Beyond the Beach: Discovering the Soul of Nayarit, Mexico
I am almost at the end of my third month’s stay in Bucerias, Mexico, part of the state of Nayarit. A region full of stunning beaches that borders the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, where so many colonial towns have managed yet struggled to preserve their identity and heritage. Quite a contrast with the impact of tourism and modernization seen near the coastline. The beach town of Bucerias sits somewhere in the middle between the dramatic transformation of coastal tourist towns like Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta and the region’s historic inland communities managing economically while preserving their traditions. Bucerias still feels like a functioning Mexican town. People live here year round. Fishermen still launch boats. Local families continue to occupy many neighborhoods. Yet the forces of change are increasingly visible….
