Tenacatita, Jalisco

Tenacatita is a small beachfront settlement on the Costalegre (coast of Jalisco) located about 27 miles northwest of Barra de Navidad. The area has recently acquired electricity and plumbing. A 9km paved road leads from the intersection with coastal highway 200 (GPS 19°20.78'N 104°52.75'W) to Tenacatita. It's 30km from the highway intersection to Melaque. Bring your insect repellant. Just to the west is Playa La Mora.

	Tenacatita, like several other little towns in this area, has a beautiful, tranquil, gently sloping beach. On the day these pictures were taken, the winds were strong which made the waves high in other places yet it remained calm here.
	It's spring break and there do seem to be a few people that know about this beautiful spot. The beach is about a mile long but most people congregate here at the west end where the restaurants are.

Elsewhere in the Tenacatita bay is the Blue Bay Village Beachfront resort. Tel: (335) 1-5020. Web page: bluebayresorts.com

Accommodations • Habitaciones

Additional accommodations are available in Tecuán, a few miles to the west and in Boca de Iguanas, to the east. Reservations are recommended for Easter week and Christmas week. During the remainder of the high season (winter) there will normally be many vacancies although some hotels will be full at times.
• Hotel Los Amigos located on the lagoon side. Air-conditioned. (1/06)
• Informal Trailer Parking past the west end of the beach at Playa la Mora.
• Las Villitas Club Deportivo y Marina (317) 385-6063 (cellular). Can be booked through Las Villitas in Barra de Navidad: (315) 355-5354, 355-7079, 355-7078. Located on the beach. Pool (sometimes clean, sometimes green, soupy water), balconies, rooftop terrace. 9 apartments with kitchen, tub & shower, 1 king and 1 queen bed in each. 1 smaller unit with kitchen, shower, queen-sized bed. Solar powered.
• Paraíso de Tenacatita 044 (314) 102-0389 (cellphone). 23 rooms on the beach, some with AC. Clean, basic. ~US$30-$40 Email: dobie@prodigy.net.mx. (12/07).
• Don't know the name Rooms with kitchenettes, pool. ~US$100. (3/01).
• Lola and Cato have a house and 3 apartments they rent in the nearby town of El Rebalsito (3 km. from the beach). For more information in Spanish, call 314-338-5816 during the day or 315-351-5471 at night (from the US dial 011-52 first). For information in English, write to: dobie@prodigy.net.mx. (1/06)
• Punta Serena Adults-only all-inclusive resort. Clothing optional in pool and on beach. US$280 and up for a double. Same owners as Blue Bay. (11/07)
• Tenacatita RV, Tent and Trailer Park 044 (333) 115-5406. Turn left at the entrance to Tenacatita, go about 500'. Water, power and septic hookups. emmarortega@hotmail.com. (2/06)

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Rollo de Mar

Restaurants • Restaurantes

Rollo de Mar is what this dish is called. There are a number of restaurants on the beach at Tenacatita and they all serve this specialty. This one was prepared at Restaurante Chito. This is a fish filet stuffed with chopped shrimp and octopus in an almond sauce, wrapped completely in bacon and covered with more almond cream sauce. It is a rich and flavorful dish, just wonderful.
As the story goes, it was a chef, Silvestre "el gato" who had worked on a cruise ship who taught Maria del Rosario of Restaurante Sirenita how to prepare the dish. As it was very popular with the customers other restaurants began to prepare it as well. But results may vary; I had a similar dish at Seamasters in Barra de Navidad that could not compare with this one. It's worth a trip to Tenacatita just to try this.
The camarones tropicales, found at Restaurant Cato, are sprinkled with coconut, breaded and fried and come with a mango-pineapple-guava salsa.
The filete paty, also found at Restaurant Cato, is a creation of Lola's daughter Diana. It's a fish fillet stuffed with shrimp, bell pepper and cheese, breaded and fried, and served with a diablo (hot and sweet) sauce. It's big enough to be shared!
• Restaurant Cato A local favorite run by Cato and Lola. When you get to the beach, if you turn to the left, it's the first restaurant on the right, just before Restaurant Chito.
• Restaurant Chito When you get to the beach, turn to the left and the restaurant is not far.
• Fiesta Mexicana Preferred over Cata and Chito by one reader.

  Camarones tropicales

  Filete paty

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Tour Operators, Outfitters • Operadores Turísticos, Proveedores

• Sea to Sierra Outdoor Adventures Avenida Veracruz #204, Barra de Navidad, Jalisco. (315) 355-8582. Mountain biking tours; helmets, gloves, water, bikes provided. Excursions via suburban and taxi including tours to Colima and the Volcano. Scheduled Yacht trips; Tuesday Tenacatita snorkel and beach w/Jungle River Tour and Friday Sunset Cruises. Fishing, Yacht and boat charter. Email: info@seatosierra.com
• Small Town Adventures Mexico Melaque, Jalisco. Tours and accommodations for Tenacatita, Melaque, Barra de Navidad and more. bmoody@smalltownadventuresmexico.com.
• The Only Tours Costalegre (315) 355-6777 (voice/fax). Ray and Eva, located next to La Paloma in Melaque, Jalisco. Snorkeling trips, tours to Tenacatita, Colima City, Volcano Tours via surburban. Snorkeling gear, boogie boards, and Mountain bikes for rent. Email: raystoursmelaque@yahoo.com. (11/05)

Real Estate • Bienes Raíces

Miscellaneous • Misceláneo

• Internet Internet place in El Rebalsito on the paved road leading to the beach. Located on the block after Morenita Mini Super, same side of the road.

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The Pacific Coast of Mexico www.tomzap.com Tom Penick:  tom@tomzap.com