Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico – In the spirit of the giving season and paying homage to tradition, the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s Pacific Treasure, invites travelers to join in the celebrations as it honors its unique Huichol community this month.
The Huichol, or Wixáritari which means “the people” in their native language, are an indigenous group that live in the foothills and highlands of the Sierra Madre Mountain range, comprised of the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango and Zacatecas.
Historically known for resisting all forms of colonization of their people and land, including the Spanish Invasion and fall of the Aztec empire, the Huicholes continue to hold their pre-Colombian traditions and rituals as sacred and to remain true to their ancestral customs.
Their unique lifestyle, humble culture and vibrant art offer North American travelers a fascinating educational and cultural experience.
Arts and Crafts
Described as a “portal on nature,” Huichol art takes many forms such as weaving, embroidery, votive offerings, chairs, basketry, musical instruments and sculptures and is well known for its quality beadwork that uses traditional methods. This artistic legacy has been recognized by travelers and leading museums around the world for its unique, intricate and colorful perspective on human culture and its relationship to nature.
Huichol-made bags, hats and other woven objects make perfect souvenirs and can be easily found in stores throughout the region, including Revolucion del Sueño in the boho-chic town of Sayulita, and The Hikuri Huichol Gallery in family-friendly Nuevo Vallarta.
Local businesses and hotels also recognize the beauty of this art. For example, the luxurious W Punta de Mita features Lucha Libre masks and Papel Picado folk art, and is also home to a colorful Camino Huichol walkway that depicts and celebrates the indigenous wildlife and culture.
Rituals and Traditions
The Huichol way of life is rich with sacred rituals and ceremonial practices. There are specific ceremonies for each of the seasons and each revolve around the tribe’s four main deities – Corn, Blue Deer, Peyote or cactus and the Eagle – all of which descended from the Sun God, the creator of all creatures.
One of the most important ceremonies is the Dance of the Deer, where they dance their prayers into the altar of Mother Earth and connect with the Deer Spirit, the most important Huichol animal power.
Travelers staying at select hotels in Riviera Nayarit get to experience some of these rituals and connect with the native community in distinctive ways.
For example, properties like the Four Seasons Punta Mita and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit offer a Huichol-inspired wedding ceremony, where the Huichol Marakame or shaman marries the couples’ souls and the symbols of corn, copal, eagle and hawk feathers take center stage. Similarly, the Grand Velas offers the Healing of the Soul ceremony, a sacred ritual where guests, alongside natives, pray to the Huichol gods for health, harmony and peace.
Cultural Preservation
The Huichol culture is an important part of the Riviera Nayarit experience for travelers, and there are several destination-wide initiatives in place that spur cultural preservation and sustainable growth for the native community.
One of the main ways the destination does this is through the Huichol Tour, which takes travelers behind the scenes to experience the villages, ceremonial sites, rituals and traditions of the Huicholes first-hand.
Hotels play their part too. For example, Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Resort & Spa, recognized by the Rainforest Alliance, respects the ancestral culture associated with the Huichol, as the property was built in an area they used to call home.
The native’s language, culture and spirituality play a significant role in the Dreams Villamagna experience with Huichol crafts and rituals being popular activities among guests.
Expo Comercial y Cultural Wixarika
Another way to learn more about the age-old customs of one of the few civilizations in the world that has not lost its cultural identity to Western influences is to attend the 4th Expo Comercial y Cultural Wixarika that’s set to take place in San Francisco (better known as “San Pancho”), Nayarit from November 28 through December 1, 2019.
The festival, which will be held in the town’s main plaza daily from 10 am to 10 pm, will showcase the amazingly rich culture, color and texture of this indigenous community through exhibitions and displays that cover a diverse array of topics, including the gastronomy, elaborate art, dance and song rituals, and traditional ceremonies that preserve the Huichol people’s cultural and spiritual identity.
Regardless of travelers’ choice of experiences, those seeking to immerse themselves in a new culture this holiday season can head to Riviera Nayarit, where they are guaranteed to discover the wonderful world of the Huicholes in every town square.
The Riviera Nayarit is also home to the Huichol Center for Cultural Survival, an organization that generates working strategies and programs to address the economic, educational and health issues facing the Wixáritari community as they work to maintain their cultural identity and homeland.
Sources: Riviera Nayarit CVB • Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas