Why You Should Visit This Underrated City On Your Next Trip To Mexico

If you’re on the lookout for a vibrant and culturally wealthy vacation spot, Guadalajara, Mexico needs to be on the high of your checklist.

The Guadalajara Cathedral across a plaza with a fountain in the foreground

Located within the coronary heart of the nation, Guadalajara is the second-largest metropolis in Mexico and presents guests a novel mix of historical past, artwork, and trendy points of interest.

As the birthplace of each mariachi and tequila, the town is overflowing with wealthy historical past and cultural significance.

It was not too long ago named one in every of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2023, alongside the better-known Mexico City, and it’s simple to see why.

Here are some explanation why you must plan a go to to this underrated metropolis:

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1. Culture

Guadalajara is usually thought-about the cultural middle of Mexico because of its wealthy historical past and inventive heritage.

The metropolis is house to a number of world-class museums, together with the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas.

Visitors can immerse themselves in Mexican artwork, music, and dance on the many festivals and occasions held all year long, such because the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Being the house of tequila and mariachi, there are, after all, festivals devoted to these as properly. The Tequila Festival and the International Mariachi and Charrería Festival happen in March and September, respectively.

While tequila and mariachi want no introduction, charrería, Mexico’s nationwide sport, is mostly in comparison with a rodeo and one thing to not miss on a visit to Guadalajara.

Traditional dancers at a festival in Guadalajara, Mexico

2. Cuisine

Mexican cuisine is understood for its daring flavors, and every state has its personal distinctive dishes.

Guadalajara is legendary for its birria — a spicy meat stew (often goat) that’s usually served with tortillas and lime wedges.

Another native specialty is the torta ahogada, or “drowned sandwich.” This is strictly what it seems like – a fried pork sandwich smothered in a spicy tomato sauce and served with avocado, onions, and radish.

Some different dishes to look out for are pozole and chilaquiles. Visitors can pattern these dishes and extra on the metropolis’s many road distributors, markets, and eating places.

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A plate with a torta ahogada or drowned sandwhich, a specialty cuisine of Guadalajara, Mexico

3. History

Guadalajara is house to a few of Mexico’s most beautiful structure, with buildings that date again to the 16^th century.

The historic middle of Guadalajara, or Centro Historico, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and options stunning colonial-era buildings, such because the Government Palace and the Guadalajara Cathedral.

The cathedral is nearly as outdated as the town itself and consists of Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical influences.

Visitors may also discover the neighborhood of Tlaquepaque, identified for its colourful buildings and conventional crafts, or enterprise an hour exterior of the town to view the traditional Guachimontones Pyramids.

An aerial view of the Guadalajara Cathedral with the city in the distance

4. Entertainment

Guadalajara has a vibrant nightlife scene with a wide range of bars, nightclubs, and stay music venues.

Visit the Tlaquepaque neighborhood for mariachi or head to the favored Chapultepec neighborhood for extra stylish hotspots.

The metropolis can also be house to essentially the most LGBTQ bars and nightclubs in Mexico and is understood for internet hosting Latin America’s largest homosexual delight parade.

If nightclubs aren’t your factor, there are many different points of interest, as Guadalajara has a thriving purchasing and sports activities scene.

For purchasing, you’ll discover all the pieces from native artisan markets to giant city malls.

Sports lovers ought to try a charreada (rodeo) or head to the Arena Coliseo for an extremely entertaining lucha libre efficiency (wrestling).

A view of the Guadalajara Cathedral across a plaza with a gazebo and people in the foreground

5. Day Trips

Guadalajara’s location makes it a really perfect base for exploring nearby attractions.

One of the preferred day journeys from Guadalajara is to the city of Tequila to go to the sprawling agave fields and find out about tequila manufacturing.

These blue agave fields, that are yet one more UNESCO World Heritage Site, are the supply of all of the tequila on the earth.

Travelers can go to the National Museum of Tequila, tour distilleries, and go to the unique tequila manufacturing facility, the Hacienda Herradura San Jose Refugio.

There is even a practice, aptly named the Jose Cuervo Express, to take you from Guadalajara to Tequila.

Man on a horse riding through agave fields in Tequila, Mexico

Another close by choice for both a day journey or a calming weekend is Lake Chapala.

An hour’s drive takes guests to this freshwater lake the place they will bird-watch, benefit from the calm environment, or rent a ship to go island-hopping.

The space is so tranquil that it has introduced in fairly just a few retirees and expats through the years and is at the moment house to many Americans and Canadians.