Have you not yet visited Guadalajara? One of the most popular travel destinations in Mexico, this city is full of culture, delicious food, and a thriving arts scene. Additionally, it is one of the most populous cities in the nation, making it impossible to see everything in a single visit.
To help you make the most of your limited time in Guadalajara, I've included some of the most amazing and distinctive activities to do in this post!
Arrange Your Trip Around a Fantastic Festival
It is imperative that you experience one or more of the numerous cherished Mexican customs that originated in Guadalajara while you are there. And taking part in one of the many festivals or holiday activities is truly the best way to witness the most spectacular customs here.
Our trip was organized around the Mariachi Festival in late August, which gave us the chance to see live performances at the storied Teatro Degollado and truly understand the significance of these customs to Mexican society.
Discover Tlaquepaque's Pueblo Mágico
It can be challenging to navigate Guadalajara due to its size, which is why it's so simple to confuse Tlaquepaque for a Guadalajara neighborhood. However, inside the larger Guadalajara metropolitan region, Tlaquepaque is actually a separate city known as "Pueblo Magico."
It doesn't take long to discover additional galleries, pottery stores, street vendors, and one-of-a-kind sculptures in this town, which is regarded as the creative and cultural center of this region of Mexico. To fully explore and shop, I would suggest spending a whole day here. Better still, include an empty tote bag in your suitcase so you can stuff it with treats you discover while traveling through Tlaquepaque.
Go to a Lienzo Charreria
Although Charreria is the national sport of Mexico, it is much more than that, as we discovered when we visited the country's first Lienzo Charro (a Lienzo is essentially an arena). This sport, which has been passed down through Mexican families for many generations, is centered on the art of horse handling and began in the state of Jalisco.
Beyond appearances, this custom represents to Mexican families the principles of hard work, perseverance, and transferring traditions to future generations.
We had the privilege of going to Lienzo Charro de Jalisco to discover more about this custom and take in the distinctive contests held there. If you want to see the competitions, Sunday is the ideal day to go, so schedule your vacation over a weekend.
You can have a snack and a drink at Lienzo Charro de Jalisco while you watch the Charros—men and women alike—compete in a variety of activities that highlight their horse handling prowess. We even learned how to lasso from our tour guide, but be warned—it's much more difficult than it seems!
La Postreria's Dramatic Brunch
Go to the trendy La Americana district and reserve a table at La Postreria for a breakfast unlike any other. This restaurant, which launched in 2013, is well-known for its spectacular pastries and desserts; ours came with blazing dry ice and a rose!
If you'd like, you may also have a typical brunch here, with menu items like croque monsieur, french toast, and chilaquiles. I do advise ordering a sweet treat before you go, though. Just the presentation is worthwhile!
Schedule a Performance at the Teatro Degollado
One of Guadalajara's oldest theaters and one of the best-preserved in Latin America is the Teatro Degollado. One of the city's most recognizable buildings, this neo-classical building was first constructed in the 1800s.
When you have the dates of your vacation, it's worthwhile to check their calendar and tickets to see if there are any shows or cultural events that you would like to attend. much though the building's exterior is stunning, getting a peek inside is much more breathtaking. You'll have the impression of being a spectator who has traveled back hundreds of years.
Here, you may see a variety of performances, such as opera and dance, but we were able to see Mariachi.
Spend the Night in a Barrel of Tequila
Visitors can spend the night in a massive tequila barrel near the Pueblo Mỹico village of Tequila, Mexico, which is only an hour away from Guadalajara. That is definitely something to put on your bucket list!
Every accommodation at the Matices Hotel de Barricas, which is only a short drive from Tequila's downtown, literally resembles a tequila barrel. In addition, you may eat at the hotel's cave restaurant, unwind in the garden, or even schedule an art class to create a personalized tequila bottle that you can take home.
Anyone interested in tequila production or interested in seeing a different side of Jalisco should definitely visit the town of Tequila, which produces 65% of the world's tequila.
Walk around the town square, visit the Jose Cuervo distillery, have lunch at Casa Sauza, and travel out of town to see one of the tequila distilleries while you're here. We personally went to Cava de Oro, which was situated in a stunning area surrounded by agave farms.
If you don't want to stay overnight in Tequila, you may make it a day excursion and take the Jose Cuervo Express train, which is a unique experience in and of itself, out of Guadalajara. However, departures only take place on Saturdays, so be sure to check the train's timetable and get tickets as soon as possible because they sell out well in advance!
View Sergio Bustamante's Art
One of the most well-known sculptors and painters in Mexico is Sergio Bustamante. If you're familiar with artists, you probably think of his surrealist pieces as something like to a contemporary Mexican Salvador Dali.
The motif of Bustamante's well-known bronze sculptures is humanoids with triangle heads; I especially enjoyed some of his pieces in the museum that show amusing miniature staircases that appear to twist and weave together like a maze.
His gallery at Tlaquepaque boasts an outside terrace and a separate garden, making it a unique experience in Guadalajara and a must-do for art enthusiasts. Entering the gallery is like entering a fantasy world.
Guadalajara is a city full of culture, tradition, and unforgettable experiences. From mariachi and charrerÃa to art, food, and tequila, every corner offers something unique. Whether you’re visiting for a festival, exploring Tlaquepaque, or taking a trip to Tequila, Guadalajara is a destination that beautifully captures the spirit of Jalisco and leaves a lasting impression. Planning ahead with bus tickets in Mexico can make your trip even easier, especially if you want to explore beyond the city and discover more of the country at your own pace.