San Luis Soyatlán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Luis Soyatlán
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Town
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| Nickname(s):
San Luisito
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| Motto(s):
"Pueblo de pescadores y vaqueros." "La tierra del Vampiro"
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 San Luis Soyatlán
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Jalisco |
| Municipality | Tuxcueca |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi) |
| Population
(2020 census)
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| • Total | 3,814 |
| • Density | 2,414/km2 (6,252/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
| Postal Code |
49440
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| Area code(s) | 376 |
San Luis Soyatlán is a town in the state of Jalisco, located in central-western Mexico. It is part of the Tuxcueca area. This town is the biggest in Tuxcueca, with over 60% of the people living there. It also brings in 70% of the money for the area. San Luis Soyatlán sits on the south side of Lake Chapala, about 45 minutes south of the city of Guadalajara.
The town's name comes from two languages. "San Luis" is Spanish and honors the town's saint, Saint Louis of Toulouse. "Soyatlán" comes from Nahuatl, an ancient language. It means "place of soyates", which are fibers used to make Mexican mats and hats.
Contents
History of San Luis Soyatlán
People lived in the Tuxcueca area long before the Spanish conquest. San Luis Soyatlán was started by groups of Chichimeca people who moved around a lot. They settled near the Las Cerretas river.
Years before the Spanish arrived, the King of the Purépecha, Tangaxoan Tzíntzicha, took over this region. He wanted the valuable salt fields in nearby Zacoalco and Sayula. This led to a war called the Saltpetre War against the King of Colima in the early 1500s.
San Luis Soyatlán was first part of the Jocotepec area. But on April 20, 1886, Tuxcueca became its own separate area, thanks to General Ramón Corona. This happened when Governor Francisco Tolentino was in charge. Then, on October 1, 1888, San Luis Soyatlán joined the Tuxcueca area, leaving Jocotepec.
Exploring San Luis Soyatlán
San Luis Soyatlán is a very popular place for tourists in the Tuxcueca area. It feels like a city because the main highway (Mexican Federal Highway 15) goes right through the middle of town. Along this road, also called Alvaro Obregón Avenue, you can find many shops. There are small grocery stores, restaurants, ice cream shops, fruit stands, and pharmacies.
Town's Main Areas
The Saint Louis of Toulouse Church was first a small chapel made of adobe in 1564. It was finished on December 22, 1885, but without its tower. In front of the church is a Square Atrium with religious statues, a stage, meeting rooms, restrooms, and public parking. This is where many public events happen.
The Plaza de Armas, or main square, has been around since the 1400s. It has been updated many times but still keeps its traditional and modern feel. During the day, it's not a big shopping spot. But at night, especially on weekends, it fills up with street food vendors. On the north side of the plaza is the Municipal Delegation. This is like a local City Hall where you can find town services. It's a beautiful building with arches, built in a style from the 1600s. Here you can find the police office, an ATM, and postal services.
The Capilla del Señor de la Salud is a small Catholic chapel. It's just a few blocks from the main church. Many local Catholics believe the Christ statue here can perform miracles. This makes it an important place to visit in the town.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Eden Ecological Park is a large park, over 40,000 square meters. It's right next to the southern shore of the lake. The park has two docks, grills for cooking, a playground, and picnic tables. You can also find walking paths, two streams, and lots of palm trees and cypress trees. There are bathrooms and places for groups to meet. From the park, you can see the northern shore of the lake.
Natural Wonders Around Town
Less than 5 kilometers south of town, on a hill, is the Mirador y la Cruz. This is a viewpoint with a big metal cross. From here, you can see the north side of the lake and the town below. There's also a small shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe nearby.
El Salto, which means "The Jump," is a beautiful waterfall. It's over 30 meters tall and has three levels. People usually visit it during the rainy season when the water is flowing strongly.
One of the most impressive natural spots is The Garcia Mountain. It's the tallest mountain on the lake's shore, almost 2,600 meters high. From its top, you get an amazing view of the entire lake. You can also see the Sierra del Tigre, Huejotitán Valley, and the Sayula basin. There are small caves at the top where old pots and ceramics have been found.
The area around San Luis Soyatlán is rich in nature. There are over 10,400 hectares of forests. These forests are mostly filled with oak and pine trees.
Town Celebrations
The Fiestas Patronales are special celebrations held to honor Saint Louis of Toulouse, the town's patron saint. These festivities take place from August 10 to August 19. During this time, people go on pilgrimages around town. There are morning masses with early morning songs called mañanitas for the saint. In the evenings, you can enjoy rides, fireworks, food stands, and serenades in the main square.
Like most town celebrations in Mexico, each day of the fiestas is dedicated to a different "guild" or group. Each guild is a particular group of people who help pay for that day's events. They are also linked to one of the town's four districts: San Juan, San Miguel, San Pedro, or San Francisco. Here are some of the guilds:
- Guild of the Youth, Masons, and Fishermen.
- Guild of the Absent Children from Guadalajara (people who grew up here but now live in Guadalajara).
- Guild of the Town Council (local government officials).
- Guild of the Livestock Owners and Communal Lands (or Ejido) Holders (farmers and ranchers).
- Guild of the Absent Children from the United States. This group has a fun tradition: a soccer game! The team of people who live in San Luis Soyatlán all year are called the "tilapias" (a type of fish). The team of people who come from the U.S. are called the "hamburgesas" or "hamburgers".
- Guild of the Town in General (usually on August 19). On this day, the official day of Saint Louis of Toulouse, the town invites people from nearby towns like San Nicolas de Acuña and La Puerta de San Nicolas to join the party. They traditionally walk together into San Luis.
- Guild of the Commercialists (business owners). They have a tradition where a band plays music in front of small businesses in town.
- Guild of the Professionals and Missionaries.
- Individual Guild and Town in General (only on the last day). This guild is paid for by one person or family.
Each day of the celebration has a special color. The people whose day it is wear a sash of that color during the traditional walk that happens each afternoon before mass. The current colors are:
- White
- Royal Blue
- Sky Blue
- Green
- Red
- Tint (a light shade)
- Yellow
- Orange
- Purple
Enramadas, or "hut season," are celebrations that happen throughout the entire lent period. During this time, huts are set up at the town's lake park. These huts serve food and drinks to visitors.
Schools in San Luis Soyatlán
San Luis Soyatlán has several schools for different age groups:
- Benito Juarez School: An elementary school for basic education. Classes are held in the morning.
- Emiliano Zapata School: Another elementary school for basic education. Classes are held in the evening.
- EMSAD San Luis Soyatlán: A high school offering general baccalaureate education. Classes are held in the evening.
- Escuela Secundaria Tecnica 99: A middle school providing technical basic education. Classes are held in the morning.
- Gregorio Torres Quintero School: An elementary school for basic education. Classes are held in the morning.
- Jose Vasconcelos Preschool: A preschool for basic education. Classes are held in the evening.
- Octavio Chavaria Cervantes School: An elementary school for basic education. Classes are held in the morning.
- Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz Preschool: A preschool for basic education. Classes are held in the morning.
