Some local events in Melaque, Mexico are the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration that runs for an entire week. Watch the fireworks and the parade as you enjoy great traditional Mexican music and great food. The streets are filled with tourists enjoying the festivities, while the sky lights up with beautiful colors and an array of designs. Bullfights and carnivals erupt around the week of Saint Patrick’s Day in Melaque.
Unique Local Events in Melaque, Mexico
- Semana Santa occurs near Easter and is the second busiest holiday after Christmas. Melaque attracts thousands of tourists for this special festival that runs for 15 days. One Mexican tradition of this celebration is the breaking of the cascarones, hollow eggshells, which are filled with confetti, over the heads of friends and family.
- Independence Day has parades with local school children, beautiful floats and costumes, and even a few beauty queens. Mexico's Independence Day celebrations start on September 15th with the Grito de la Independencia, followed on the 16th with all the festivities.
- Cinco de Mayo on May 5, or The Day of the Battle of Puebla, is a celebration of the day the Mexican people defeated a large French army. The Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a French Goliath.
- Day of the Dead, November 1st and 2nd, is simply a day of celebration and remembrance of the dead and the continuity of life. Some visitors feel this may be a funeral of some kind, but actually, the celebration is for life. Defined as a cultural event celebrated around the world, this day holds true economic and social responsibilities.
- There are many important festivals and celebrations throughout the year, including Mother’s Day, Christmas and New Year’s. Mexicans really know how to put on a fiesta, often requiring weeks of preparation to create colorful costumes and decorations, plus all the meal planning.
Many of the characteristic traits of Mexican culture, particularly outside Mexico, are originally from Jalisco; such as mariachi, ranchera music, tequila, jaripeo, etc. Melaque is located in the state of Jalisco and attending traditional activities and festivals will always leave you with great memories to share after your visit with us.
Tours and Activities around Jalisco
Horseback Tours
- El Palmar can arrange guided horseback tours of the Mexican countryside, the ranch lands, mountains, and the Costa Alegra beaches around Melaque and Barra de Navidad. Daniel Rodriguez here in Melaque (315 355 6316), or Jaime here in Villa Obregon, offer great rides for the beginner or expert. You will be accompanied on a horse riding tour with a local guide/expert horse handler on a variety of expeditions and trails. Bilingual guides are available upon request. You can choose between a range of horseback riding routes that take place during the early morning or the early evening (to avoid the midday heat).
Bird-watching in Jalisco
- With varied habitats like the Pacific beaches up to the high mountain forest regions, bird-watching in this area is outstanding. You may see as many as 400 different species of spectacular birds, like the Magnificent Hummingbird pictured to the right. See a more complete list of bird species found in Jalisco, Mexico - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World.
Fishing near Melaque
- Both Melaque and Barra de Navidad have experienced fishermen guides available for the best deep sea fishing, or an inshore fishing and coastal tour. Gerarrdo Kosonoy is our guide of choice. You can see him with our El Palmar guests with the largest fish he has ever landed. He is an experienced and bilingual local guide and fisherman, and also President of the Melaque Fishing Cooperative. Take this amazing opportunity to venture out and explore deserted golden sandy beaches, snorkel coral reefs, or try your hand at catching a 60lb sailfish, or maybe a winner in the local fishing tournament.
- Whale watching by Mexican boat tours, or sometimes just from the beach, is a popular way to see the Humpback whales. When whales are in the area we will be happy to arrange for a day trip with one of the local fishermen. You can choose from whale watching, turtle viewing, fishing or snorkeling on your day tour.
Golf Courses in Melaque Area
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Try the golf courses in the area offering twenty-seven holes of golf or eighteen holes for a shorter stay out on the greens. Several golf courses located near Melaque are: Tamarindo Golf and Country Resort, and the Grand Bay Hotel on Isla De Navidad.
Coffee Tour to Cuzalapa
- Leave your Mexico Vacation Resort for a day trip from Melaque to Cuzalapa, inside the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve, to view the production of the tastiest coffee in the region. This coffee is produced by a group of local indigenous Mexican women who have lived and worked in the Cuzalapa area for generations, and in 2001 formed a cooperative to produce and sell handicrafts, coffee, and fruit based products typical of that area. The cooperative takes the name ‘Color de la Tierra’ (color of the earth) after the rich and variable colors of the soil and its produce. www.tomzap.com
On this unique tour you will take a trip through small traditional towns with pretty plazas and the scenic fruit growing region of La Huerta and Cuautitlan, the sugar cane capital of the region. Learn how these women came together to form a sustainable project and how they interact with their environment.
Tenacatita Snorkeling Tour
- If you are looking for more than the typical beach trip to Tenacatita, then look no further, Raystoursmelaque@yahoo.com, offers the best "Tenacatita tours." Check out the photos of the golden sands of Tenacatita. Ray offers a full day of snorkeling the coral reef in Playa Mora at Tenacatita, with the best of equipment, body surfing at La Manzanilla, and seeing the local American crocodile population of La Manzanilla. Relax on the beach, taste some local cuisine, and finish the day with a tour around the local Raicilla Factory.
Colima Tour
- Colima, the state capital of Colima, is located inland on Hwy 110, 61 miles/98 km from Manzanillo at an elevation of 1650' (500 meters). The name Colima comes from the Nahuatl word collimaitl, colli means ancestors or gods and maitl means domain of. The colonial city was founded in 1527 and contains many historic buildings despite major earthquakes in 1900, 1932, 1941, 1995, 2003. Colima – An active volcano in Mexico.
More Local Activities
- Hiking in the area offers a back to nature adventure for the family.
- Biking allows an easy way to do your shopping in the local stores, or just tour the area.
- Tennis on our great courts is fun for all ages, lessons also available.
- Water sports such as swimming, surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and snorkeling around the white coral reef to see all the marine life.
- Visit La Heurta for the fine selection of leather goods and saddles.
- If you need more adventure, take a ride to Puerto Vallarta and explore the city for a day. Tourists enjoy the guided tours and love listening to the Mexican tour guides as they explain historical sites and various activities around the area.