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Travel

Sample Driving Distances

Quickest Routes to Chapala from the United States

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Quickest Routes to Destinations inside Mexico from Chapala

Welcome to the state of Jalisco, a land of tradition and contrasts - from its fabulous beaches of Puerto Vallarta, to charming mountain villages, and the bustling colonial city of Guadalajara. Located in mid-western Mexico, Jalisco has a richly varied geography with mountains, rivers, valleys and tropical coastlines. While traveling through Jalisco, you will discover a vibrant tradition of handicrafts and folk art. Jalisco is the birthplace of Mariachi and tequila.

Because of its central location, it is easy to travel to other parts of Mexico by car on excellent toll roads.

Guadalajara

The city of Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico, is the state capital of Jalisco.

The Historic Centre of Guadalajara houses the most important state civil and religious buildings. The area is formed by four plazas that are placed in a Latin cross formation around the Cathedral. The nucleus of the Historic Centre is Plaza Tapatia.

Hire a calandria (horse-drawn carriage) or stroll along the plazas where you will discover many points of interest - the Teatro Degollado, the Cultural Cabañas Institute that houses the famous Orozco Murals, fountains, gardens, statues, museums, the Governor's Palace, the famous Mercado Libertad.

Plaza de Armas, located in front of the Governor's Palace, is beautiful and picturesque. This plaza fills with band music every Thursday and Sunday at sunset.

Travel Guide to Guadalajara and surrounding areas....

Coming to Guadalajara for business, pleasure or to research retirement options can be exciting and fun, but it can also be a challenge for foreigners who are not familiar with Mexico.   This wonderful country has its own distinct traditions and customs, and visitors will enhance their experience here by having a knowledgeable, bi-lingual guide who knows the ins and outs of Mexico and who can maneuver through its sometimes frustrating bureaucracy.

Meet Ilse Hoffmann, your area contact for  touring in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala, Mexico.  She offer a variety of services that are designed to ensure that your time here is productive and enjoyable. 

Ilse offers custom-made sightseeing tours,  English to Spanish interpreting, and assistance with business negotiations.  For importers purchasing Mexican manufactured goods, like pottery, furniture or handicrafts, and for those who love to shop, she is fortunate to have over 150 manufacturer contacts and can help you purchase beautiful Mexican handicrafts at factory prices.

For more information, visit Ilse's website: Lake Chapala and Guadalajara Tours.

Shopping

There is no doubt that shopping in Guadalajara is a pleasant adventure - choose from elegant boutiques and exclusive stores in numerous malls spread throughout the city, to the tianguis (flea market) where the search for a particular item can be quite the adventure. Pass through endless aisles where shoes, fabric, clothes, leather goods, electronics, furniture, jewelry, handicrafts, flowers, and food are sold.

Several of the largest and most modern malls in Latin America are found in Guadalajara. The six main shopping centers are La Gran Plaza, Plaza del Sol, Plaza Patria, Plaza Mexico, Plaza Mexico, Plaza Universidad and Centro Magno. In Plaza del Sol, Guadalajara's most traditional shopping centre, you can purchase just about anything. There are an endless number of malls scattered throughout the city. Some specialize in specific products (e.g. shoes, jewelry, wedding dresses).

Tlaquepaque

A trip to Guadalajara would not be complete without a visit to Tlaquepaque. This suburban area of Guadalajara offers the very best of Mexican crafts. Tlaquepaque is probably the largest and most important arts and crafts centre in all of Mexico. In dozens of stores you can find fine and original crafts such as traditional ceramics or blown glass, paper maché figures, iron work, silver, brass, hand-carved wooden furniture. Come for lunch and then browse the shops to find that perfect gift to take back with you. Walk in the downtown area and admire the elegant old mansions that were once home to wealthy families from Guadalajara come to spend the weekend away from the big city.

Entertainment

Dining out is an affair to remember. Quite often you will find music, even in the middle of the day. Strolling musicians may wander in to serenade you while you savor exquisite national and international cuisine. Mexicans have their main meal in the middle of the day and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch starting at about 1:30 in the afternoon. At night, dining is casual and romantic. Local residents don't get serious about dinner until about 9 p.m.

Discover Guadalajara during the traditional Fiestas de Octubre. This month-long event livens up city streets, parks, shopping malls and entertainment centres.

You will be astounded at the offerings for entertainment in Guadalajara - symphony, orchestras, theatre, ballet - national and international troupes. Every month new attractions come to the city. And since Ajijic is only 50 minutes away by car, it is easy to drive into the city for some world-class entertainment. Stay overnight at one of the fine hotels, book an evening meal and first-class restaurants. Enjoy Sunday in the historic centre and then return to your lakeside paradise later in the day. A weekly English-language newspaper, The Guadalajara Reporter keeps residents and visitors up-to-date on happenings in Mexico and specifically in Guadalajara.

Break Away to the Beach

The Costa Alegre (Happy Coast) is only 3 hours away from Guadalajara. Discover coastal jungles, mountains and golden beaches where the crash of the waves will lull you to sleep.

Manzanillo

Sailfish capital of the world, Manzanillo ranks as one of Mexico's most important west coast ports.

Golden-sand beaches stretch along the wide curve of Manzanillo's twin bays. Hotels and restaurants line both sides of the bay-front drive. You will find some luxury hotels in the Hotel Zone including Las Hadas and the Hotel Sierra, located on Playa Audiencia, a sheltered cove where you will discover some good snorkeling.

Barra de Navidad

Barra de Navidad is located about 37 miles north of Manzanillo heading toward Puerto Vallarta. The fishing village of Barra de Navidad is built on a sand bar next to a large lagoon, offering good sports fishing, water skiing, sailing and diving. Walk along the paved Malecon. Sit back with a cool drink and enjoy the breathtaking sunsets. Tourist accommodations to suit any budget are available.

Puerto Vallarta

One of Mexico's top resort areas, Puerto Vallarta nestles at the foot of the western Sierra Madre mountains. Located at the midpoint of Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta is more than just a beach resort. Culture, cuisine and ecology are its big attractions. Water sports such as deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving attract tourists from all over the world. Whale-watching expeditions are very popular during the winter months when up to 500 humpback whales winter there every year. You can find everything from hikes into the jungles to horseback riding, excursions on mountain bikes, kayaking to para-sailing.

There is a large hotel zone both in Old Vallarta and New Vallarta and price ranges to suit any traveler. The town offers both casual and fine dining to satisfy any palette. There is a wide choice of national and international cuisine available. It should be no surprise that grilled fish and seafood dishes are the specialties offered here. Many restaurants feature live music while you dine. You can hear pre-Hispanic, Latin American folk music, Salsa, merengue to live rock 'n' roll or jazz.

Colonial Cities

You've read about them, now you have the opportunity to visit them. San Miguel de Allende is only 5 hours away from Ajijic; Morelia just 3 hours by car. Stop along the way to visit historic pyramids and the charming village of Patzcuaro.

San Miguel de Allende

Designated a national monument, the town of San Miguel de Allende is situated at an elevation of 6,400 feet above sea level. San Miguel began as a mission where Indians were taught European weaving and agricultural techniques. The tradition continues. The Instituto Allende, a centre devoted to the arts, was founded in 1951 and has become a major attraction to the area. Whether you want to study language or arts, San Miguel de Allende is the place to be. You can study Spanish, Mexican history and culture; take lessons in painting, ceramics, stained glass, sculpture, weaving, theatre and dance.

Morelia

Capital of the state of Michoacán, Morelia is considered the "Aristocrat of Colonial Cities". The architectural style is reminiscent of Old Spain. Wide polished stone streets give this city a special atmosphere.  Morelia is a showcase for traditional crafts of  Michoacán:  lacquerware, pottery, serapes, wood carvings and jewelry. The area is particularly noted for its embroidered blouses.

While traveling to Morelia stop by the town of Patzcuaro, once the capital of the Purepecha Indians. Located on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, known for its delicious whitefish, has a handsome central plaza where Indians set up a weekly market on Fridays to sell ceramics, wood carvings, cooper and woven goods.

 Nearby Isla de Janitzio is flooded with visitors during the Day of the Dead ceremonies on the 1st and 2nd of November: a time when families remember their lost ones. All-night candlelight vigils are held in the village cemetery during the ceremonies.

Located 15 kilometers from Patzcuaro is Tzintzuntzan, an archeological site once the power center for the Tarascan Indians. The site contains five round structures, called yacatas, believed to be burial centers for their leaders.

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