Located 540 km (335 mi) northwest of Mexico City, Guadalajara is the proud state capital of Jalisco and the second most populated city in Mexico. Blessed with excellent temperatures ranging from 11º to 26º C (52º to 79º F), Guadalajara ranks among Mexico’s three most important cities and it is home to some of the nation’s most important cultural symbols (mariachi, tequila, the hat dance and Mexican rodeos). Among its main draws is the magnificent architecture of its historic and religious buildings, in particular that of the Hospicio Cabañas, which houses murals of artist Jose Clemente Orozco and was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The city is also known for its beautiful parks and surrounding natural areas, such as el Bosque la Primavera (the Primavera Forest), often referred to as the city’s lungs. In addition, there’s the Parque Metropolitano, where you can do camping and ecotourism outings, as well as all kinds of sports activities. Finally, Guadalajara stands out for its warm hospitality, well earning its reputation as the Pearl of the West.

In the downtown historic center you can visit the cathedral, known for its emblematic towers. Behind the cathedral lies the Teatro Degollado (Degollado Theater), a monumental 19th-century building and one of the city’s main cultural arts venues. Near Guadalajara is Zapopan, the most important religious center in Mexico’s western region. Or you can visit nearby Tonala, the pottery capital of Jalisco and the only city in the nation where more than 10 traditional techniques are used to make various crafts. Also relatively close is the magical Lake Chapala, and the picturesque town of Tequila, where Mexico’s most famous drink is produced. And in Guadalajara you’ll always find a vibrant nightlife in the various bars and restaurants, where you can also enjoy a delicious torta ahogada (a roll filled with pork and bathed in hot sauce), pozole and the traditional sounds of mariachi music.

Guadalajara has numerous places where you can have fun outings with the whole family, whether it’s at the zoo observing beautiful animal species or in wildlife areas that make up part of the city’s surroundings.

Zoologico de Guadalajara • These important grounds form part of the Huentitan Nature Park, where you’ll also find the planetarium and theme park Diversiones Selva Magica. The zoo covers 34 hectares (84 acres) and has 2,000 animals species, a birdhouse and Latin America’s largest reptile exhibit.  Located at 600 Avenida Paseo del Zoologico. Open daily from 8:00 to 7:00.

Parque Agua Azul • This park has two sections, which are divided by the Calzada Gonzalez Gallo and connected in the middle by a bridge. Agua Azul has an art garden, a so-called musicians’ road, and an open-air concha acustica (a small amphitheater), where you can catch live shows. It is considered one of the city’s oldest parks, dating back to the end of the 19th century. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 6:00. Located at 973 Calzada Independencia Sur between Gonzalez Gallo and De las Palmas.

In Guadalajara’s environs you’ll find many natural areas with excellent camping facilities offering a wide variety of services to make your outing a fun and educational experience.

Tapalpa. Located 130 km (81 mi) southwest of Guadalajara off Highway 54. This is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Jalisco, as it has preserved many of the old characteristics of the state’s ancient farming and agricultural communities. Has magnificent mountainous areas, such as Las Piedrotas and Los Frailes, and provides safe camping grounds. In Las Piedrotas there is a brook that provides all the fresh water you’ll need.

Bosque La Primavera. Located in the Primavera Sierra, 20 km (12 mi) west of Guadalajara along the Guadalajara-Tepic Highway. It is considered the most important national park in the metropolitan area and is often referred to as the city’s lungs. It has a territorial extension of 36,229 hectares (89,485 acres), which is dotted with pines and Encino oaks. Inside the park you can see what was once the Colli Volcano. Here you’ll find spots like the Cañon de las Flores and Las Tinajitas, which offer decent camping areas. You’ll also find some hot springs, such as the Rio Caliente, with a maximum water temperature of 50º C (122º F).

Bosque El Centinela. One of the most colorful reforested areas in Guadalajara’s environs. It has some 109 hectares (269 acres) of pine and eucalyptus forest. Located in Zapopan on Avenida Periferico Norte, about 3.5 km (2 mi) from Guadalajara’s center. These grounds are great for a family camping trip, as they allow you to observe and enjoy the beauty of the natural landscapes found in Guadalajara’s environs.

In Guadalajara you’ll find a wide variety of crafts that come from the nearby towns of Tlaquepaque, Tonala, Colotlan and Sayula. Among the most popular items are: hand-blown glass products, ceramics, pottery, huaraches (a type of sandal), serapes, shawls, rugs, rustic furniture, embroidered goods, gold and silver jewelry, and wool blankets. You can find this merchandise in the Libertad Market and the Corona Market, as well as in various commercial shopping centers such as the Centro Magno Guadalajara and the Plaza Pabellon.

Guadalajara has many facilities where you can enjoy your favorite entertainment and sports events. Among the most important events and venues are:

Fiestas de Octubre • The city’s most famed festivity of the year, which takes place from the first Saturday in October to the first Sunday in November. During the month-long celebration, there are diverse crafts and industry expositions, food festivals, trade shows and live music acts offered by famous national and foreign talent.

Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charreria • This event began in 1993 as one of the best offerings of Mexican folklore and traditions. Full of color and style, it is one of the world’s most important musical events. Accompanied by the traditional sounds of mariachi music, Mexican cowboys file down the streets on horseback as they participate in part of a programming lineup that includes a series of popular parades. It takes place during the month of September.

Feria Internacional del Libro • Organized by the University of Guadalajara, this is Latin America’s most important book fair. It takes place during the month of November and it has become world famous due to the large quantity of publishers and visitors it receives. It provides a great opportunity to discover various forms of literature and culture.
 
Muestra Internacional de Cine • One of Mexico’s most important and awaited film festivals of the year, which is sponsored by the University of Guadalajara in March.

Auditorio Benito Juarez • Located in Zapopan, this auditorium is one of the Guadalajara metropolitan area’s most important venues. Many events of the Fiestas de Octubre are held there.

Expo Guadalajara • Lies about 25 minutes from the Guadalajara airport. It is considered one of Mexico’s best expo centers and hosts about 120 expositions annually, in addition to numerous conventions and fairs.

Guadalajara offers some of the best and most exclusive golf courses in Mexico. Among the most important are:

Country Club • Has an 18-hole, par 71 course designed by John Berdemus. Located at 260 Mar Caribe, Steet in the Country Club neighborhood. Tels. (333) 817-2858 and (333) 817-2872

Chula Vista Country Club • Has a nine-hole, par 31 course. Located in Chapala on Paseo del Golf No. 5, Fraccionamiento Chula Vista. Tel. (376) 766-2515

Las Cañadas Country Club • Located in Zapopan at 777 Av. Bosques de San Isidro Norte in Las Cañadas neighborhood. Has an 18-hole, par 72 course. Tel. (333) 658-412

El Palomar Country Club • Has an 18-hole, par 72 course. Located at 230 Paseo El Palomar in the El Palomar neighborhood. Tels. (333) 684-4436 and (333) 684-4434

Club Golf Santa Anita • Located at Km 6.5 off the Guadalajara-Morelia Highway in Condominio Santa Ana. Has an 18-hole, par 72 course. Tels. (333) 686-1192, (333) 686-0386 and (333) 686-0370

Atlas Country Club • Has an 18-hole, par 72 course. Located at Km 6.5 in El Salto off the Guadalajara-Chapala Highway. Tels. (333) 689-2620, (333) 689-2752 and (333) 689-0370

Chapala Country Club • Located in Chapala at Fraccionamiento Vista del Lago No. 1 in the San Nicolas de Ibarra neighborhood. Has a nine-hole, par 36 course. Tels. (376) 763-5136 and (376) 763-5384

Rancho Contento Golf Course • Has a nine-hole, par 35 course. Located in Zapopan at Km 15 off the Guadalajara-Nogales Highway. Tel. (333) 682-1154 and (333) 682-1026

Guadalajara is considered the cultural capital of the Americas, as it has numerous museums where you can admire everything from history exhibitions to the most interesting displays of contemporary art.

Museo de Cera • Located on Avenida Morelos, this wax museum exhibits more than 150 statues of important figures in history, politics, entertainment and popular culture. Open daily from 10:00 to 9:00.

Museo de la Ciudad • Has eight showrooms where you can learn about the city’s urban, historical, ethnographic and artistic development. Located at 684 Calzada Independencia between Mariano Barcenas and Contreras Medellin. Open daily from 10:00 to 10:00.

Casa Museo Jose Clemente Orozco • The property where painter Jose Clemente Orozco once lived is now a place where you can see some of his personal possessions and paintings, such as photos of his murals. Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 3:00. Located on Avenida Vallarta.

Museo Regional del Occidente • It is considered one of the most valuable historical and architectural structures in downtown Guadalajara. The museum houses a permanent collection of art focusing on pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico’s western region. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 to 6:00, and Sunday from 9:00 to 3:00. Located at 60 Liceo Street, between Hidalgo and Independencia.

Museo de Arqueologia del Occidente de Mexico Lic. Jose Parres Arias • Located on Calzada Independenica Sur in the Parque Agua Azul neighborhood. Offers a general panorama of the western region’s pre-Hispanic history. Of particular interest are ceramic figurines of pot-bellied dogs from Colima. Open daily from 10:00 to 6:30.

Museo de las Artes de la Universidad de Guadalajara • Housed in the university’s rectory, this museum offers temporary exhibitions of diverse art forms. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 10:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 8:00. Located at 975 Juarez Street.

Museo del Periodismo y las Artes Graficas • Has two showrooms where objects, machines and tools related to printing and graphic arts are on display. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 to 6:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 8:00. Located in the downtown area at 255 Avenida Alcalde.

This bustling urban playground, where the fun lasts all night, offers a wide array of nocturnal entertainment, from bars, discos and pool halls to modern venues. Among the many available options, you can visit Acropolis, a quiet place to talk over drinks while listening to Chill Out music. Bar & Lounge offers more experimental, avant-garde music. Kronos Bar and Capitol Club, where you can enjoy rock and electronic tunes, are ideal spots for night owls.

In Guadalajara’s environs there are numerous locations to do diverse outdoor activities. In these magical places, surrounded by mountainous terrain, you can do rock climbing, rappelling and Tyrolean rappelling, which involves harnessing yourself to a pulley and sliding down a cable as you enjoy the gorgeous landscape below. You also can rent a horse and have an authentic cowboy experience as you go horseback riding.

Bosque de los Colomos • Located northeast of the city at 1805 Patria Street in the Prados Provincia neighborhood. One of the largest parks in the city with 114 hectares (281 acres), it offers open areas were you can play soccer or ride horses. It also has a nursery, a lake, and Japanese and Mexican gardens. Open daily from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Tapalpa • Located 130 km (81 mi) southwest of Guadalajara off Highway 54. This is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Jalisco, as it has preserved many of the old characteristics of the state’s ancient farming and agricultural communities. Has many attractive spots where you can do diverse outdoor activities, such as Tyrolean rappelling, which involves harnessing yourself to a pulley and sliding down a cable. This place also offers five sites where you can do rappelling and mountaineering with varying difficulty levels. Impressive sights here include El Salto de Nogal, a 105-meter (346-foot) waterfall, and La Peña del Aguila, which gives you an amazing view of the Tacamo Canyon.

Mirador Dr. Atl • At this place you can hike down into the canyon and marvel at a beautiful waterfall called Cola de Caballo, which has a 150-meter (495-foot) drop. The lookout point has a parking lot, restroom facilities and security services. Located in the Parque Barranca de Oblatos-Huentitan at Km 13.5 off the Guadalajara-Zacatecas-Saltillo Highway 54.

El Diente • Of Guadalajara’s surrounding areas, this has become one of the preferred spots to do rock climbing. It has an area with huge boulders of varying difficulty levels and a maximum height of 60 meters (198 feet). Located in Rio Blanco, Zapopan, north of Guadalajara near the Bosque El Centinela.

La Hidro • This is considered one of the most accessible places to climb volcanic rock formations and it has more than 30 different routes. Located north of Guadalajara in the Parque Barranca de Oblatos-Huentitan off the Guadalajara-Zacatecas-Saltillo Highway 54.

Parque Metropolitano • One of Guadalajara’s first ecological areas to look after the conservation of the region’s flora and fauna. It’s also a relaxing place to do family outings and various sports and recreational activities. Located on Avenida Beethoven in the La Estancia neighborhood. Has a 5-km (3-mi) track that is ideal for cycling or running. The park also rents gear and equipment for rock climbing and offers small camping areas.

In Guadalajara you can find various establishments that offer all kinds of treatments, with everything from advanced facilities, where you can treat your body to something special, to natural areas that have been converted into holistic centers specializing in relaxation techniques for the mind and body.
 
Monte Coxala • Located 52 km (32 mi) south of Guadalajara in San Juan Cosala off the Guadalajara-Chapala Highway 44. This is an ecological spa that uses thermal waters as a healing and relaxation treatment. It also has massage services, aromatherapy, exfoliation treatments, temazcal steam baths, and much more.

Rancho Rio Caliente • Offers pleasant therapies and revitalizing treatments such as thermal waters, reflexotherapy, shiatsu and mud wraps. Located in the Bosque La Primavera.