JALISCO CALIENTE Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Above a hot stream near Rio Caliente in the Primavera Forest west of Guadalajara, Mexico.
JALISCO CALIENTE
Río Caliente is a spring-fed river of piping hot water, located in the Primavera Forest, a protected area in the State of Jalisco, Mexico, just outside Guadalajara, off highway 15.
This river is only a few yards wide and conveniently shallow for wading. However, the way the stream bubbles over and around its many large rocks, creates a white-water look that might remind you of the Swiss Alps. Don't believe it! Wherever you enter the river, test it gingerly, as some spots are hotter than others, due to the influx of both hot and cold tributaries at various points. In this area and further downstream, you are bound to find a small pool just to your liking, one that may have several different temperature zones and more than one "natural Jacuzzi" that will massage away your tension and cares in a matter of minutes. Note that this alkaline (pH 8.3) water contains traces of almost every known mineral salt on the planet, including natural, organic lithium. If you don't feel totally relaxed after soaking for an hour in the soothing, bubbling mineral water, I'll eat my hiking boots!
The cache is hidden near one of the tributaries that feed Rio Caliente, a small stream that is even more caliente than the main river. I call this stream The Black River and it bubbles out of the ground at a temperature of 70 degrees Centigrade.
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 retorno which is 12.7 kms from the periférico. Now drive forward, passing three streets and turn right on Ignacio Allende. When you get to the end of this street, turn left and drive south along a poorly paved road (some of the paving consists of lumps of obsidian!) till you are stopped and asked for small entrance fee. This money goes to people who were never reimbursed when the government declared their land a park. Supposedly, this also pays for the road maintenance.
At six kms from the highway, you come to a fork in the road. The left branch leads to the Río Caliente Spa. Bear right and drive to a rather desolate parking area on the bluff overlooking the river. You may have to pay a small per-person fee for parking here.. Driving time from the Periférico to this parking spot is about 32 minutes.
Walk 672 meters south and WADE across the comfortably warm river (only 20 cm deep at the worst). Keep heading south and you’ll come to the Black River which is really hot (49°C (120°F). Follow it upstream till you find an old dam at N20 40.552 W103 34.721. From here head uphill to find the cache which is in a plastic bottle 12cm wide with a black cover. Enjoy the view! Afterwards you can continue up the Black River to find its source (take great care not to fall in) or go back to Río Caliente for a soak.
Visit Río Caliente on a weekday to avoid crowds of “domingueros.” If that’s not possible, go on a Saturday morning. Despite the popularity of the place, few muggles are ever seen near the Black River.
For more info on other hikes in this area, see www.ranchopint.com .
Reviewer note on geocache maintenance:
The geocache will be maintaned by the owner, visiting the aea very often.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Yvsg syng oynpx ebpx arne qrnq npnpvn gerr
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