8 Day Trips From Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

In this blog post, you’ll find some of the best day trips you can take from Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico. The below list includes a great mixture of colourful Pueblo Magicos, historical, mysterious and religious sites, outdoor activities and – as always – plenty of views. 

For reference, we spent around 3 weeks in Guadalajara so we had the chance to take many incredible day trips. During this time we learnt a lot about the area and its historical significance, witnessed a few traditions, tasted some tequila and tried a ton of Mexican food. All in all, we fell in love with this area of the country. So, I hope this blog post will help you to plan your itinerary, see what to expect or convince you that you have to take a trip to Jalisco. 

Introducing Guadalajara, Jalisco

Guadalajara is located in the north-west of Mexico in the State of Jalisco close to the Pacific Ocean. It is the most populated city in the State of Jalisco. With a population of nearly 1.5 million, it’s considered the second most densely populated city in Mexico. Right behind Mexico City, it’s the second most important economic centre in the country. In addition, with a greater metropolitan population just over 5 million, Guadalajara is also the second most populated metropolitan area in the country. 

Whilst the city has become the technological and financial hub of Mexico and is often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of Mexico’, it’s also considered the cultural centre of the country with rich history and traditions. Guadalajara and its surrounding areas are home to the birthplace of Tequila, the origins of mariachi music and where massive cultural events are held such as the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) and Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). 

You can find further useful information about Guadalajara below:

• Click Here for Guadalajara Travel Tips
• Read about safety in Guadalajara
• Read about how how to get around Guadalajara
• Click Here for a Guide to Bus Travel Around Mexico

8 Day Trips From Guadalajara You Can’t Miss

There are plenty of day trips you can take from Guadalajara depending on your interest and budget. One thing is for sure, each day trip will offer you something unique and unforgettable.

The below list contains a good mixture of historical sites, colourful Pueblo Magicos, outdoor activities and incredible views. These places are located less or within 2 hours’ drive away from the city centre and are pretty easily accessible.

Click here for a detailed self-guided walk around Guadalajara’s Historic Centre.

What is a Pueblo Mágico?

Since you’ll read ‘Pueblo Magico’ a few times in this post, I better explain what this term actually means before we dive into the incredible day trips from Guadalajara.

Pueblo Magico means ‘Magical Town’ in English and it’s actually an initiative to promote towns and villages around Mexico that are unique and offer their visitors special experiences. These characteristics can be natural beauty, traditions, historical importance, cuisine…the list goes on.

The programme was originally launched back in 2001. It is is led by Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism but also supported by other federal agencies. 

Obviously its main aim is to increase tourism in smaller and rural areas, which increases employment opportunities for its citizens and contributes to the economies of entire regions. 

However, there are some strict requirements a town has to achieve in order for it to be designated as a Pueblo Magico. These requirements include, but are not limited to: being located no further than 300 km from a city with good connectivity, a minimum population of 5000, as well as obviously having something unique about the place.

As of December 2020, there are 132 Pueblo Magicos within Mexico. In the State of Jalisco you can visit 9 of these towns. During our stay in Jalisco, we managed to visit four of them.

1. Explore Tlaquepaque

Let’s start the list of day trips from Guadalajara with Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pa-keh) located only a few kilometres to the south and south-east of Guadalajara centre. It was actually absorbed by the spreading centre of Guadalajara in the 20th century and now it is part of the Guadalajara conurbation. Its population ranks the city as the third highest one in Jalisco, right after Guadalajara Central and Zapopan.

The fun-to-say name Tlaquepaque means ‘Place above clay land’ and it comes from the Nahuatl language. It was only designated as a Pueblo Magico in 2018 and it’s famous for its blown glass and pottery. 

How to get to Tlaquepaque

You can either get to Tlaquepaque by private vehicle or public transport.

Obviously going by private vehicle such as rental car, taxi or Uber will be more expensive. The journey could take about 40 minutes, depending on traffic and where you’re based.

However, if you’re on a budget, then you can take Line 3 which runs between Arcos de Zapopan and Central de Autobuses. One way costs MX$9.50. The train stops along Av Francisco Silva Romero from where you can either walk to the centre of Tlaquepaque or just take a short taxi ride. 

What to do in Tlaquepaque

I recommend starting your Tlaquepaque day trip from the visitor centre located on Calle Independencia. Below are at least 7 things you should do when visiting Tlaquepaque:

1. Take a photo with the colourful ‘Tlaquepaque’ sign. Located next to the visitor centre is the unmissable ‘Tlaquepaque’ sign.
2. Walk along Calle Independencia. It is a colourful and vibrant pedestrianised street filled with shops, restaurants, many colourful decorations, artwork and museums.
3. Listen to the musical clock at 12PM at La Casa de las Bicicletas.
4. Relax at Jardín Hidalgo. Sit on a bench and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Tlaquepaque from Hidalgo Garden.
5. Visit San Pedro Tlaquepaque Parish to the north of Hidalgo Garden.
6. Visit Our Lady of Solitude Sanctuary to the west of Hidalgo Garden.
7. See mariachi at El Parian. Circling around a central bandstand are a cluster of restaurants. Here, you can sit with a drink or food and listen to traditionally dressed mariachis. 

Where to eat in Tlaquepaque

Again, there are no shortage of places to eat when it comes to Tlaquepaque. Calle Independencia is filled with street vendors and restaurants. Therefore, picking a place to eat depends on your diet and budget.  

For reference, we had a delicious lunch at El Rincón de La Abuela. We ordered the traditional Mexican coffee called Cafe de Olla which was probably one of the best we’ve had in Mexico (other than the ones in Oaxaca and Chiapas) and also had some fresh orange juice.

We also ordered quesadillas con rajas (with peppers) and chilaquiles con frijoles (with beans). Everything was delicious and pretty cheap too.

For desert, we had to try some of the hand-made ice-creams from Nieve de Garrafa Mexicaltzingo. If you’d like to taste something different then make sure to go for the Elote (corn), Tequila or Diabloto (lemon + chilli + chilli sauce) flavours. You won’t regret any of those.

In addition, if you love cupcakes and cakes in general, you have to stop at a Pastelerías Marisa when in Guadalajara. There’s one located along C. Juarez road. Her story of starting her now successful business from her garage is very inspiring. I found a podcast interview with her which you can watch here.

2. Visit Zapopan

Another must-do day trip from Guadalajara is Zapopan. Just like Tlaquepaque, Zapopan has also become part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. It actually has the second largest population after Guadalajara proper.

Its name – just like Tlaquepaque’s – derives from Nahuatl and it means ‘among the sapote trees’. Apparently, it has a nickname of ‘former Corn Village’ or in Mexican ‘ex Villa Maicera’ because Zapopan used to be a big corn producer.

The city is home to the Virgin of Zapopan which is a 16th century image of the Virgin Mary located in the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan. It is recognised by popes and has been sanctioned with many miracles.

How to get to Zapopan

You can visit Zapopan by private vehicle or public transport.

Private vehicle such as rental car, taxi or Uber will be more expensive. The journey could take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes or even more depending on traffic and where you’re based.

However, if you’re on a budget, then you can take Line 3 which runs between Arcos de Zapopan and Central de Autobuses. One way costs MX$9.50. Disembark at Zapopan Centro to visit the Basilica and Colomos Park. For Parque Metropolitano, take LÍNEA 1 bus and get off at the Santa Maria del Pueblito stop.

Best Things to Do in Zapopan

Below are 6 places to visit in Zapopan:

1. Visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan. You can’t miss visiting the Basilica which is considered one of the most visited sanctuaries in Western Mexico because it preserves the Virgin of Zapopan. 
2. Walk along the Plaza de las Americas (John Paul II). 
3. Take a photo with the giant ‘Zapopan’ Sign at Plaza Caudillos with the Palacio Municipal de Zapopan in the background.
4. Check out Monumento Arcos de Zapopan at the end of the 20 de Noviembre pedestrianised street. 
5. Relax at Bosque Los Colomos. Located to the south of the basilica is a huge green space called Colomos Park. It’s filled with walking trails and it also has a beautiful Japanese Garden you can’t miss.
6. Visit Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara. There’s another massive park in Zapopan where you can escape the city noise called Guadalajara Metropolitan Park. Just like Colomos Park, it has lots of walking paths and plenty of picnic areas for a relaxing afternoon.

Where to eat in Zapopan

Just like everywhere you go in Mexico, one thing is for sure in Zapopan: You will never go hungry! There are plenty of restaurants along the 20 de Noviembre pedestrianised street. It has a variety of traditional Mexican but also international cuisine to choose from.

3. Hike Barranca de Huentitan Canyon

If you love the outdoors then you must spend a day hiking Barranca de Oblatos, also known as Barranca de Huentitán. The two names come from the two towns – Huentitan and Oblatos – both of which have been absorbed by the urban sprawl of Guadalajara. 

It is a 1,137 hectares, about 600m deep canyon that was carved by the Río Grande de Santiago. Barranca de Huentitan is often said to be a smaller version of the well-known Grand Canyon in the USA.

During your hike, you will be able to experience various types of vegetation such as Tropical, Deciduous,  and Riparian forest vegetation and secondary vegetation. For this reason, it’s no wonder that it is a biogeographic corridor and it was also declared as a Protected Natural Area in 1997. 

Read my detailed guide on hiking Barranca de Huentitan.

4. Admire the Views from Parque Mirador Independecia

Another must do day trip from Guadalajara is a visit to Parque Mirador Independencia. The park is located to the north of the city centre to the west of Barranca de Huentitan.

It provides unforgettable views over the canyon and Río Grande de Santiago. Therefore, it is a fantastic place to come if you’re not into hiking in the canyon but would love to enjoy the views. There are plenty of lookout points to check out and the park also has restaurants, toilets and a few vendors. Basically everything you need for a fun couple of hours. 

Depending on when you’re visiting Guadalajara, the canyon will look completely different. Obviously, during the rainy season (May to September) the landscape will be lush, however during the dry season it will look the opposite. We visited the park at end of November so it was somewhere in between but definitely wasn’t as lush as we saw it on other’s photos taken in the wet season.

Top tip – I suggest combining your hike at Barranca de Huentitan with a visit to the park.  

How to get to Parque Mirador Independencia

As always you can visit Mirador Independencia by private vehicle or by public transport.

Private vehicle such as rental car, taxi or Uber will be more expensive. The journey could take anywhere between 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and where you’re based.

Luckily you can also visit by public transport by using the Macrobús dark blue Line 1 (Calzada). The Macrobús is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which allows you to get to places quicker than by using private vehicles. For Mirador Independencia you have to disembark at the last stop appropriately called ‘Mirador’. 

5. Spend a Day Exploring Lake Chapala

There are also plenty of exciting and unmissable day trips further from Guadalajara’s Metropolitan Area. One of them is located about an hour’s drive to the south and called Lake Chapala. It is the largest freshwater lake in the entire country, so a visit is a must in my opinion. 

There are many different towns along the lakeshore you can visit, such as Chapala, Ajijic and Jocotepec. These three towns are also very popular for American and Canadian retirees. Ajijic for example is also designated as a Pueblo Magico.

Top Tip – Due to its closeness to the city, Lake Chapala is an incredibly popular day trip from Guadalajara amongst both locals and foreigners. Therefore, I recommend planning your visit on a weekday to avoid massive crowds and pretty bad traffic. 

Read my detailed guide on how to spend a day in Lake Chapala.

6. Learn All About Tequila in the Town of Tequila

You can’t come to Guadalajara without taking a day trip to the birthplace of tequila. The appropriately named town of Tequila is located approximately 60km to the north-west of the city of Guadalajara. 

The famous tequila drink is made from the blue agave plant that is native to this area. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that all of the tequila in the world is produced in this region.

Both the town of Tequila and its surrounding area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tequila itself has also been a Pueblo Magico since 2003.

There is plenty to see and do in Tequila which makes it a perfect day trip option from Guadalajara. You can obviously check out all the sights in the town, visit a distillery to learn about the tequila making process, go on a tequila tasting tour and even hike to a beautiful waterfall through agave fields.

Read my detailed guide on how to spend a day in Tequila.

7. Visit the Only Round Pyramids in the World: Los Guachimontones

Do you love historical sites? If so, then visiting Los Guachimontones should be on your list of day trips from Guadalajara. The archaeological site is located about an hour’s drive to the west of Guadalajara just above the town of Teuchitlan.

Los Guachimontones is a sight of round pyramids that were constructed by the Teuchitlan culture approximately 2,000 years ago. During your visit you can see three pyramids on the site which – apart from one small pyramid in Mexico City – are the only round pyramids in the world. 

It’s part of the Tequila UNESCO World Heritage Site and was also included on the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites back in 2008. 

How to get to Los Guachimontones

The most convenient way to get to Los Guachimontones is either by private vehicle or a tour.

However, you can also visit the site by public transport, but it’s slightly more complicated. Rome2Rio is a great website to plan your journey. According to the website you can take one bus from Guadalajara to La Venta del Astillero from where you need to take another bus to Teuchitlan.  

Entry Fee to Los Guachimontones

The site is only open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9AM and 5PM. 

The entry fee is MX$30 per person. You can also hire a guide on site for additional cost. 

How to Spend a day at Los Guachimontones

Start your journey at the museum where you can learn about the site by watching a 10-15 minute long film. Make sure to ask when the next English one is available, unless you’d like to practice some Spanish.

After exploring the museum make your way up to the site. The way up is steep so wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. Before you reach the pyramids, stop by at one of the two ball courts. These are shaped like a capital I. In these ball courts a unique ball game was played where competitors could only use their hips to hit the very heavy ball. The game was normally played to settle things such as territorial disputes and inheritance rights.

You’ll soon reach the first and largest one of the three pyramids. It is about 18m tall and has 52 steps, the same as the number of weeks in a year. After that you can walk around the other two smaller ones and check out the second ball court too. 

After your visit I recommend exploring the town of Teuchitlan too. It’s a small but lively and colourful town which has quite a few places to eat (and obviously a giant sign you need to take a photo of!)

7. Explore Something Mysterious in Tapalpa

Last but by no means least, you should also visit Tapalpa. Whilst it’s the furthest day trip from Guadalajara on this list, it’s a beautiful place you can’t miss. With its traditional buildings of white facades and red roofs, Tapalpa looks unlike any other town I’ve seen in Jalisco.

The town’s name – once again – derives from the Nahuatl and it means ‘land of colours’. Tapalpa became a Pueblo Magico in 2002.

Did you know? – The first paper factory in Latin America was actually opened here in Tapalpa back in 1840. Since then the factory has closed down although its ruins have become a tourist attraction.

How to Get to Tapalpa

Tapalpa is located approximately 130km to the southwest of Guadalajara. Therefore, possibly the most convenient way to get there is either by private vehicle or tour.

According to Rome2Rio’s website there’s a bus between Guadalajara and Tapalpa, but unfortunately I can’t share my experience as we visited Tapalpa by private vehicle. 

How to Spend a day in Tapalpa

Other than its unique look there are plenty of other cool things to do and places to see in Tapalpa as follows:

• Check out Templo de San Antonio which was built in 1650 by the Franciscans.
• Admire the red brick Church of Nuestra Señora. It was built around 1950, after the previous church – Templo of San Antonio – got severely damaged.
• Take a photo of the giant Tapalpa sign. Located in the main square is the unmissable Tapalpa sign you just have to take a photo of.
• Wonder around the streets of Tapalpa. It’s definitely worth just walking around the town’s streets. I couldn’t stop taking photos of the beautiful streets lined with white houses and red roofs on both sides.
• Visit the tallest waterfall in Jalisco. With a height of 105 m, Salto del Nogal is the tallest waterfall in the state.
• Visit the mystical Las Piedrotas. Located just outside of the town are probably the most mysterious boulders you can visit. Other than a few theories nobody really knows how these massive rocks ended up there.
• Do something extreme. Tapalpa is actually a place for more adventurous activities such as paragliding, mountain biking and horseback riding. If you have a bit more time in the area I recommend doing something more adrenaline pumping. 

My friend actually operates a company called Zona Libre Experience that organises these kinds of adventures in Jalisco, so make sure to check out her website and/or Instagram page. You can also rent a cabin in Tapalpa through them so you can really make the most of your trip there. 

Where to Eat in Tapalpa

Again, the town is filled with street vendors selling a variety of great food, drinks and snacks.

If you’d like to have a drink and food with a view then you can get a balcony seat at Cafe Restaurant Bar El Mirador. We ordered some Cafe de Olla, Molletes and quesadillas. Although – I’ll be honest – it didn’t blow my mind, the food was decent and the price was okay too. To me personally the best part of the experience was the view of the town centre, which is possibly why many people end up at this restaurant.

Top Tip – Make sure to grab a cup of flavoured Atole from a vendor just in front of the restaurant. It was probably one of the best Atoles we’ve had in Mexico.

Final Thoughts on Day Trips from Guadalajara

I think I would be in trouble if I had to choose which one was my favourite day trip from Guadalajara. Every single place we visited offered something so unique that it makes it impossible to rank them. You really can’t compare visiting the only circular pyramids found in Mexico to the largest freshwater lake in the entire country to the birthplace of tequila can you? 

One thing is for sure though. Whether you’re interest lies within religion, art, history, nature or is culinary related, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience in any of the above destinations.

Have you ever been to any of the above places or to Guadalajara before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore and what was your favourite spot? If not, would you want to visit any of these places? Let me know in the comments below.