San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco

Just like the Islas Marietas tour, we took this tour to San Sebastian del Oeste with Vallarta Adventures.  San Sebastian is a small town that I had heard a lot about during my stay in Mexico and when the opportunity arose to go and visit while in Nuevo Vallarta, I jumped at it.  

Nestled in the Sierra Madre Occidental, San Sebestian thrived during the 17th century, thanks to the many silver and gold mines that brought prosperity and work into the town.  At its peak, more than 30,000 people lived in the area and now, the town counts 600 souls as it's population.  It's been named a pueblo mágico, which means that the town now receives promotion as a tourist destination as long as it retains its colonial buildings and other structures.  For me, it's fascinating history and unique Mexican charm make it a destination well worth visiting. 

The first stop on our tour was the beautiful Hacienda Jalisco. During San Sebastian's hey day, it was the only dwelling in the town to have electricity and since then, it has been visited by celebrities and movie stars. It's a beautiful colonial hacienda that now houses artefacts from the mining days as well as offering the ultimate getaway and relaxation spot, as it doubles as a bed and breakfast. It would be perfect for escaping the commotion of daily life; as now, it doesn't have electricity at all, leaving you with all the time you need to unwind and switch off. The gardens of the Hacienda are beautifully maintained and give you a snap shot into the days of colonisation in Mexico.

San Sebastian is also renowned for it's coffee production. We were lucky enough to visit an organic, independent coffee plantation on the outskirts of San Sebatstian, that has been producing coffee for hundreds of years. The workers harvest tonnes of coffee from the mountains by hand and then go on to produce coffee to sell. It was an amazing opportunity to visit a small, family business in Mexico and support the local economy. The coffee itself was amazing and we bought some back to England to enjoy here; visiting the plantation also made me realise the hard work that goes into coffee production and understand why it's such an expensive product - we should support the fair coffee trade! 

The pueblo of San Sebastián itself is also delightful. Wandering around the small, original cobbled streets was again, an insight into post colonisation Mexican life. In the central plaza, you can see the pergola (essential in every Mexican town) and the beautiful church. As always, these plazas are very important to local life as they serve as a meeting spot, are usually impeccably maintained, and there, you can happily watch the world go by. 

San Sebastián still retains it's colonial charm and doesn't shy away from it's impressive mining history, with one small silver workshop still making and selling silver jewellery and other merchandise. The original features of the town mean that you feel like you are almost stepping back in time. Mexico is steeped in history: fascinating, intricate, at times brutal, and one that takes a lot of time to dissect the different stratas. Visits to small towns such as San Sebastián not only give a glimpse into the history of this incredible country, but also into the daily life of Mexicans living away from the big tourist destinations. 

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