Wednesdays and Sundays 10:30 am from the Aerotron Aerodrome, next to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Length of Tour: 5 1/2 to 6 hours What's Included: Roundtrip flight, lunch, soft drinks, professional guides and land transportation in Talpa and Mascota. We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes and bring a light sweater with you.

Our first stop is the town of Mascota Jalisco, the hub of a rich farming valley surrounded by lush pine-and-oak forested ridges. Mascota (pop. 8000) is a traditional "Old Mexico" town with colonial haciendas, cobbled streets, a central plaza, and a majestic church dedicated to the Virgin de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows), which was completed in 1880 and took over 100 years to construct.

Established in 1592 by early Spanish colonists who came looking for gold and silver, these early settlers soon found that the true treasure of Mascota is the fertile land that produces bumper crops of fruits and vegetables. This verdant valley's 4300 foot altitude provides a semi-temperate climate that nurtures a bounty of agricultural products such as wheat, rice, corn, oranges, lemons, avocados, grapes, sugarcane and Agave Lechuguilla, the sugar source for Raicilla - a moonshine mezcal that is produced in this region.

The production of Raicilla is one of the traditional local arts, and no visit to Mascota is complete without trying the town's favorite drink. Knowledgeable guides will take you on a tour of an authentic Raicilla distillery where the best historic distilling techniques are combined with the advantages of modern technology to produce this local favorite.

From Mascota we travel on to Talpa, a pastoral village set in a valley surrounded by pine covered mountains. Talpa is famous throughout Mexico for its colorful village ambiance and the stately Gothic church that shelters one of the renowned "Three Sister" virgins of Jalisco, the beloved "Rosario de Talpa."

         

Said to have miraculous healing powers, this small straw figurine has enjoyed generations of adoration and popularity that must be seen to be believed. Throughout the year, thousands of faithful pilgrims from all over Mexico make the long journey to Talpa de Allende, often crawling on their knees for days on end to receive blessings from the Virgin.

With an elevation of around 4000 feet, Talpa enjoys a climate of perpetual springtime that is ideal for strolling along the streets, meeting the friendly people who live here, and discovering the many wonderful shops that sell sugared fruits and other edible souvenirs, like flowers, small baskets, sombreros and sandals made out of chicle, the principle ingredient of chewing gum.

This six-hour tour of Mascota and Talpa offers adventurous travelers a unique opportunity to experience the real Mexico, while discovering the unspoiled beauty, warmth, and charm of Jalisco, Mexico. Don't miss this unforgettable part of your Puerto Vallarta vacation - Make your reservations today!