In Colima, salt is more than just a finished product: La Ruta de la Sal takes visitors through the process from harvesting to packaging, using only solar energy. Participants can collect salt themselves using tools provided by the saltworks team. The trip to Laguna de Cuyutlán, the region’s salt production center, is made in an unusual truck with a palm-thatched roof. Cuyutlán salt is unprocessed, free of additives and produced by evaporation in the sun.
Salt Production and Its History
The Museo de la Sal also focuses on the importance of salt. Interactive exhibits explore the history of the saltworks, salt’s role in the region and its impact on the local community. A visit therefore offers insight into both the production process and the history and significance of the saltworks. Exhibits may change; check current visiting arrangements in advance. Details about transport and visits on the Ruta de la Sal may also change.
Archaeology and History in Colima
The Museo Regional de Historia de Colima presents the region’s history from pre-Hispanic times to the first half of the 20th century. It is housed in a building on Portal Morelos, built as a residence in the early 19th century in the Porfirian style. The museum opened in 1988. Its content and building history offer two different perspectives on time: the exhibition spans a broad historical arc, while the building itself dates from the early 19th century.
At El Chanal, the focus is on an archaeological site with ceremonial temples, palaces, altars and a ball court. These features can be seen in the area open to the public. The usual route begins at the main square in the city of Colima. It follows the road to El Chanal or the extension of Calle Venustiano Carranza to the Tercer Anillo Periférico, which leads to the town of the same name. Check current road conditions before setting out.
La Campana in the municipality of Villa de Álvarez offers a different archaeological perspective. The site preserves roads and buildings, and numerous petroglyphs can be seen in its plazas and courtyards. Those interested in traces of earlier architecture and imagery can compare the finds at La Campana with the ceremonial structures at El Chanal: the features described set the two sites apart, without suggesting that they offer the same kind of archaeological discovery.
Forest Landscapes and Cultural Events
The Área de Protección de Recursos Naturales Las Huertas lies east of the municipal seat of Comala in the state of Colima. Tropical deciduous forests and gallery forests define the area. Las Huertas can be reached by public transport via the Colima–Comala road; access by private car is also an option. If you plan to use public transport, check current services in advance, as service details may change.
The region’s cultural events also offer a distinctive focus. Since 1879, the Teatro Hidalgo has hosted theater, opera, dance, international festivals, performances and exhibitions. The current program may change; if you are planning to attend a performance, check the dates before your visit. The Fiestas Charrotaurinas de Villa de Álvarez last 15 days. The program varies from year to year, so it is worth checking the specific event dates in advance.
Regional Cuisine and Sea Turtles
In the municipality of Colima, dishes served in cenadurías include Sopitos colimotes, enchiladas and pozole seco. As individual restaurants’ menus may change, this list is a guide to regional dishes, not a promise of a fixed menu.
In Cuyutlán, the Tortugario combines knowledge about sea turtles with their protection: visitors can learn about their life cycle and conservation measures and take part in releases. Release dates and other program details may change. If you would like to see a release, check the latest dates in advance. To choose between these experiences, a simple comparison may help: El Chanal and La Campana highlight archaeological remains, while the Ruta de la Sal lets visitors experience the salt-making process, and the Tortugario is dedicated to sea turtles and their protection.
Discover more destinations: Colima, Manzanillo, El Puertecito, Tecomán, Nuevo Caxitlán, Comala, El Limoncito, Cuyutlán.
For the main travel overview: Mexico.
