A stone waypost at the summit of La Bufa, wrapped in years of rosaries, bracelets, and small offerings left by hikers.
Jalisco, Mexico

El Sendero
a La Bufa

A trail journal — Guadalajara to the Lake Chapala hills, up through Real Alto to the summit shrine, and back down to the Pacific at Puerto Vallarta.

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Every hiker who reaches the top of La Bufa leaves something behind — a bracelet, a coin, a knot of string. This is the trail that led there, and the people met along the way.

Waypoint 01
Guadalajara

Where the trip begins

First stop off the plane, before the road climbs toward the lake.

Lee standing in front of a large red Guadalajara sign inside the airport.
Touching down in Guadalajara.
Waypoint 02
Ajijic · Lake Chapala

Down by the lake

A quiet town on the shore before heading up into the sierra.

Watch — Ajijic
Waypoint 03
Real Alto

Into the sierra

A whitewashed mountain village, all tile roofs and switchbacks, with the clouds sitting low over the peaks.

Lee and Jesus standing on a rocky overlook above the village of Real Alto.
Lee and Jesus, overlooking Real Alto.
Watch — Driving through Real Alto
Waypoint 04
La Bufa

The summit

Wildflowers along the last stretch, radio masts marking the top, and the old shrine post where every hiker leaves something of their own.

Watch — Driving to La Bufa
An agave plant beside the trail, with orange wildflowers along the rock wall.
Agave along the trail.
A stone stairway path bordered by yellow wildflowers, climbing through the pines.
The stone path up.
Yellow wildflowers lining the trail edge through dense brush.
Wildflowers near the top.
The rocky summit of La Bufa with radio antennas and a wooden fence, clouds overhead.
The summit — radio masts and rock.
The summit waypost wrapped in rosaries, bracelets, and offerings left by hikers over the years.
The shrine post at the top.
Waypoint 05
Real Alto

Adrian, Francisco & Jesus

Under the fig tree in the plaza — an afternoon of conversation with two of the village's elders.

Three men sitting together on a bench under a large tree — Francisco in an orange shirt, Adrian in a white cowboy shirt and hat, and Jesus in a teal shirt.
Francisco, Adrian, and Jesus.
Adrian, wearing a red cap, mid-conversation with Jesus, seated on a stone wall above the village.
Adrian and Jesus, mid-story.
Watch — Adrian & Jesus talking
Waypoint 06
Puerto Vallarta

Down to the Pacific

The trail ends at the coast — friends on the sand, and a turtle nesting at dusk.

A group of seven friends standing together on the beach at sunset, with the Puerto Vallarta coastline behind them.
Jesus, Jeranimo, and friends on the beach.
A sea turtle digging a nest in the sand at dusk.
A sea turtle laying her eggs at dusk.
Waypoint 07
Puerto Vallarta

Evenings on the beach

Music on the sand as the sun goes down. Click the corner icon to watch full screen.

Watch — Beach music, evening
Watch — Sunset on the sand
Waypoint 08
Puerto Vallarta

One more thing

Click the corner icon to watch full screen.

Watch — Huge Crocodile

Fin del sendero