LA LAGUNA DE SANTA MARIA DEL ORO near Tepic, Nayarit, is one of the many quiet, unspoilt and off the beaten track locations that an adventurous traveller may visit while in Mexico.
The area offers a welcome variation from the much visited beaches and huge tourist complexes of the nearby Riviera Nayarit. A visit of a day or two can provide a relaxing break while travelling between Tepic, Nayarit, and Guadalajara, Jalisco. The beautifully conserved crater lake is well worth a visit. Popular activities include hiking, birding, fishing, kayaking and swimming.
KOALA BUNGALOWS offers the best value for money at the lake with rooms from approximately U.S.$42.00 per night and bungalows from $58.00 The camping fee is around $6.00 per person per night and a R.V. site for two persons is $15 per night.
Long term rentals are available from $650 per month. We cater for family reunions, seminars, weddings and special events.
La Mojarra de Samao, Our lakeside restaurant and bar, is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
La Laguna, an unspoiled crater lake about 2km in diameter, 60m deep and at an altitude of 758m, is surrounded by steep forested mountains that rise 300m above the lake.
The lake is ideally suited for kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, and fishing for black bass and perch. Hiking and biking is also popular, kayaks are available for rent. The area surrounding Santa Maria lake has been described by many visitors as a bird watchers paradise.
Winter weather is normally sunny and dry, with temperatures more moderate than the coast. This area is off the beaten path and abounds with wildflowers, birds and butterflies. There is easy walking around the lake and more challenging hiking in the surrounding mountains. Excursions can be made from the lake to visit spectacular waterfalls, ancient ruins and Huichol villages where original yarn paintings may be purchased. We can arrange for a tourguide to take you to places of interest in Nayarit and nearby states.
Try the equisite local speciality "chicharrones de pescado" (batter fiied morsels of fish) served in our lakeside restaurant-bar "La Mojarra de Samao"