One of the lesser-known attractions of Jalisco’s Primavera Forest is a two-kilometer-long Sendero Interpretativo (Interpretive Trail) that takes you through a variety of forest environments with occasional signs describing where you are and what you are seeing.
Now and then, I organize hikes to outdoor sites near Guadalajara, and I am often asked whether the outing would be suitable for children and even “whether my five-year-old can do it.”
I’m happy to report that the Interpretive Trail is perfect for families, judging from the reactions of the 28 people of all ages who showed up for this hike and completed it with smiles on their faces. Since even two-year-old Martin Peterson did the hike without complaint, no Tapatío has an excuse not to give it a try.
The trail is laid out just behind the Primavera Forest Visitors Welcome Center, located 3 kilometers south of the town of La Primavera, which, in turn, is situated 13 kilometers west of Guadalajara.
Upon our arrival, we were shown where to park and given an orientation by our guide, Ezequiel García. He told us that the forest covers 36,229 hectares, about the same size as greater Guadalajara. While 30,500 hectares of the forest have been declared “protected,” only 18.7% of this land is owned by the state. In this small area, stringent rules apply. Some are obvious: no hunting and no collecting of rocks, plants or anything else. Less obvious rules: no dogs (or other pets), alcohol, loud noise, ATVs or motorcycles are allowed.
In the Primavera Forest, Ezequiel told us, we can find 222 kinds of animals and birds, including 27 endangered species. As for plants, there are 748 species along with 255 kinds of mushrooms. The forest, said our guide, occupies the site where a tremendous explosion took place 110,000 years ago, leaving a huge hole called a caldera, which eventually filled with water. Later, volcanic activity raised the floor of the lake, spilling out the water, and the forest was born.
We started our walk along a narrow path through a vast meadow filled with a wispy plant called Cola de Zorro (Foxtail): it was like walking through a purple cloud.
We soon came to a huge oak tree. Under its spreading branches, Ezequiel challenged our group to name all the benefits that trees provide to human beings, with prizes of bookmarks to contributors. In this area we came to several places with panoramic views of the forest in the distance. We were at 1,637 meters (5,370 feet) altitude. At one spot, we could contemplate a great stretch of trees which had been scorched during the great forest fire which raged here in April of 2012. Now the blackened trunks are interspersed with green growth. This strange scene had a kind of ethereal beauty I would not have expected.
We were fortunate to have in our group two botanist-biologists and one geologist, each of whom supplemented Ezequiel’s explanations.
Now our trail suddenly became wider, steeper and filled with large chunks of obsidian, pumice and rhyolite. “Here you’ll get to know the three main kinds of rock found in these parts,” said Ezequiel. Indeed, we had to proceed carefully with our eyes fixed on those famous volcanic rocks. Albeit with a bit of slipping and sliding, we all (including the five year olds) made it down a long slope to a lower level, which brought us to a place with thick, dark sand, where we spotted lots of deer tracks. Immediately, the small children sat down and begin making sand castles, as if assuming that this giant sand box had been the goal of the hike all along and here we were going to stay.
Their parents, however, skillfully managed to extract them from that enticing spot and we followed a slightly muddy river bed which led to a grassy slope and back to our starting point, where we all received brochures and beautiful posters to remind us of our visit.
What did the kids think of the hike? Luis Ángel Rodríguez (4 years old) said, “What I enjoyed most was walking along with everybody in a big group…and I liked the guide because he was wearing green.”
Commented Diego Rodríguez (six) to his grandmother: “They said we would walk two hours, but it was MORE than two! Lucky you didn’t go, Granny, because you would have been crying.”
During the hike, five-year-old Alice told her friends, “I don’t want to go back to Guadalajara, I want to live in the woods.” As for two young children visiting from Ecuador, they simply declared that their visit to the Primavera Forest “was the most exciting day of our lives.”
Although visitors are free to traverse this Interpretive Trail on their own, I’m afraid it’s not very well marked. In addition, the signposted information along the way is quite sparse. So, I suggest you get together 12-25 people and “book” a guide in advance. The Bosque staff are all great people and, after all, there’s no charge. You can do this easily by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or by phone, (33)3110-0917.
How to get there
From Guadalajara’s western Periférico, take Highway 15 toward Nogales and Tepic. After passing the town of La Venta, you’ll see a sign marked La Primavera. Make a left turn at this spot, which is 12.7 kilometers from the periférico. Now drive forward, passing three streets, and turn right onto Ignacio Allende. When you get to the end of this street, turn left and drive south out of the town, whereupon a representative of the local ejido will ask you to pay a small fee (25 pesos per carload, a few days ago). You still have not reached the Welcome Center, so continue straight ahead. Don’t turn off when you see signs for various balnearios. At about three kilometers from the Nogales highway, you’ll come to the Welcome Center. Driving time from the Periférico is about half an hour.