15 Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Guadalajara

Every trip, I manage to discover a place that surprises the heck out of me.  This time, that place was Guadalajara, Mexico.  I flew in to meet my friend Karena in her hometown of Arandas ~ so I did zero research on Guadalajara itself.  But, after dropping her off at the airport, I decided to stay a few days & explore the big city.  I found it much more beautiful than I could have expected, with warm days & cool nights (the city sits up at 5,100 feet).  To get a feel for the city, check out these “15 Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Guadalajara, Mexico!” 

The beautiful, yellow-domed Guadalajara Cathedral, viewed from the Plaza de La Liberacion.

How to Get to Guadalajara

Guadalajara is extremely easy to reach: it’s Mexico’s second-largest city, & as such, the Guadalajara International Airport is huge, & offers flights all over Mexico ~ plus to many U.S. & Canadian cities.  Personally, I grabbed a $40, one-hour flight from Mexico City to Guadalajara….easy-breezy. 

As for where you’ll want to stay in Guadalajara?  If you’re a first-time tourist here, aim for colorful & quaint Tlaquepaque or the historic center of the city, near the Guadalajara Cathedral.  For upscale chic & lots of trendy restaurants filled with well-heeled locals, head further west towards the Chapultepec neighborhood.

Guadalajara’s Tlaquepaque District

Tlaquepaque (pronounced yah-kay-pah-kay) is the most colorful district in Guadalajara, & can be found south of the historic center, closer to Guadalajara’s airport.  If you love boutique hotels & fun restaurants with live mariachi bands: then stay here.  It’s also great for shopping, as many artisans have shops in Tlaquepaque selling everything from handmade purses & shawls to exquisite Mexican pottery.

Welcome to Tlaquepaque! (I can’t believe she stole my outfit ; )

Take your picture with the colorful “Tlaquepaque” sign…

You’ll find much Day of the Dead-inspired art in this part of town.

Central Historic District of Guadalajara

During my time in Guadalajara, I stayed at the historic Hotel Morales, which is just a two-block walk from the Guadalajara Cathedral & Plaza de Armas.  The location was perfect for walking & taking in the sights downtown.  Another great option in the historic center is the NH Collection Centro Historico (pictured below), where you can get outstanding photos overlooking the main cathedral from their rooftop bar.

The days I spent in Guadalajara, there was a freak hailstorm ~ which you can see in this photo, hovering over the Guadalajara Cathedral. (View from the NH Hotel Guadalajara)

Walking around Guadalajara’s historical district is a bit like stepping back in time…

The other side of the Guadalajara Cathedral, which faces Plaza Guadalajara.

Tlaquepaque is the most colorful part of town ~ but downtown Guadalajara always has brilliant flashes of color in its buildings.

The cathedral at night…

Teatro Degollado, in the heart of Guadalajara’s historical district.

Tequila Tasting in Guadalajara

If you come all the way to Guadalajara, the capital of the world-famous Jalisco state ~ you simply have to try its #1 export: tequila.  The town of Tequila (one of Mexico’s “Pueblos Magicos”) is the most famous place in the world to taste tequila, & you can ride the “Tequila Train” from Guadalajara all the way there. 

Sauza, Fortaleza, Herradura, & of course, Jose Cuervo, all call Tequila home…

You can’t visit Guadalajara without visiting the drink this region is most famous for: tequila.

Take the elegant Jose Cuervo Express from Guadalajara to one of Jalisco’s most famous towns: Tequila. (And drink all the tequila you can along the way…)

Tequila tasting off-the-beaten-path at Viva Mexico, a national brand that can’t be found in the States.

Tequila, Mexico ~ located about an hour outside of Guadalajara.

15 Photos to Inspire Your Trip to Guadalajara

xoxo Noelia 

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