The wonderful village of Comala, Mexico, about 10 miles (16 km) outside of Colima, the capital city of Colima state, lies in the shadow of the smoking Colima Volcano and is home to two very unique drinking traditions: cold beer in the bars that ring the town’s main plaza and leche caliente (hot milk) the morning after. Of course we tried both.

The wonderful village of Comala just 10 miles outside of Colima lies in the shadow of theactive Volcán de Colima.

The wonderful village of Comala, Mexico lies in the shadow of the active Colima Volcano.

Cold beers in Comala

Comala, named a Pueblo Magico in 2002, is noted for its beauty and peacefulness but also for the unique bars around its central square which offer endless plates of tasty tapas that come free as long as you keep ordering their (slightly pricier) drinks. It’s an irresistible combination so we settled into a couple of chairs and prepared to spend the afternoon appreciating the charms of Comala.

That’s when we met Raphael and his siblings who were visiting their hometown from the US where they now live.

In the afternoon we sat around one of the bars around the town square in Comala noted for their endless tasty tapas with (pricey) drinks. There we met Raphael and his huge family who were from Washington, but were in town visiting family. They were also quite fond of Mariachi music. They adopted us and wouldn’t let us return to Colima and our hotel room because we HAD to experience Leche Caliente with them in the morning. it all sounded too good to pass up so we crashed on Mom’s floor.

We met Raphael and his siblings in Comala, Mexico as mariachis serenaded us at one of the many bars around the main square.

Our new friends insisted that we had to experience leche caliente with them early the following morning and it all sounded too good to pass up so we crashed on the floor in their mother’s house that night.

 

The next morning they took us for Leche Cliente as promised. At dawn we drove to a nearby farm with the necessary ingredients - alcohol (clearly only the most generic kind will o), and a mix of ground up chocolate & sugar. Only one thing was missing…

The ingredients for leche caliente include alcohol, a mix of ground up chocolate and sugar and one extra special ingredient…

Hot milk in Comala

Early the next morning our new friends took us for leche caliente as promised. At dawn we drove to a small nearby dairy farm armed with the necessary ingredients: plastic cups, alcohol (clearly only the most generic kind will do), and a mix of ground up chocolate and sugar.

Only one thing was missing…

… and the final ingedient, udderly fresh milk. Fist time we ever had (unpasturized) milk straight from the cow and it was great. Breakfast of champions.

…udderly fresh milk. Here, Eric fills his leche caliente cup the traditional way.

Making leche caliente in Comala

First you put a few spoonfuls of the ground chocolate and sugar mixture in the bottom of your cup then you fill it up with fresh milk straight from the cow. This was the first time we’d ever had unpasturized milk, though it’s common in Mexico. Then you add a splash (or more) of the alcohol and you’ve got leche caliente, breakfast of champions!

We drove to Nevado de Colima National Park and climbed to over 12,200 feet to the top which afforded this view of the nearby, very active Volcan de Colima. From here we drove 3+ hours down to the coast. First time I’d ever ever descended over 12,000 feet (except by airplane) in a few hours. Out of the ice chest and into the frying pan.

A hike up to 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) in Nevado de Colima National Park got us this view of the nearby, very active Colima Volcano.

Hiking in Nevado de Colima National Park

The next day we drove to Nevado de Colima National Park where you can go bird watching and even climb 12,595 foot (3,920 meter) Colima Volcano (aka Fuego de Colima) if it’s not being too active. We skipped the volcano but still managed to hike as high as 12,200 feet (3,650 meters) for fantastic views of the volcano puffing away in the distance.

Here’s more about travel in Mexico

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