This month I visited Kawitu, located about 90 minutes from Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta. I booked a tour with Puerto Vallarta Tours at the Activities Desk in the lobby that departed from the resort at 9:00 am and returned around 4:30 pm.
Upon leaving the resort, we drove an hour and a half and up 2,000 feet into the Sierra Madre Mountains. We were surrounded by lush greenery for the majority of the ride as we headed off the beaten track and into this mystical paradise in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
When you visit Kawitu, you feel like you are embarking on a journey into the past. This village has no wi-fi, is located in a serene location, and has a restaurant with locally prepared food, and locals wearing handmade clothes from local products.
To get to this village, we drove from the center of town down a windy, narrow dirt road. Prior to entering Kawitu we had walked across a small bridge and were greeted by locals playing drums, burning incense and wearing vibrant clothing. One by one, we engaged in a short smudging ritual to cleanse our bodies from any contaminants we may be carrying so that we would enter the space pure; this was done by the locals holding incense and circling our bodies with this.
Upon entering the village, we saw a small outdoor hut where a local wearing white attire and a straw hat was roasting coffee beans. We were each given a coffee bean to taste. After the coffee hut, there was a jewelry shop with locally-made silver for sale.
I felt like I had been transported into a fairy tale. There were wooden bridges over El Cuale, the water, so people could cross from one side to the other leading to and from the restaurant. There was one fisherman out catching fish and hanging them out to dry prior to preparing the day’s food. It was a very picturesque setting watching the fisherman peacefully catch his fish amongst the pristine backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Here is a photo of me in Kawitu:
The restaurant was adorned with colorful, circular shapes along the white adobe walls, reminding me of the board game Candy Land due to the vibrant colors and fun design. I ordered a fish fillet that came with rice and grilled vegetables along with a Pina Loco (a pina colada in a pineapple), pictured below. Everything tasted amazing. This was my first time having locally caught and prepared fish and I could taste the difference; it was so fresh and easily one of the best meals I have ever had!
After lunch, our group headed back out front to the Tequila Tasting hut. We tried six different kinds of locally made tequila, which was the perfect way to wrap up this outing. There were also bottles available for sale for anyone wanting a souvenir to take home.
Visiting Kawitu is a must for anyone looking to experience some real Mexican culture, escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and truly experience peace of mind.
If you have a vacation experience that you would like to share with us, please respond in the comments section below this blog or email it to me at bblanscet@resortcom.com.
Best Regards,
Brittany Blanscet
Member Marketing Manager
