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Quick facts for kids El Tuito
Location of the municipality of Cabo Corrientes within the state of Jalisco
El Tuito Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico El Tuito Location in Jalisco Show map of Jalisco
Country	Mexico
State	Jalisco
Municipality	Cabo Corrientes
Founded	16th Century
Founded as	El Tuito
Elevation	600 m (1,969 ft)
Population (2019 (locality))
• Total	3,211
• Municipality	9,034
• Demonym	Tuitense
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (US Central))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (Central)
Postal code	48400
Area code(s)	+52 322

El Tuito (say it: "el tweet-oh") is a farming town in Mexico. It's located south of the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas. You can find it in the Costa-Sierra Occidental Region of the Mexican state of Jalisco. El Tuito is the main town and administrative center for the Cabo Corrientes area.

The name El Tuito means "small valley" or "place of beauty." The word Tuito comes from the Nahuatl language. It can mean "place of a god," "divine place," or "place of beauty."

History of El Tuito

El Tuito was started in the 1500s by Spanish and Portuguese settlers. They came with people from Tlaxcala who brought the Nahuatl language to the area. Before the Spanish arrived, the land was home to the Huicholes, Coras, and Tecuexes tribes.

Early Encounters and the Valley of Flags

In March 1525, Spanish explorers led by Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura reached Xalisco. When they went towards the sea, they met a group of local people. These people carried flags made of colorful feathers. They were armed with clubs, bows and arrows, and darts.

Captain Francisco Cortés didn't want to fight because the local people were many. But one of his captains, Ángel de Villafaña, said they should face them. So, they placed four royal banners and two crimson flags into the ground. They also had a special cloth with the Virgin Mary on one side and a cross on the other.

When the local people saw the Virgin's banner, they stopped. This image was very important to them. They thought the Spanish were sent by their god. So, they put down their weapons and placed their flags at the feet of Juan de Villadiego, who carried the banner, and Francisco Cortés. They showed they would not fight. After this, the locals welcomed the Spanish with music and dances. Because of this event, the place was named Valle de Banderas, meaning "Valley of Flags."

Changes in Administration

From 1825 to 1890, El Tuito was part of the sixth canton of Autlán. Later, it became part of the tenth canton of Mascota. In 1843, the town was named San Pedro del Tuito. On March 14, 1844, El Tuito officially became a part of Cabo Corrientes.

The people of El Tuito celebrate the town's founding every year on April 1st.

Important Historical Events

1525: On April 8, Captain Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura took control of the El Tuito area.
1857: Don Pablo Ríos started a fight against conservatives in the Reform War. This war lasted three years. He gathered people from El Tuito, Tomatlán, Mascota, and Talpa. General Ramón Corona made Don Pablo the military chief for the Jalisco Coast. He won many battles in the region. He commanded over 2,000 armed men. He was known as a supporter of liberal ideas.
1858: Don Benito Juárez, a very important Mexican leader, stayed at Don Pablo Ríos's house. Juárez was hiding after an attack in Guadalajara. He stayed in El Tuito for a short time before leaving for Colima and then the U.S..
1867: Don Pablo Ríos fought against Manuel Lozada, also known as "The Tiger of Alica." Lozada was a local leader who had risen against the government.
1871: Lozada's group was defeated. This saved the town of Tequila and possibly Guadalajara from attack. Lozada was captured and later shot in 1873. However, some of his followers continued to cause trouble.
1876: Don Pablo Ríos was killed in an ambush in northern Jalisco. He was attacked by French fugitives and Mexican outlaws who had been with Manuel Lozada. These groups were robbing a large area of Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. Don Pablo Ríos defended and helped the entire region. The towns of Tomatlán and El Tuito see him as a hero. The main street in El Tuito is named after him.
1871: The El Tuito area became part of the Talpa district.
1872: General Porfirio Díaz hid in different parts of the municipality. He was fighting against the government of Benito Juárez.
1905: El Tuito became part of the municipality of Tomatlán.
1924: El Tuito became part of the municipality of Puerto Vallarta.
1944: On March 18, El Tuito was officially made a municipality. It was named Cabo Corrientes.

Geography of El Tuito

Climate and Weather

The climate in El Tuito is mild. It has dry and warm springs. There isn't a clear winter season. The average yearly temperature is about 78°F (25.6°C). Winds usually blow towards the northwest. The rainy season is from June to September. The area gets about 878.3 millimeters of rain each year.

Plants and Animals: Flora

The plants, or flora, in El Tuito include many fruit trees. You can find mango, lime, lemon, orange, guava, and avocado trees. Other plants include cedars, pines, oaks, walnut trees, breadnuts, conifers, gum trees, and Santa Maria trees.

Plants and Animals: Fauna

El Tuito has many different animals, or fauna. These include deer, snakes, scorpions, raccoons, bats, badgers, squirrels, pigeons, parakeets, foxes, opossums, and armadillos.

The coast of Cabo Corrientes is home to many interesting sea animals. Five types of sea turtles are found here. Four of them lay their eggs on the sandy beaches: the olive ridley, green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, and hawksbill sea turtle. Young loggerhead sea turtles also feed in the ocean here. It's common to see whales, dolphins, and killer whales (orcas) on tours. The southern part of the coast is a protected area called Playón de Mismaloya Sanctuary. It's the largest place in Mexico for protecting sea turtles.

On land, almost all of Mexico's wild cats live here. This includes jaguars and pumas. Sadly, these animals are hunted illegally. There isn't a big program to protect them yet. Even though the area is known for its rich variety of life and good conservation, more studies are needed.

Water Systems: Hydrography

El Tuito is part of the Central Pacific basin. Its main rivers are "La Puerta," "Zicatán," and "Tecolotlán." Seasonal streams include "El Ipala" and "La Boquita." Permanent streams are "Puchiteca," "Tabo Piloro," "Maxeque," and "La Peñita." El Tuito also has many springs and estuaries like "Mayto," "La Boquita," and "Tecolotlán."

Land Features: Topography

About three-quarters of El Tuito's land is high up. These areas are about 2,625 to 5,900 feet (800 to 1,800 meters) above sea level. The other quarter has lower hills and rocks, between 0 and 1,300 feet (0 and 400 meters) above sea level.

Soil Types

The soil in El Tuito is mainly made of three types: Eutric Regosol, Haplic Feozem, and Leptosol.

Eutric Regosol: This soil is light in color and comes from rocks.
Haplic Feozem: This soil can be found in any climate, but it's more common in rainy areas.
Leptosol: This soil is soft, and in some places, it has a dark surface.

Economy and Jobs

The main ways people make a living in El Tuito are through agriculture (farming), livestock (raising animals), industry (making things), forestry (working with forests), fishing, and tourism.

Agriculture: The most important crops are sorghum, corn, sesame, and coffee.
Livestock: People raise cattle, pigs, goats, horses, and different kinds of birds.
Industry: There are small businesses in the main town. They process food, make dairy products, and produce tequila and raicilla (a local liquor). Some places also roast and grind coffee.
Forestry: People use forest products that are not wood. For example, they collect chilte to make chewing gum and almonds from oil coquito.
Fishing: People catch different types of oysters, crabs, and fish. El Tuito is known for selling these.
Tourism: Visitors to Cabo Corrientes can explore the forests south of El Tuito.

Tourism and Local Products

As of September 2009, there wasn't an official guide for tourism services in Cabo Corrientes. However, there are places to stay:

In El Tuito: Two formal hotels and some places with cheap rooms.
In the western beach area: Rustic cabins in Villa del Mar and rooms in Mayto.

You can find food in El Tuito at restaurants and inns. They offer local Mexican snacks, tacos, and dinners. Bar Machis serves international food. There are also shops where you can buy local products like raicilla liquor, cheese, and coffee.

In the Villa del Mar area, you can even help with sea turtle conservation. This is part of a real ecotourism experience, working with the University of Guadalajara and a local environmental group.

Places to Visit

El Tuito is the oldest town in the Cabo Corrientes area. Its houses are known for their orange and yellow colors.

Some interesting places to visit include:

The Main Square: Here, you can see the temple garden with palm trees and beautiful trees, including the Maria tree.
Ex Hacienda San José Ruins: These are the remains of an old estate from 1875.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops: You can enjoy Mexican snacks and coffee.

Festivities in El Tuito

January 12: Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This celebration lasts nine days. It includes sports events, parades with dancing, music, flowers, banners, and fireworks. On the last three days, there are dances and food stalls near the church. On the final day, a special mass honors the Virgin of Guadalupe.
April 1: Construction day of El Tuito, celebrating the town's founding.
May 10: Celebration of Mother's Day.

These celebrations happen in the town's main square with music and fireworks.

Religion

Most people in El Tuito are Roman Catholic. There is one priest assigned to the area. Some people are Seventh-day Adventists, a few are Jewish, and some say they don't believe in any religion. There is also a small number of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Communication and Transportation

Media and Connectivity

El Tuito has different ways to communicate, including telephony (phones), fax, telegraphy, mail, and radiotelephony. In 2008, broadband internet and cell phone service became available.

Roads and Ground Travel

You can travel by road on the Barra de Navidad-Puerto Vallarta Highway (#200). Another route is the Guadalajara-Chapalilla (Nayarit) Highway (#15), which connects to the Chapalilla-Compostela Toll Highway (#68-D). From Compostela, you can take Highway (#200) to El Tuito. All towns in Cabo Corrientes are connected to El Tuito by dirt roads.

Buses provide transport between towns. The Autotransportes Cihuatlán and Servicios Coordinados lines (part of the Flecha Amarilla group) operate here. There's also a local bus line that goes between El Tuito and Puerto Vallarta every half hour. Bus terminals are at the Main Square in El Tuito and at Insurgentes and Basilio Vadillo in Puerto Vallarta.

Air Travel

For air travel, people use the Puerto Vallarta Airport. The municipality also has its own airway.

Jaguar

Protecting Wildlife: The Jaguar Project

Jaguar Conservation Efforts

Since 2003, a special project has been working to protect the jaguar and other animals in the area. With help from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat–Jalisco), a "Jaguar Refuge" was built. This shelter is 1.1 hectares (about 2.7 acres) in the mountains and has natural plants inside.

A female jaguar named "Pecas" (meaning "Freckles") has lived there since 2003. She was rescued as a cub from a hunter. By June 2008, she had a cub. Both jaguars are kept in conditions as natural as possible. The refuge also aims to offer ecotourism and educational activities. This helps protect jaguars in the region and teaches people about their importance.

Community Services

The municipality of Cabo Corrientes offers many services to its residents. These include drinking water, sewage systems, public lighting, a market, a flea market, a slaughterhouse, gardens, parks, public safety, and sports centers.

About 53.8% of homes have drinking water, 54.7% have sewage, and 52.3% have electricity. The main town has a Health Center (Centro de Salud). Some villages also have Health Houses (Casas de Salud). You can buy medicines at the pharmacy on Calle 1 de Abril.

Culture and Traditions

In El Tuito, a traditional outfit for women is the "ropa de manta." This is clothing made from coarse cotton with embroidery. Local people also make huaraches (traditional sandals) and pottery.

Popular foods include seafood and Mexican snacks. You can also try corundas (a type of tamale). For sweets, there's coconut atole (a warm drink), "payos," and "chiltes" (sweets made from naseberry sap).