Tepic: Snapshots of Everyday Mexico
- Moises Guardado
- Jul 31, 2025
- 4 min read
Tepic is the city where I grew up. In my early years, this place was everything to me—my streets, my games, my very first stories. It was here that I discovered the world, and it was also my gateway to it. That’s why talking about Tepic isn’t just talking about a city; it’s talking about my roots, about the authentic Mexico that shaped me and that I carry with me wherever I go.
Nestled between two popular tourist hubs—Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara—Tepic often goes unnoticed by visitors from abroad. But for me, that makes it all the more special: a corner of the country where deep-rooted Mexican culture still thrives—in its flavors, its history, and its people. And I like to think that by sharing it with others, I’m sharing a part of myself.
A City Steeped in Centuries of History
Tepic sits in the fertile Matatipac Valley, surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and rivers. Its name has various meanings in Nahuatl: “place of solid stones,” “land of corn,” or “place on the hill.” Anyone who’s walked its streets knows all of these could be true. We know the city existed long before Nuño de Guzmán officially founded it as a town in 1531. The conquistador Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura—nephew of Hernán Cortés—recorded that around then, the site already had about 200 houses and 400 men. He described a vast plain crossed by the beautiful Mololoa River, with distinct neighborhoods, bustling markets, and people dressed in cotton trading corn. This means Tepic was a lively center of commerce and culture even before it got its name.
Walking through Tepic’s historic downtown, I can feel that legacy beneath my feet.
Ancient buildings still stand strong—like the impressive Cathedral, the grand Casona de los Aguirre, and the Nayarit Regional History Museum. The latter, built in the 18th century nearly 300 years ago, has served many purposes: a residence, a school, and even the seat of the German consulate, established to protect European business interests in the nearby port of San Blas.
These details reveal Tepic’s vital role in western Mexico’s economic development, and how this modest yet sturdy city has always been at the crossroads of commerce, culture, and history in the region.
Strolling through downtown feels like traveling through a living timeline. You pass by cantera stone houses with wrought-iron balconies, shops with over two centuries of history—like Librería Retes, the oldest bookstore in Mexico and Latin America, and one of the six oldest bookstores worldwide. Parks where children still play as we once did, and older gentlemen sit quietly watching the afternoon go by, as if nothing has changed.
Tepic is a city of traditions and unique rhythms, where people still greet each other on the street, where churros are bought in the afternoon and enjoyed with coffee at home. It’s a place where modern life blends seamlessly with memory, and every corner holds something that belongs to us.
The Living Heritage of Indigenous Peoples
Beyond its colonial and urban character, Tepic is deeply rooted in its indigenous heritage. The first inhabitants of this valley left a mark that can still be felt today. One beautiful example of this cultural continuity is Zitakua, a neighborhood founded and inhabited by families from the Wixárika community. They came to the city but never lost their traditions. In Zitakua, you can see offerings, taste traditional cuisine, purchase handmade art—like the famous yarn paintings—and, if you’re lucky, witness a ceremony led by Marakame Rutilio, a spiritual guide who keeps the sacred Wixárika connection alive.
Additionally, right in the historic center, the City of Indigenous Arts was inaugurated—a space dedicated to promoting and preserving the art, language, and worldview of Nayarit’s native peoples. It’s a place not only for exhibitions but also for learning, teaching, and celebration.
For me, these places are not just part of the landscape—they are part of who we are.
Tepic: The Perfect Starting Point to Explore Nayarit
Another thing that makes Tepic special is its location. From here, you can easily explore some of Nayarit’s most beautiful and authentic destinations:
San Blas: A colonial town with a historic port, mangroves, and tranquil beaches.
Mexcaltitán: The mythical island considered by some as the cradle of Aztlán, the ancestral homeland of the Mexica people.
Jala: A "Pueblo Mágico" known for the Ceboruco Volcano, a sleeping giant where fumaroles are still visible.
Ixtlán del Río: Famous for its hot springs and the Los Toriles archaeological site, one of the few circular structures in ancient Mexico.
Santa María del Oro Lake: A stunning volcanic crater lake surrounded by lush forest, perfect for swimming, kayaking, and relaxing in nature.
Tepic is undoubtedly the ideal gateway for those who want to experience Nayarit from its heart, not just its coasts.
Tepic: A Window into Inland Mexico
Tepic is history, tradition, flavor, and modernity. It’s a city where you can enjoy shrimp pozole or Nayarit-style seafood dishes that have been part of our identity for centuries—even surrounded by mountains rather than the sea. Here, grandmothers still cook as their mothers taught them, while young chefs experiment with local recipes to create innovative cuisine. You can have breakfast in a trendy café or a traditional fonda; walk through a plaza with WiFi and hear, in the background, the bells ringing from a centuries-old church.
For me, showing Tepic to visitors is sharing not just a city but a piece of my life. Because Tepic didn’t just give me my name, my accent, or my memories—it gave me a way to see the world: simpler, deeper, and more connected to what truly matters.
So if you come to Nayarit, don’t leave without discovering its capital—a small city where the deep Mexico still breathes, the Mexico that taught me to look at the world.
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