La Bufa, Jalisco: The Drive, The Mountain And More
I often tell Elysia how I think driving is one of my innate skills at life. I continue by bragging that I’ve driven in 6 different countries, both sides of the road, manual (stick) and automatic, off road and on.
Nonetheless, the drive from San Sebastian Del Oeste, up the mountain to La Bufa (one of the highest points in Mexico), in our tiny 4 cylinder rental car proved to be not only my most challenging drive, but one of our favorite adventures of all time.
Fortunately we were lucky enough to find ourselves the night before getting shamefully drunk with the owners of a local bar in San Sebastian. I say fortunately because (two of the nicest guys we’ve ever met) they also offered to show us around the town the next day and importantly, guide us on the drive up the mountain to La Bufa.
We were narrowly able to avoid the reality of me driving with the two of them, one with a daughter, and our friend Rachel crammed needlessly into the 3 seats in the rear of the vehicle; as would have been the ever common Mexican custom.
Setting out, it seemed easy enough. We edged slowly along the cobblestone paths of the town, through quiet old streets, past quaint little homes with ladies hanging their washing, clearly proud of their modest piece of terra firma, having been in the family for generations.
But soon we hit the real mountains. What we drove on from there and for the next hour and a half was… It’s hard to describe it as a road… Let’s say a windy, one lane track of loose rock, complete with ruts, ditches, minor water crossings, and of course no guard rails or safety precautions of any kind. Safe to say it was more than once during the drive that Elysia cursed our decision to do so.
For both passenger and driver the voyage is a strange emotional quagmire too; your minds being torn between the extremes of fear at the blatantly imminent danger on one end, and the joy of the increasingly beautiful scenery on the other end. For the higher you climb, the more of the mountain scape and the scenery of the towns below begins to present itself to you.
But to discuss the drive for this whole article would be a crime. Suffice it to say that after a few tire spins, a couple of minor stoppages, and some masterful maneuvering (had to say it), we made it to the summit of La Bufa. I believe too (ego aside) that anyone who wanted to make this drive could do so too.
La Bufa was named, as we learned as a result of some onomatopoeia; “Bufa” supposedly being akin to the sound of the passing wind you’ll both hear and feel as you sit atop the summit.
Reaching the summit after a short walk from the end of the road, provides you with a 360 degree view of the surrounding valley, and a good part of the entire western side of Jalisco. On a clear day you can see right out to the ocean, a true spectacle to behold.
Once at the top, it’s hard to do much more than sit in awe. You can stroll from one side of the lookout to the next, taking in the view from all angles. Alternatively, you can laze in the sun, basking on the rocks like a lizard, and take in the crisp freshness of the clean mountain air. After all, whatever you do at the La Bufa summit will be memorable.
You’ll also be able to look back down at the village of San Sebastian from whence you came, and get a sense for how small and nestled into the hills it really is.
Depending on the weather on the day you’ll either feel like you’re hovering above the clouds, floating amongst the rolling hills, or simply sitting perched like an eagle overlooking it’s territory.
Sadly, eventually you’ll have to depart La Bufa and all it’s beauty to come (quite literally) back down to earth. I’ll always remember a parting thought I had as we began to traverse: “Maybe like life, alot of the beauty of an experience like this comes from the inevitable fact that eventually it will have to end”.
La Bufa is something you should certainly take in if you’re visiting San Sebastian, and I dare say, something that’s worth making the drive out for no matter where in Vallarta you’re staying.
Surely an experience we’ll never forget.
Check out some more of our photos below 
Sat, Apr 17, 2010
Puerto Vallarta