Guadalajara
December 2017
3 Days
We had the opportunity to visit Guadalajara for a friend's wedding, so we arrived a couple days early to make a long weekend of it. This was my first time visiting Mexico (with the exception of some cruise ports) and I immediately fell in love. The food is amazing, of course, which is the quickest way to my heart. But, the people are some of the nicest we have ever met. An added bonus is that most everything is significantly cheaper than in the US, so you can really do a lot with a minimal budget.
Flights
United Airlines Economy ORD-GDL: 35,000 United miles roundtrip + $110 taxes & fees
Hotels
Hotel Real Maestranza: $105 for 3 nights
▸ Newer hotel with nice rooms and super friendly staff. For the location, you can't beat the price!
Food
Santo Coyote - Fun vibe, although maybe a bit cheesy and touristy. Good for our larger group.
Activities
Guadalajara Cathedral
Day trip to Tequila
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Catedral de Guadalajara
After getting settled in our hotel in the early afternoon, we spent the rest of the day wandering the Historic Center of Guadalajara. The Guadalajara Cathedral is the central attraction in this area.
We found this restaurant online just because it seemed to have a number of good reviews. While some might say it's a bit touristy, that was perfect for us considering the language barrier. The palomas and tableside guacamole were both excellent, quickly affirming our choice to eat there. While a bit on the pricier side for Mexico, the atmosphere was great with live music under the open roof in the center of the large restaurant. And look at that dessert buffet!
Dessert Selection at Santo Coyote - Guadalajara, Mexico 2017
Day 2
Tequila
For our first full day, we had booked a day trip to Tequila, the town, of course, where the drink originated. One of the first facts we learned was that all tequila is produced in this region of Mexico (Jalisco) and some of the neighboring states. The town is about 60km outside Guadalajara and our tour included transportation and a couple of guided tours (in Spanish and English).
Agave - Tequila, Mexico 2017
Tres Mujeres
Our first stop was a distillery called Tequila de Tres Mujeres. As with most distillery tours, we were walked through the process of making Tequila, starting with the agave plants grown on the facility, toured the production areas and underground storage, and ended by sampling some of the different tequilas.
Tres Mujeres - Tequila, Mexico 2017
But, unlike some other distillery tours, they kept the Tequila flowing freely at Tres Mujeres and it wasn't long before we were having a great time! And the mariachi band kept things lively!
Tres Mujeres - Tequila, Mexico 2017
After drinking and dancing at Tres Mujeres, we were taken to a restaurant for lunch with handmade tortillas. I would never be able to find this restaurant again (which can probably be blamed on the Tequila), but I can remember it was definitely delicious after a morning of Tequila sampling!
Handmade Tortillas - Tequila, Mexico 2017
Our second tour of the day was at Jose Cuervo, which was still interesting, but not nearly as fun as Tres Mujeres.
Before heading back to Guadalajara, we had a bit of time to wander the streets of the town of Tequila.
Tequila, Mexico 2017
Day 3
Wedding
On our third day, it was time for the wedding which was a bit outside Guadalajara. In Mexico, they definitely know how to throw a wedding! Apart from the beautiful venue and delicious food, the tequila never stopped flowing. And for a late-night snack, there were handmade tacos which were completely gone within minutes of being made.
Guadalajara, Mexico 2017
Overall
Our first trip to Mexico was amazing and definitely somewhere I would love to travel to regularly, especially considering it's only a ~4 hour flight from Chicago.
In Photos
