San Patricio

San Patricio, known above all as Melaque, is a beach town on the Bahía de Navidad in the municipality of Cihuatlán, on Jalisco's south coast. It lies about 4 km northwest of Barra de Navidad, with the Laguna del Tule on its east side. At the 2020 census it had 6,958 inhabitants. It is really three settlements run together: Melaque in the west; San Patricio in the middle, with the plaza, the market and most of the shops; and Villa Obregón in the east, which is more residential. Together they form the largest settlement on the coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, a family holiday spot for Mexicans for generations and a winter base for foreign visitors.

The main beach runs from the Barra de Navidad jetty to the west end of town. It slopes steeply, so waves break close to shore: it is fine for swimming and bodyboarding but needs care with small children. For snorkelling people use the west end, reached by a trail, and the Punta Melaque walkway follows that side of the sea. Palapa restaurants along the beach serve fish and seafood. In the evening people gather in the plaza beside the church, and a tianguis is set up on Wednesdays.

The biggest festival is San Patricio on 17 March, preceded by a week of bullfighting events with rodeo, parades, a blessing of the fishing fleet, folk dances and fireworks every night. The Assumption of the Virgin, starting on 15 August, is another big one. The October 1995 earthquake destroyed the town's largest hotel, the Casa Grande, and Hurricane Henriette brought heavy rain in 2007.