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GuadalajaraGuadalajara, México's pearl of the west, is an incredibly diverse and stately city with amazing qualities, both modern and historic, that embrace all who visit. For a city that is not a resort, Guadalajara offers a very pleasant surprise to the unsuspecting tourist. Guadalajara is an ideal vacation destination for the traveler who is seeking a change of pace from the, sometimes overwhelming, resort scene. As the second largest city in México and boasting a population of over 3 million, you are constantly reminded that Guadalajara is a busy metropolis, and a major Mexican business center. Although this city beats to a busy pace, things here have a way of seeming to always remain serene. There are many places in Guadalajara where you will feel like you have stepped back in time to a different era. Guadalajara is a city of monuments, parks and flowers, fountains and tree lined avenues. A city alive with subtle attractions that can keep the first time visitor entertained for weeks. Guadalajara's history dates to the 16th century and the rich heritage of México's colonial gem is evident everywhere you look. The Guadalajara area is known as the birthplace of the world famous Mariachi bands and also as the home of the Mexican hat dance. Nearby is the town of Tequila, everyone knows or should be able to guess, what this town is famous for. The area around Guadalajara is mainly known for the Mexican craftsmen that turn out countless handmade items that are treasured the world over. Guadalajara's month-long October Festival attracts visitors from all over the world and performers from all over México for a wide variety of music, cultural and artistic events and crafts exhibits. Guadalajara is a great vacation destination for visitors seeking a taste of authentic Mexican culture combined with numerous activities and the modern comforts only a big city can provide. A two-week vacation in Guadalajara can easily go by too quickly and you will, most likely, discover that you are not quite ready to leave this marvelous city. Guadalajara's Historic Center A must on any visitor's list of things to do in Guadalajara is the historic center. Guadalajara's historic center is a great place to get acquainted with some of this areas history and also get a taste of the incredible colonial architecture that has made Guadalajara the envy of other Mexican cities. The landscape of the historic center is dominated by the colonial cathedral. The cathedral is a great starting point for a leisurely stroll through this city's cultural center. The state tourism office is located here and they will give you a free "walking tour" map of the historic center. Another rather unique way to see the historic center and the downtown area is to hire a Calandria. These unique horse drawn carriages offer tours and can be hired in several locations downtown and in the Historic Center. Allow at least a half-day for exploring the historic center. ZAPOPAN Zapopan, a separate city and municipality (county) that was founded in 1540, shares borders with much of the western portion of the city of Guadalajara. Much of what you may think is Guadalajara is actually the city of Zapopan, and many of Guadalajara's attractions are actually in Zapopan. The center of Zapopan is dominated by the incredible Basílica de Zapopan and the beautiful main plaza. The main plaza in Zapopan may be one of the most pleasant spots to relax and get away from it all in the Guadalajara area. The church dates back to 1730. Zapopan is one of the most famous pilgrimage centers of México. At the beginning of every rainy season the town takes an image of the Virgin of Zapopan, Jalisco's patron saint, to Guadalajara on a tour of all 130 parishes in the metropolitan area. This is believed to protect the city against heavy rains and floods. Then, on October 12th, they take the image back home again. On her return a large crowd (up to 1,000,0000 people) gather to welcome her back to the church with a large festival. Activities Guadalajara has plenty of attractions to keep it's visitors busy other than looking at old buildings and churches. There is a wonderful zoo. Connected to the zoo is a separate children's amusement park ("Selva Mágica") with over thirty five rides and other attractions just for the kids, including it's own marine park with dolphin, seal shows. Selva Mágica also has regularly scheduled shows featuring performing toucans, hawks and macaws. There are bullfights at Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso (most Sundays, October to March), rodeos at Lienzo charro de Jalisco, every Sunday at noon. The charros (cowboys) compete in 10 events, mariachis perform during breaks, and food and beverages are available. You can possibly catch a professional soccer match (varied schedules) at Estadio Jalisco. For the racers in your family there is a great go-kart track called, appropriately, Go Kartmanía featuring 4 different tracks An abundance of modern multi-cinemas show (almost) current movies all over the city and in all of the malls. Scattered throughout the countryside surrounding Guadalajara are numerous water parks and natural hot springs. There are cultural activities of different types in different venues being presented almost every day all year long. A good place to get information and up to date schedules is the state tourism office in the historic center (Tel. 3668-1600). Two city parks stand out as excellent places to spend some leisure time. Los Colomos Park is located in a forest within the city. This park is an excellent place stroll or to get some active exercise. Jogging and walking around the various unique areas within the park is an activity in itself. "The Castle" is a small cultural center and there are paths that lead to other special areas including areas set aside for picnics and family outings. The Japanese Gardens, donated by Guadalajara's sister city of Kyoto, Japan, are an incredibly peaceful sanctuary within the park. Horseback riding is available for children of all ages, on some very mellow horses. Parque Agua Azul, a Guadalajara tradition, is located in the southern section of the city. This park is divided into two parts, connected by a bridge, and it is huge. There are large green areas, a butterfly house, bird house, orchid house and various entertainment venues, some especially for the kids. The large outdoor auditorium is known as "La Concha Acústica" where different cultural shows are preformed regularly. There are usually local musicians performing along an area known as "Musicians Boulevard." All in all a great place to relax and escape the city, for a while. Adjacent to the park is the Archaeological Museum of Western México, housing exhibits of pottery and other artifacts used by the ancient peoples of the surrounding area. A state run crafts store, which sells only high quality merchandise, is located within the park and is well worth a visit. Golf and Tennis It is said that hardly a day goes by in Guadalajara that you can't play golf. This saying also applies to the game of tennis. The weather here is certainly conducive to outdoor sports. Guadalajara and the surrounding areas offer golfers and tennis players a wide choice of places to practice their respective sports. Shopping The Guadalajara area, is to shoppers - what the super bowl is to football. Here, you will find it all! This area most likely has the highest concentration of craftsmen in the world. This is where most of the hand crafted items that boast the "Hecho en México" label are produced. There are shops that make, or are able to make, almost anything. The shopping experience in Guadalajara varies greatly from one area to another. Upscale shopping malls compete with small stores and shops on shady side streets, in quiet neighborhoods. In the historic center you will find Mercado Libertad, said to be the largest market in Latin America, under a roof. Inside you will find a crowded maze of stalls selling everything from chilies to leather goods. It is colorful adventure into everyday Mexican life. Tlaquepaque, located a few miles outside of Guadalajara proper is one of the world's greatest shopping experiences. To fully appreciate Tlaquepaque you need at least a full day, possibly more. People from all over México come to shop in Tlaquepaque when they are building new homes or remodeling. Tlaquepaque is where many interior designers, from all over the world, do a lot of their shopping. Restaurants Gourmets rejoice, you have found your affordable paradise. Guadalajara is blessed with some of México's greatest restaurants. You may have to do a little homework, as many of these restaurants are not widely known outside of the area. There is an over abundance of high quality restaurants in and around Guadalajara. Prices here have remained surprisingly reasonable, probably due to the intense competition along with the astronomical number of restaurants to choose from. Everything from gourmet international cuisine to sidewalk taco stands await you. Tamales are a local specialty along with birria, a spicy stew prepared with lamb, goat or beef in a light tomato broth and pozole, a thick pork and hominy soup. Do not pass up a chance to try these local favorites. Nightlife The nightlife scene in Guadalajara is lively, varied and encompasses the entire city. There are small clubs and many of the local restaurants and bars offer nightly entertainment, much of it very high quality. Piano bars, jazz and blues seem to be every bit as available as rock and disco. This is not to say that the "Party Hearty" all night disco and dance establishments do not thrive in Guadalajara, because they do. You just have more options than in most tourist centers. Opera, ballet and theatre seem to be as common as the high-energy disco and drinking establishments. Rest assured, after the sun goes down you will have a widely varied choice of entertainment. |
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