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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Mascota
Spend a weekend (1‑2 days) in Mascota; reach from Puerto Vallarta by bus (2 h 15 min, MX$150) and explore the historic centre.
Mascota is a small colonial town of under 9,000 people in Jalisco, designated a Pueblos Mágicos. Its compact historic centre lets you see the main sights and eat local food in a single day, but a night adds a relaxed evening and a chance to swim in the river.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–Mar (dry, mild)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MX$300–500 excl. bed · Mid MX$600–900 excl. bed · High MX$1,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at Café Napoles | MX$200 |
| Meal at La Casa de mi Abuelita (buffet) | MX$130 |
| Taxi from bus stop to centre | MX$80–120 |
| Entrance to Museo Arquelogico | MX$30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PVR · Puerto Vallarta International Airport
- Nearest commercial airport, ~2 h bus to Mascota
Typical fares
- PVR → Mascota bus (ATM)
- about MX$150, 2 h 15 min (check)
- Taxi bus stop → hotel centre
- MX$80–120 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; taxis wait at the central bus stop (Paradera Mascota).
See and do
Known for
- Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
- Templo Inconcluso de La Preciosa Sangre
- Museo Arquelogico de Mascota
- Rio Mascota and thermal springs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| San Sebastián del Oeste | Bus from Mascota to San Sebastián (≈1 h) | ≈2 h total |
| Tequila | Bus to Guadalajara (≈2 h) then train to Tequila (≈1 h) | ≈4 h total |
Sleep
- Copa de Oro
- Colonial‑style hotel, MX$1,400 per night
- Posada Corona
- Mid‑range, MX$500 per night
- Casa Angeles
- Boutique, MX$1,800 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syas |
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWEHS-ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TA el BAH-nyo |
| Can I pay with card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?pwe-DOO pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus schedules can change; check the ATM website for the latest times.
- Some attractions close for maintenance; verify opening hours on site.
Mascota is generally safe; petty theft is low but keep valuables hidden, especially on buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mascota yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
- Templo Inconcluso de La Preciosa Sangre
- Museo Arquelogico de Mascota
- Rio Mascota and thermal springs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Mascota official site: mascota.gob.mx/
- Wikidata – Mascota: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Mascota, revision 4976664 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4976664
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mascota). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.