Nayarit is one of Mexico’s 31 states and is located on the central west coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Nayarit is surrounded by the states of Sinaloa to the northwest, Durango to the north, Zacatecas to the northeast and Jalisco to the south with the Pacific Ocean bordering it to the west.

Also in Nayarit are the cities and towns of Acaponeta, San Blas, Santiago Ixcuintla, Matanchen, Tecuala, Zacualpan, Chacala and Tuxpan, as well as the island settlement of Mexcaltitán. Also belonging to the state are the Islas Marias, Islas Tres Marietas and Isla Isabel, all in the Pacific Ocean.

The capital of Nayarit is the town of Tepic which is located inland and south on the Tepic River. Nearby is the Sanganguey volcano and the crater lake.