Area Code 311 – Nayarit

Overview of Area Code 311 (Nayarit, Mexico)

Area code 311 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the state of Nayarit, located along Mexico's central Pacific coast. It serves the capital city of Tepic and its surrounding metropolitan area, as well as nearby municipalities and towns within the state. The code is administered under Mexico's national numbering plan, which follows the ITU-T E.164 standard, and is used for fixed-line (PSTN) and some VoIP services that are geographically associated with the region.

Geographic Coverage and Major Localities

The 311 area code covers the central and northern parts of Nayarit, with the primary urban center being Tepic, the state capital. Other communities served by this code include Xalisco, Compostela, and smaller towns such as San Blas and Santa María del Oro. The region is characterized by a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas, with economic activities ranging from government and commerce in Tepic to agriculture and tourism along the coast.

Dialing Formats and Procedures

For callers within Mexico, dialing a number in the 311 area code requires the national long-distance prefix '01' followed by the area code and the local 7-digit subscriber number. For example, to call a landline in Tepic from elsewhere in Mexico, you would dial: 01 311 123 4567.

For international callers, the format is: +52 311 123 4567, where +52 is Mexico's country calling code. When calling from a mobile phone within Mexico, it is common to use the '+52' format even for domestic calls, as this is supported by most carriers and simplifies international dialing.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, area code 311 does not have an overlay; it is the sole area code for the Tepic region. However, as demand for numbers grows, the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) may introduce an overlay in the future. In such cases, 10-digit dialing would become mandatory for all calls within the state, even for local calls. As of now, local calls within the same area code can be made using only the 7-digit subscriber number, but it is advisable to use the full 10-digit format to ensure compatibility with future changes.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within 311): Dial the 7-digit local number directly (e.g., 123 4567).
• National callers (outside 311): Dial 01 311 123 4567.
• International callers: Dial +52 311 123 4567.

For businesses, it is essential to display numbers in international format (+52 311 ...) to facilitate access for foreign clients and to avoid confusion with Mexican mobile numbers, which typically use a different prefix (e.g., 1 before the area code when calling from abroad).