When people think about going to Mexico they’re probably thinking about Mexico City or one of the beach resorts like Cuba, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta.
But many of those beach sites are really touristy, which I’m not a big fan of. Don’t get me wrong…Cancun is a lot of fun. And I think everyone should experience it at least once.
But for this my upcoming Mexico trip, I wanted to do something different.
I’m going to Guadalajara for Day of the Dead. And I’m super excited to go. A lot of people have been asking me why Guadalajara ? Well let me tell you why!
1. Culture
I’ve visited my fair share of border towns in Mexico such as Tijuana or Mexicali. And I’ve been to spring break destinations like Cancun.
But this time I want to do something different and really experience the culture in Mexico. So I’m going to the heart of Jalisco.
There’s a ton of culture in Guadalajara. There’s incredible food, the birth place of mariachi music, and old colonial buildings.
And best of all? I’m going for Day of the Dead. This multi-day festival celebrates your dead ancestors. I’m sure I’ll walk around the streets as the people are celebrating this unique day.
Anyways, I want to experience this festival in Mexico.
And another thing I’ve heard is that Guadalajara has a great nightlight culture. So I’m sure I’ll be out making some not so smart decisions one some of those nights 🙂
2. Tequila
Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE tequila. It often gets a bad rap as a “cheap” college drink and bad hangover and questionable decisions.
However, those people have never had true tequila. 90% of tequila is made in the Mexican state of Jalisco. And tequila is actually named after a town…called Tequila!
Tequila is about an hour north west of Guadalajara. And many of the distilleries are located there. And I plan on visiting them. Many of them have a long history and have been producing tequila for 5+ generations spanning hundreds of years.
And they many of them will give you tours as well (in English).
What could be more thrilling than experiencing the tequila history in Mexico! I love how most of these distilleries are family owned and come with rich history.
I plan on visiting at least three distilleries while I’m there and drinking some fine tequila!
3. Food
I love to fill my big belly with some good food. And there’s a ton of food I want to try in Guadalajara torta ahogada to carne en su jugo.
And it doesn’t hurt that I can eat my own weight in tacos. I’ve eaten tacos all over the world, but there’s something special about street tacos in Mexico.
So I’m very excited to try all of the unique food in Guadalajara!
One thing that I really want to do is just walk around and try all the street food. I want to eat fresh fruit, some chocolate churros, and whatever else they are selling off the street.
Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has come from a street cart, so I’m very excited to experience the food scene in Guadalajara.
4. It’s cheap
The U.S. dollar has never been stronger. And that’s a good thing for many of us travelling around the world.
But that’s not to say that Guadalajara was expensive in the first place. Guadalajara is a great cheap vacation destination if you’re looking to have fun, experience culture, and eat and drink great food.
Many great restaurants in Guadalajara (like high end places) won’t cost more than $30 – $40 per person.
One of the restaurants I want to check out is Lula Bistro. This restaurant is run by head chef Darren Walsh.
Darren is an Irishman and got his start across many of Europe’s most successful restaurants. In fact, he’s worked at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants before!
Anyways, his restaurant opened not too long ago and I must say that the food looks incredible!
The sad thing is, Michelin doesn’t provide a guide in Mexico at all. But I have heard from people that the food is Michelin star quality. So I’m very excited to check out this restaurant.
And not only are the restaurants cheap, but the hotels are cheap as well. You can book a nice 4 or 5 star hotel for less than $70 a night! Talk about a great deal!
If you wanted something in Cancun like that, it would probably cost $300+ a night!
5. Lake Chapala
I have heard that one of the best places to check out in Guadalajara is actually outside the city. It’s called Lake Chapala. It’s about an hour south of the city.
I’d have to rent a car, which I’m kind of nervous about.
I always say that there’s only two reasons why you drive around in Mexico as a tourist: because you’re desperate or if you’re crazy. I’m the latter case.
Driving in Mexico is pretty dangerous as the locals tend to drive aggressively. And I’m not really familiar with the roads, which makes me nervous.
But for Lake Chapala I’m willing to bear that risk. It’s a beautiful lake where many American and Canadian expats actually retire.
And I can see why! The lake is incredibly beautiful and there are several quaint little towns all around the big lake!
I can’t wait to go and watch the sunset there and grab some dinner right on the water. And I might even be interested in going kayaking on the lake!