[1] It is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Ahuacatlán and Ixtlán del Río; on the east, west, and south by the state of Jalisco.
The Nahuatl word Amatlán, “place where there is an abundance of amate and paper”, is composed of the words “Amtl”, tree known as “Ámate and Paper” and “Tlán”, place where there is an abundance of.
When the municipality was created the word cañas was incorporated because of the presence of sugar mills (trapiches) in the region.
The main agricultural products are maize, beans, peanuts, potatoes, and sorghum.
The main tourist attractions are the hot springs in Amatlan (Agua Caliente and Aguas Termales swimming pools), El Manto, the villages of Barranca del Oro, El Rosario, the "mirador" where you can see the view of the whole town; The plazas around the close small towns, Penas juntas, where there's a river and two big rocks between it where you can climb; the new soccer and basketball fields in "La mesita", the malecon around the river to ride motorcycles, stay on the river for camping or take a shower in the water or just a walk around the beautiful town and the church of Jesus Nazareno.