Santiago de Ixcuintla is a municipality and a municipal seat in the western Mexican state of

Nayarit Nayarit, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in Municipalities of Nayarit, 20 municipalit ...

. The municipal population was 93,981 inhabitants (census of 2020) with the municipal seat having a population of 25,241. The area of the municipality was 1,831.92 square kilometers. It is located at 21º48'40" N and 105º12'23" W. The most important population centers are the municipal seat, Santiago Ixcuintla, with 18,169 inhabitants; Villa Hidalgo with 11,175, La Presa with 3,932, Yago with 3,919, Pozo de Ibarra with 3,342 and Villa Juárez with 3,158. Forty-six percent of the population lives in these communities. Much of the land is only slightly above sea level. Lagoons make up the western section where two important rivers, the

Río Grande de Santiago The Río Grande de Santiago, or Santiago River, is a river in western Mexico. It flows westwards from Lake Chapala via Ocotlán through the states of Jalisco and Nayarit to empty into the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the longest rivers in Mexic ...

and the Río San Pedro, enter the sea. In the east, the land gradually rises to form the foothills of the

Sierra Madre Occidental The Sierra Madre Occidental is a major mountain range system of the North American Cordillera, that runs northwest–southeast through northwestern and western Mexico, and along the Gulf of California. The Sierra Madre is part of the American C ...

. The municipal seat of Santiago is situated at approximately 30 meters above sea level. The economy is based on agriculture and small manufacturing industries. The main crops are tobacco, citrus fruits, beans, watermelon, chile, mangoes, bananas, and coffee. Santiago is one of the most important tobacco-producing regions of the country. Fishing along the coast and in the many lagoons is also important. On July 11, 1991, a sounding rocket was launched at Santiago Ixcuintla for solar research during a solar eclipse. There is an unexploited touristic potential in the area due to the vast inland waters making up the Marismas Nacionales. This protected area consists of a vast network of brackish coastal lagoons, mangrove swamps, mudflats, and marshes. It is fed by the Río Acaponeta and tributary streams, including the delta of the Río San Pedro. On one of the lagoons lies the island village of Mexcaltitlán, accessible only by small boat.

Mural Nuestras Raíces

One attraction that stands out in the sight of all those who visit the community is the Nuestras Raices Mural. Nuestras Raíses which translates to "Our roots" was made between 1991 and 1993 using the Mexican mosaic technique, resulting in a beautiful work of art that highlights the wonders of the culture. The mural measures 1100 meters square and is said to represent the origins of

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

as stated by the history of the Island of Mexcaltitán. This mythic history also states that Santiago is the mythical city of

Aztlán Aztlán (from or romanized ''Aztlán'', ) is the ancestral home of the Aztec peoples. The word "Aztec" was derived from the Nahuatl a''ztecah'', meaning "people from Aztlán." Aztlán is mentioned in several ethnohistorical sources dating from t ...

References

{{Nayarit Populated places in Nayarit Municipalities of Nayarit