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Major city · Mexico

CompostelaCompostela, Nayarit

One night, or a 3-hour stop between Tepic and the beach towns: the zocalo and the pink-stone church are the whole visit. Skip it as a base.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season)
avoid Jun–Sep (rain, heat and humidity)
Airports
TPQ · PVR
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Compostela is a small colonial town about 40 km inland from the Pacific, one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos, on the old road between Tepic and the Riviera Nayarit beaches. The draw is the wide zocalo and the 16th-century Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol, plus a handful of regional restaurants. Two hours covers the centre on foot; most travellers pass through rather than sleep here.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Compostela, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeM$30–50 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Street or quick mealBasket tacos (4)M$20–40 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Beerbottle in a restaurant / shopM$40–60 (≈ US$3–4)M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
  • Metro or bus rideLocal bus rideM$20–60 (≈ US$2–4) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$150–350 (≈ US$9–19)
  • Budget bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$600 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$1,000 (≈ US$55)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomMX$1,600 (≈ US$90)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$500 (≈ US$30) · Mid MX$1,100 (≈ US$60) · High MX$2,200 (≈ US$120)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Parroquia de Santiago ApóstolPueblos Mágicos statusChinesco ceramic figures from the areaFiestas del Señor de la Misericordia (late Nov–early Dec)
Airports
TPQ Tepic (Amado Nervo) (About 40 min by car; few flights — most arrivals use Puerto Vallarta (PVR), 2–2.5 h by road) · PVR Puerto Vallarta (Main gateway: bus or car south-east via Las Varas, about 2–2.5 h)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Compostela: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C

13°C

1 rd

Feb

29°C

13°C

1 rd

Mar

31°C

14°C

0 rd

Apr

33°C

15°C

0 rd

May

34°C

18°C

2 rd

Jun

33°C

21°C

10 rd

Jul

32°C

21°C

17 rd

Aug

32°C

21°C

17 rd

Sep

31°C

21°C

15 rd

Oct

31°C

19°C

6 rd

Nov

30°C

16°C

2 rd

Dec

28°C

14°C

1 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end. For anything outside it, use taxis or a car; there is no useful local bus network for visitors.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Tepicgo

Door to door: About 1 h

Autotransportes Compostela bus from the central terminal, hourly

State capital with the regional museum holding Chinesco figures.

San Blas

go

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus or car via MEX-200 and the coast road

Colonial port, mangroves and surf beach; a full day or an overnight.

Mexcaltitán

caution

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Car or bus to Santiago Ixcuintla, then a boat

Tide-dependent boat crossing; check times before setting out.

San Francisco (San Pancho)overnight

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Bus to Las Varas, then a coastal bus north

Beach town; too far for a comfortable return day.

Amatlán de Cañas

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Car south-east on the road toward Jalisco

Small mountain town; own transport is the practical option.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Around the zocalo (Santa Ana)

Walk to the church, plaza and most restaurants; the only area worth booking for one night.

Outskirts (Librado Rivera, Col del Bosque)

Quieter hotels with parking and pools; you need a car or taxi to reach the centre.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$500–900 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
M$900–1,600 (≈ US$50–90) excl. bed
High
M$1,600 (≈ US$90)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × MX$1,000MX$1,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$1,100MX$2,200
Bus Tepic → Compostela, one way2 × MX$40 · checkMX$80
Bus Las Varas/Guayabitos → Compostela, one way2 × MX$60 · checkMX$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$390
Trip total≈ MX$2,145 per person per day, bed includedMX$4,290≈ US$250

2026 estimate in pesos; intercity buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Basket tacos (4)M$20–40 (≈ US$2–3)
Grilled-meat plate (arrachera)M$150–280 (≈ US$9–16)
CoffeeM$30–50 (≈ US$2–3)
Beer: bottle in a restaurant / shopM$40–60 (≈ US$3–4) / M$20–30 (≈ US$2)
Local bus rideM$20–60 (≈ US$2–4) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$150–350 (≈ US$9–19)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Compostela is a quiet inland town and the centre is calm by day. The real risks are the twisty approach roads, driving them after dark, and petty theft in the bus terminal: keep bags with you and take taxis after nightfall.
  • Second-class buses only: old, slow and often crowded; buy at the terminal, not on the street.
  • The church closes for siesta in the early afternoon — check before you plan around it.
  • Roads in from Tepic and Las Varas are twisty; avoid driving them after dark.
  • Bring cash: small restaurants and the bus terminal may not take cards.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (federal)
078
Green Angels roadside help
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CompostelaCompostela, Nayarit

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Compostela; the US and most countries run embassies in Mexico City and consulates in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Tepic → Compostela: from about M$20–40 (≈ US$2–3), about 50 min (check)
  • Bus Guayabitos/La Peñita → Compostela: from about M$50–60 (≈ US$3–4), just over 1 h (check)
  • Taxi around town: M$50–100 (≈ US$3–6) (check)

Say or show

  • Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está la central camionera? — Where is the bus station? (DON-deh es-TAH la sen-TRAL kah-myoh-NEH-rah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)

Cash is king in the centre; withdraw in Tepic or Las Varas if you can.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Compostela. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid Jun–Sep (rain, heat and humidity) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Bus-terminal-to-bed contract for Compostela: last Autotransportes departures to Tepic and Las Varas, taxi fallback, one-night rung.
  2. Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: zocalo and church, plus the Casa de la Cultura block.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol, Casa de la Cultura) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Festival fixture for Fiestas del Señor de la Misericordia (22 Nov–first Friday of Dec) so the town can be flagged as busy.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources