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Territory capital · Mexico

Tepic

Give Tepic one night as a stop between Mazatlán and Guadalajara or as the gateway to San Blas, not a beach base: the coast is 1 h west.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–May (dry, cooler)
avoid Jun–Oct (rain and humidity), Easter week
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.

Tepic is the capital of Nayarit, a mid-sized highland city at about 900 m in a green valley between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific. It has a small walkable centre, four small museums, a cathedral under repair and the best road and bus links to San Blas and the Riviera Nayarit. Most travellers pass through in a day or use it as a cheaper bed before the coast.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Tepic, 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$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Street or quick mealTorta or tacos at a market stallM$80–150 (≈ US$5–9)
  • BeerBeer: draught in a bar / can at an OxxoM$50–80 (≈ US$3–5) / M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmRide-hail across the centreM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Museo Regional de Nayarit)checkabout M$55 (≈ US$3)
  • Budget bedBudget hotel double, a night, per roomMX$500 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedBudget hotel double, a night, per roomMX$700 (≈ US$40)
  • High-end bedBudget hotel double, a night, per roomMX$900 (≈ US$50)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$500 (≈ US$30) · Mid MX$1,000 (≈ US$55) · High MX$2,000 (≈ US$110)

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.

Tepic CathedralPlaza Principal and Palacio de GobiernoMuseo Regional de Nayarit shaft-tomb artGateway to San Blas and the Riviera Nayarit
Airports
TPQ Amado Nervo International (Tepic) (About 15 km south of the centre; Volaris links to Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Los Angeles. More flights at Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL).) · PVR Puerto Vallarta (About 2.5–3 h by road south; the usual arrival for the Riviera Nayarit.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Tepic: 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

27°C

11°C

1 rd

Feb

28°C

11°C

1 rd

Mar

30°C

12°C

1 rd

Apr

32°C

14°C

1 rd

May

33°C

16°C

2 rd

Jun

32°C

20°C

10 rd

Jul

31°C

20°C

17 rd

Aug

31°C

20°C

17 rd

Sep

30°C

20°C

15 rd

Oct

30°C

18°C

6 rd

Nov

29°C

14°C

2 rd

Dec

27°C

12°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 small and walkable. Uber and DiDi cover longer hops; local buses run to the bus terminal and outlying sights. For San Blas and the coast, buses leave the Central de Autobuses on MEX-15.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

San Blas

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Bus from the Central de Autobuses, or car via the Tepic–San Blas expressway

Mangrove boat trip and a surf beach; doable as a day, better with a night.

Mexcaltitán

go

Door to door: About 2 h

Car or bus towards Santiago Ixcuintla, then a short boat

Small island town; check the boat times before setting out.

Amatlán de Cañas

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Car on the Guadalajara road south-east

Thermal pools and a lake; a car makes it far easier.

Sayulita

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Bus or car south on the Pacific highway

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep on the coast.

Buceríasovernight

Door to door: About 3 h

Bus or car south towards Puerto Vallarta

Long beach town; pair with Sayulita or San Francisco.

San Francisco (Mexico)overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Bus or car south on the Pacific highway

Jungle-backed beach village; a stop on the coast run, not a day trip.

Lo de Marcos

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Bus or car south on the Pacific highway

Quiet beach village; same coast corridor as Sayulita.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Centro (around Plaza Principal)

Walk to the plaza, cathedral, museums and markets; the pick for one night without a car.

Avenida México corridor

Hotels, Liverpool and the bus terminal side of the centre; practical for early departures.

Forum Tepic / south side

Chain hotels and the mall near the highway; needs a taxi to 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 or chain double1 × 1 night × MX$1,000MX$1,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$1,000MX$2,000
Airport taxi, TPQ to the centre, one way1 × MX$250 · checkMX$250
Ride-hail across the centre1 × MX$60MX$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$381
Trip total≈ MX$2,096 per person per day, bed includedMX$4,191≈ US$250

2026 estimate in pesos; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$30–60 (≈ US$2–4)
Torta or tacos at a market stallM$80–150 (≈ US$5–9)
Mid-range main dishM$150–300 (≈ US$9–17)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at an OxxoM$50–80 (≈ US$3–5) / M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
Ride-hail across the centreM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5)
Museum entry (Museo Regional de Nayarit)checkabout M$55 (≈ US$3)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Tepic is a working state capital, not a resort: petty theft is the usual city risk, but foreign governments advise against non-essential travel here because of organised crime. Check your own government's current advice, keep to the centre after dark and skip Xalisco.
  • The cathedral was damaged in the 2022 earthquake and has been closed for repairs: check before you plan around it.
  • Foreign governments advise against non-essential travel to Tepic and the Xalisco area because of organised crime: check your own government's current advice.
  • June to October is hot, muggy and wet; afternoons bring heavy rain.
  • The free Mazatlán–Tepic highway has a poor reputation; use the toll road (15D) if driving.
  • Museum and government-building hours are weekday-heavy and close on Mondays.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (SECTUR)
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.

TepicTepic

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078
  • Green Angels roadside help078

Embassy

No embassy in Tepic: the US, UK and Canadian embassies are in Mexico City, with consulates in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • TPQ airport → centre, taxi: about M$250 (≈ US$14), 20–25 min (check)
  • Central de Autobuses → Plaza Principal, ride-hail: M$50–90 (≈ US$3–5), 10 min
  • Tepic → San Blas, bus: about M$80–120 (≈ US$5–7), 1–1.5 h (check)

Say or show

  • Buenos días — Hello / Good day (bweh-nos dee-as)
  • Gracias — Thank you (grah-see-as)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (kwan-to kwes-ta)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la kwen-ta por fa-vor)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (pwe-do pa-gar kon tar-he-ta)
  • ¿Dónde está la central de autobuses? — Where is the bus station? (don-de es-ta la sen-tral de ow-to-boo-ses)

Telcel has 5G across the city; buy an eSIM before you fly if you want data on arrival.

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 Tepic. 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–May (dry, cooler) · avoid Jun–Oct (rain and humidity), Easter week · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for TPQ: taxi and ride-hail bands field-checked, plus the Puerto Vallarta fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Plaza Principal, Avenida México museums, Parque La Loma, the bus terminal.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (cathedral, Museo Regional, Casa Museo Juan Escutia, Cerro de la Cruz) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Hostile-arrival fixtures for the rainy season and for late bus arrivals.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources