[Edit: Tianguis is just on Sundays]
So it seems like posting to this site has become an annual event! I am more consumed with keeping the https://www.mazatlanweekly.com site current – however don’t dismay! When I do or try something new in Mazatlán I will make an entry here!
I posted previously about the local camiones (buses) from Mazatlán to the outlaying towns, and described taking one to El Quelite. I’ve done that trip a few times now, and felt comfortable enough to venture to another ‘Pueblo Magico’ – La Noria.
Here’s what Chat GPT says about La Noria …
“La Noria is a picturesque rural town nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, about 30 kilometers northeast of Mazatlán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Known for its peaceful atmosphere and colonial charm, La Noria offers visitors a glimpse into traditional Mexican village life. The town’s cobblestone streets, adobe homes, and historic church give it an old-world feel, while local artisans maintain generations-old trades like leatherworking, saddle-making, and pottery. Many residents are descendants of the original settlers, and there’s a strong sense of cultural heritage and community pride.
In recent years, La Noria has become a popular stop along the Ruta del Mezcal, a regional tourism route celebrating Sinaloa’s mezcal production. Several nearby distilleries offer tastings and tours, allowing guests to learn about the artisanal processes behind this iconic Mexican spirit. The town also hosts traditional festivals, including celebrations for its patron saint, with music, food, and folkloric dancing. Surrounded by natural beauty and steeped in local traditions, La Noria is both a cultural treasure and a tranquil escape from the bustle of coastal cities.”
I’ve been to La Noria once before. It was not a pleasant experience. A local tour guide whom I had become acquainted with had partnered with a well known expat and they were doing some tours of nearby locations. When La Noria became one of the tours I signed up, even though it was (if I recall correctly) $1,000 pesos. The primary reason I wanted to go is that this tour guide had emphatically told me previously that he had quit working for the large tour companies because he was opposed to the commercialism. I have the same feelings. I can’t say how much I dislike paying for a tour and stopping at jewelry stores/shops along the way. I can’t say because it would require that I use language I don’t want on this site!
I’ve just deleted a few hundred words – let it stand that the tour guide had sold out his ethics for a few ‘kick-back’ dollars from Osuna, a ceramics artist, and a leather goods store. We had time in La Noria for lunch and 10 minutes at the leather goods place before returning to Mazatlán. we saw NOTHING of the town. And neither my acquaintance nor the expat were on the trip!
I’d heard that Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays there’s a tianguis in La Noria – so I set aside a Sunday for the trip. If one of those days works for you, then great – but the tianguis was more six or seven vendors selling toys, beverages, and what I think was food – but there wasn’t anything out on display to see. Oh, and Osuna tequila! You won’t miss much if you make the trip on a day the tianguis isn’t happening!
According to the schedule at the ‘inner’ bus station at Central de Autobuses, there’s a bus to La Noria at 11 am. I asked someone in La Noria about the return bus, and they told me it’s at 3 pm. Sounded good!
Same procedure as the bus to El Quelite. Show up at the bus station a little early. The bus to La Noria is clearly marked. When they open the doors, board. Don’t be late because they leave (as does the bus to El Quelite) a few minutes early. The bus makes several stops along the way, and fills up quickly! At one point someone will go down the aisle collecting fares; to La Noria it was $60 pesos (prices change!). After about an hour, you’ll arrive in La Noria. I wandered around for a bit, then went to Restaurante El Aureliano de La Noria for lunch. The chamorro, even though it was pork and not lamb as the menu described, was very good – and kept me full the entire day!
More wandering. A little purchase from the lady selling toys, and some tejuino from the beverage stand. And a lot of sitting in their plazuela. Close to 3 pm I wandered back to the restaurant, where one of the waitresses told me the bus would stop just across the street. Around 3:05 it arrived, and we were off to Mazatlán.
When all was said and done, a much better time than I’d had on my previous trip. Here are a few photos of my day. Please keep in mind that if you do a few google searches to find out the history of a location, you really don’t need to do a guided tour. The difference between the $1,000 peso guided tour and the $120 peso round trip bus is significant.
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Source: admin from Adventures In Mazatlán on 2025-07-07 16:17:00
