Jalisco
Destinations
Jalisco is a great state that offers many wonderful vacation spots. It is rich in culture, history, and natural beauty without equal.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is Mexico's Pearl of the West. It is a world-recognized vacation destination and is the capital of Tequila and Mariachi. It is also the state capital of Jalisco and offers immense historical and cultural treasures as well as an impressive number of architectural monuments, principally Neoclassical and Baroque.
Guadalajara is the second-largest city in the country and is a very important part of the Mexican economy. Its main economic branch is tourism offering a vast range of options and activities to visitors like great hotels, restaurants, cultural and recreational activities, entertainment and an intense nightlife.
Guadalajara has a huge number of places to visit including: museums, galleries, spas, parks, natural reserves, archeological sites, sculptures, fountains, public squares, monuments, murals, plazas, gardens and walkways. Visitors are captivated when they visit this wonderful place.
Puerto Vallarta
Due to the diversity of its landscape, Puerto Vallarta offers a wide range of recreational activities like: adventure sports, golf, bungee jumping, adventures with dolphins, whale watching, spas, mountain expeditions, tours to Indian territories and the jungle, tours by air, long walks, mountain biking and ecological tourism.
The tropical climate of Puerto Vallarta is exceptional and blessed with an average temperature of 86°. Puerto Vallarta is also known for its cultural diversity from Mariachi to the contemporary art of the Huicholes from the nearby state of Nayarit.
This destination has achieved world-wide fame for its "Lunas de Miel" (Honeymoons). Puerto Vallarta has a special atmosphere that is ideal for romantic honeymoons. The Conventions and Expos held here every year are also an important aspect of this area's economy.
When the sun goes down, the day is not finished because now the action really begins! Puerto Vallarta has numerous restaurants, bars, and discos. Look forward to nights filled with sophisticated evenings of delicious dishes in the best restaurants or more informal nights of fun that include dancing, tropical drinks and partying all night long.
Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque is a shopper's dream. The main area has been closed off to traffic and is full of vendors of all types. This town, with its colorful atmosphere, has more than 300 stores!
Several celebrations take place in Tlaquepaque during the year.
Tequila
Tequila is an enigmatic town that has gained fame as the home of the excellent liquor that is known by the same name.
Some attractions in Tequila include the Templo de la Purísima and the Parochial Temple constructed by the master builder Martín Casillas. The municipality has many natural attractions like the Tequila Volcano that can be observed on clear days (November to May) in an amply wooded area, Tequila Valley and Atemajac.
Tequila has been the main industry for the municipality since 1600. According to history, Agave was already being exploited by the natives who represented it with the god of mezcal, called Mayahuel. The Spanish found the rich drink and took it back to Spain. It was very successful, so they began to establish taverns in the region.
Some Tequila factories have been in operation for more than 200 years. Tours of the factories are offered as well as visits to the endless fields of Agave.
Tonalá
Tonalá is one of the major destination spots in Jalisco. It is known for its crafts. Some tourist attractions include the Parroquias del Santo Santiago, Tololotlán, and Santa Cruz de las Huertas among others.
Other recreation and tourist spots include "Parque de la Solidaridad Iberoamericana" (Latin American Solidarity Park), and the National Museum of Ceramics where crafts and typical clothes are sold and exhibited as well as two rooms with temporary craft exhibits. There are many commercial establishments, but they are principally craft vendors.
Some of the colonial-style historical monuments in the area are the Parroquia del Santo Santiago, and the Parroquias de Santa Cruz de las Huertas, Coyula and Tolotlán. Other structures include the bridge on the Santiago River, the sentry box of Puente Grande constructed in the 18th century and the old Arroyo de Enmedio hacienda built in the neo-classical style.
You can also find the Tonalá Regional Museum, the Casa de los Artesanos (House of the Craftsmen) and the Tonallán Museum.
Zapopan
Zapopan is known for its architecture, museums and its natural outdoor attractions.
Among its natural attractions, you will find the geothermal zones, "Ixcatán Geyers", the waterfall "La Cola de Caballo" or Horse Tail (approximately 30 meters high), the "Río Caliente de la Primavera" or Hot Spring River, the "Bosque de la Primavera" or the Spring Forest, and El Centinela (The Sentry).
In addition, the hot springs, "Cañon de las Flores" or Flower Canyon, Los Camachos, San José, Las Tinajitas and Santa Rita have become popular tourist spots, especially in the summer months.
Other places of interest in Zapopan are the Arco de Ingreso (Entrance Arch), Paseo Teopiltzintli, Municipal Palace, Plaza de las Américas, Basílica de Zapopan, Parroquia de Tesistán, Parroquia de Atemajac, Parroquia de Batán, Iglesia de San Francisco de Ixcatán, Capilla de Nextipac, Capilla de Santa Ana Tepetitlán, Wixarica Museum of Huichol Art, Museum of the Virgin of Zapopan, Benito Albarrán Museum, Zapopan Art Museum, Trompo Mágico Museum and the Municipal Center of Art and Culture.