an hour and it takes us through the large lava fields of black rock on both
sides of the highway as we pass the volcano.
Ceboruco blew in 1875, and although still considered active there has been no
recent activity and is not considered dangerous. There are many interesting mountains
and volcanic cinder cones in this area that is known as the volcanic coast. It
is a farming area, its fertility due to the rich soil from the volcanic ash from
years gone by.
We exit at Jala, a colonial pueblo, and stop for a break. We will visit a most
fascinating colonial church built during the time of the Spaniards. It is a
stop that everyone always enjoys and gives us a chance to stretch and rest
before we ascend the volcano. The town itself is a classically colonial, with
narrow streets.
The road to the top is cobbled for 15 kilometers, and again takes us through
many vegetative zones with oak forests, incredible plants that have flowers 20
feet tall, orchids, road runners, and views that are astounding.
Driving into the crater is always a thrill
with sulfuric steam coming out the
side of the mountain and many varieties of plants and different types of rocks.
Here we will have our picnic that the cooks have prepared for us, bolillo
sandwiches with fresh tomatoes, cukes, cheeses, ham, and lettuce or onion. Along
with cold beer, pop, juices, fruit and sweet treats.
We usually spend about an hour in the crater, time for people to hike
around, get close to the hot, hot steam and feel the
power of the mountain. Try to resist the urge to collect things, rocks and
plants. One trip we watched two dung beetles roll a very round piece of dung a
very long ways, over and around and through things in a miraculous endeavor of
cooperation.
On our return we will go by way of the other side of the volcano a short ways
on the "free road" just so you can see some more of the state and
experience the difference between the Maxipista and the free roads. This road
takes us through an incredible area of lava thrown from the volcano, the remnants of
the last eruption, and returns us to the Maxipista, where we descend through
Compostela, Las Varas and back to Custodio. It is a kind of loop, with stops
along the way. A very beautiful tour through the mountains and valleys of
Nayarit, the most beautiful state in Mexico.
We return before dark, for a nice swim in the pool and the wonderful supper
that the cooks have prepared for us.