Explore the unique town of El Tuito, home to the parish of St. Peter the Apostle and many local shops and restaurants.
Only 30 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta is the small town of El Tuito. Considered one of the Pueblos Magicos (Charming Towns) of the Jalisco region in Mexico, this town boasts a peaceful character. El Tuito, meaning “beautiful small valley” is the perfect name for the quaint community of no more than 4,500 inhabitants. Explore this unique town that is home to a sports center and the famous parish of St. Peter the Apostle with local guide, Angel Alberto.
The Independence of El Tuito
As a small village, the journey to obtain status as an independent municipality of Cabo Corrientes was a long and winding road. Originally, El Tuito was part of the municipality of Tomatlan before being acquired by Mascota. The town took its final shift to being a part of Puerto Vallarta before declaring independence in 1944. Over 75 years the town still celebrates with festivities that run from January 6th to 12th in the parish with an offering to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Peruse the Local Shops
When visiting El Tuito, make sure to experience the portal just half a block from the municipal plaza. You may notice the local hardware shop selling items such as machetes. These stores supply all the basics that the agriculture and livestock workers need. Just next door you can find a small butcher shop. Be sure to stop in here for pork rind, a delicious breakfast item eaten by the locals. Eat it plain or add more flavour with a green tomato sauce, either way you are sure to love this crispy treat.
On Sundays, enjoy El Mercadito
From 9 AM to 2 PM, all Sundays, El Tuito town square is home to El Mercadito, a lively farmer’s market where you can find fresh local produce, colorful hand-made jewerly, clothing and decorative pieces, artisanal cheeses, bread, sweets and of course, a great variety of traditional mexican dishes such as quesadillas, sopes, tacos de guisado. This is a great family activity, with activities for all ages, including regional dances and art workshops. Visiting El Tuito on Sundays is a great way to support the local communities economy. For more information check their Facebook profile.
Get a Bite to Eat at El Patio de Mario
Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at El Patio de Mario, a typical hacienda since 1788, we are here to try the typical Tuito’s cheeses “panela” and “jocoque”. This patio creates a peaceful ambiance, the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate during your day trip to El Tuito. Run by Mario and his family you are able to experience traditional dishes, raicilla, handmade tortillas and yummy margaritas. This restaurant has made a name for itself among tourists.
Explore the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle
Take the time to tour the church of St. Peter the Apostle, also known as the church of El Tuito. This church is more than 200 years old. With very few inhabitants this town largely relies on its faith with 99.9% of villagers identifying as catholic. As the pride of the community, the villagers gather here to practice their religion and spread their messages through song. We are in the outskirts of El Tuito, we are in the cemetery.
Visit the Town of El Columpio for Fresh Baked Bread
Just 15 minutes from the heart of El Tuito is El Columpio, home to a delicious family bakery. Make sure to schedule a stop to purchase some fresh bread from the local bakers that have been passing down the recipes and techniques for generations. Starting with a single small oven, the shop has grown to be open 7 days a week. Each day of the week the bread is made by one of the 7 brothers who run the business. They will teach their sons and nephews the trade and the delicious tradition will be held for the years to come.
