Guadalajara - Fruitful Detours

Why is this city so overlooked?

I’m in Guadalajara, Mexico for a few weeks, attending a Spanish language school. Guadalajara is an old city with a lot of history, and plenty to see and do. It was founded in 1532, but was forced to move 5 times before it ended up in its current location in 1542. It has a population of around 5.5 million people in the metropolitan area, which makes it bigger than Chicago. Guadalajara is home to Tequila, birria (a type of Mexican barbecue), and Mariachi music.

I’ve been visiting a number of Mexican cities to find a place where I feel comfortable, and when we were here last January, it felt good. So I’m back. It is walkable, offers cultural opportunities, and is connected by an international airport — all items on my checklist.

Guadalajara has lots of distinctive neighborhoods. I’ve been in a few so far:

Centro – The old downtown area has been revitalized into a beautiful plaza with a huge walking area. It is the home to many of the city’s large museums and government buildings.
Colonia Americana – This area was rated by Time Out magazine as the best neighborhood in the world in 2022. It is jam packed with stores and restaurants and tends to attract an abundance of young people who are out until 3 in the morning.
Zapopan – This is an older residential neighborhood with its own beautiful cathedral (see below) and plaza. There are many street vendors and stores here.
Tlaquepaque – This is still a separate city from Guadalajara. It is a “pueblo magico” — designated by the country as a town that holds special interest for tourists. It is a crafter’s paradise, with many stores and workshops of local artists. It is also home to one of the largest outdoor markets each weekend.

The city is huge, and well spread out. It turns out that it was originally a number of smaller pueblos that have consolidated over time. This explains why there are still several town square areas within the city. The city’s growth has created traffic problems, and the city has reacted by creating a modern metro train system that is still expanding. I’m still exploring, and I’ll let you know what I find.