Tepic

Understand

It was established in 1531 after Hernando Cortes and his sidekick Nuño de Guzmán claimed the area as Nueva Galicia for Spain while ravaging the Uto-Aztecan peoples like the Cora and Huichol. Guzman spared no opportunity in whetting his bloodlust while going here and there trying to uncover the fabled Cibola, that is, Seven Cities of Gold. The savagery led to revolt by the indigenous people with the Mixton War a few years later. When things settled, Tepic became an agricultural center for commodities like peanuts, citrus, and even coffee, though it remained a restive area.

While there isn't a whole lot to see or do in Tepic, it is a perfectly pleasant medium-sized Mexican city.

Get around

The centro is small and walkable. For farther flung destinations, the ride hailing services Uber and Didi are available.

See

thumb|Catedral de Tepic (Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) contrapicado thumb|Juan Escutia on 13 September 1847

Buy

You can find a large and varied collection of ATMs inside the , but note the building is only open on weekdays from 8:00-16:00.

Eat

You're not exactly spoiled for choice of eating options in Tepic, although what there is is usually quite good.

Drink

There isn't much nightlife in Tepic, and most drinking establishments and discotheques are located well away from the city center. For a simple beer or cocktail with a lovely view of the zocalo, head to the Restaurante La Gloria Bar & Grill mentioned in the Eat section above.

Connect

Telcel provides 5G coverage throughout the city.

Stay safe

As of January 2024, the Canadian government advises avoiding non-essential travel to Tepic due to violence and organized crime. The town of Xalisco, just south of Tepic, is a narcotics trade epicenter and probably isn't wise to go poking around in.

Go next

San Blas – 55 km in the west with a beach. It is only about an hour away by car via the San Blas-Tepic Expressway. Or alternatively a bus service, Grupo Estrella Blanca, has almost hourly service there.

San Francisco (Mexico) – 120 km in the south-west. At a beach, surrounded by a jungle and notable for its floral diversity. Sayulita – 125 km in the south-west. You can do hiking into the jungle. The water at the beach is shallow. Bucerias – 145 km in the south-west. A small coastal village with a long uninterrupted white sand beach Puerto Vallarta – 165 km in the south Guadalajara – 205 km in the south-east. From there further to San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende or Querétaro Mazatlán – the popular resort city to the northwest