Whether you’re an intrepid on-the-road adventurer or a relaxed armchair traveler, Tony Burton’s “Western Mexico: A Traveler’s Treasury” is an ideal companion to satisfy every curiosity about the unique attributes of the country’s occidental heartland.
One factor that lends special appeal to this singular travel book is Burton’s departure from the stock formula found in conventional guides. He adheres to a more organic approach, drawing on personal experience and meticulous research to divulge the virtues and peculiarities of every destination.
Another major strength is the author’s attention to historical details that enrich the individual profile of each place. In some cases he scratched up intriguing facts by chatting with the local people, in others he tapped on tireless study of a vast array of previously published works. The bibliography lists writings going back as far as 1899, as well as “Lake Chapala through the Ages,” Burton’s own compilation of excerpts from works by other travel writers covering the era of 1530-1910.
Above all, the British-born geographer is a bold adventurer who delights in departing from the main travel routes to explore back roads and discover unexpected corners that other travelers and writers often see as nothing more than dots on the map. He has a knack for digging up the idiosyncrasies of each destination he visits, be it local legends and folklore, off-beat museums, geological characteristics, mining deposits of minerals, stones and precious metals, or an outstanding restaurant, inn or spa worthy of mention.
First published in 1993, the revised and expanded fourth edition of “Western Mexico” was released at the end of last year by Sombrero Books.
The first quarter of the book, comprising 80 pages divided into two sections, concentrates on destinations considered apt for day trips from Guadalajara and Chapala. It opens with what qualifies as the most comprehensive guide to the Lake Chapala region available in English.The next segment explores the agricultural valley and the Sierra highlands stretching west from Guadalajara. Part three covers Tapalpa, Mazamitla and other high altitude spots, plus the city of Colima. From there the text follows a route northeast of Guadalajara into the region of Los Altos and beyond Jalisco’s borders to León, Guanajuato and Aguascalientes, continuing into Zacatecas and the far-flung northern “hand” of Jalisco.
Material in parts six and seven spans the Pacific coast from San Blas, Nayarit to Cuyutlán, Colima. The final chapters thoroughly survey the state of Michoacán.
Even if you already own a previous edition, there are good reasons to add the latest version to your library collection. One example is the new two-page write-up on Guachimontones, rated by the author as “one of the most astonishing archaeological sites anywhere in Mexico.” In the original work-written several years before the late archaeologist Phil Weigand began uncovering the vestiges of a long-lost pre-Hispanic civilization-the topic merited just a single sentence.
Elsewhere in the book Burton writes about more obscure archaeological finds such as the “Stonehenge of Mexico” near Cuautla, Jalisco, the Tampumacchay shaft tombs of Colima and Los Alzati pyramids in Michoacán.
He takes readers to little-known jewels such the isle of Mexcaltitán, possibly the cradle of the Aztec civilization and Jerez, Zacatecas, an important link on the Colonial era silver trade route. The development of Puerto Vallarta and the birth of the Paricutín volcano stand out among the book’s fascinating historical accounts. Expositions on Jalisco’s Manantlán Biosphere Reserve and the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries of Michoacán are obligatory reading to grasp the value of Mexico’s extraordinary natural treasures.
Burton’s clear writing style and bonus sidebar boxes added to each chapter make for easy, breezy reading. A series of area maps drawn by the author and Mark Eager’s attractive pen and ink illustrations of different locales complement the text. The cover art work is a reproduction of a watercolor scene of Ajijic by the late Georg Rauch.
Both paperback and Kindle editions of “Western Mexico: A Traveler’s Treasury” may be purchased from amazon.com. Ajijic outlets that keep the printed book in stock are Diane Pearl Colecciones, Opus Boutique and La Nueva Posada. Guadalajara residents may place orders through Sandi Bookstore.