Sunday Morning

DO: Visit Taquepaque
For traditional ceramics, glassware, and metalwork visit the neighborhood of Taquepaque. Along with handmade wares, you can also find unique mexican artist galleries. Don’t miss the Ceramics Museum where on display are customary pottery from different regions and styles of Mexico. Many restaurants, crafts and performing artist and musicians line the street.

EAT: Paco’s
All your favorite Mexican dish are available here. But the real treat is while you eat, under a gorgeous patio, you can be serenaded traditional Mexican music by mariachi bands. For Guadalajarian fare try Birria, a meat stew originally from Jalisco made with either goat or lamb and served with tortillas, onions, cilantro, and lime.

Saturday

DO: Visit Lake Chapala (30 minutes outside of Guadalajara)
Take a short drive to Lake Chapala and the suburb of Ajijic where the majority of ex-pats live on Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. Take a tour by visiting the Chapala dock where you can find two hour long boat tours. Also available are tours to Isla de los Alacranes (Scorpion Island) don’t let the name scare you, there a several small restaurants where you can sit by the water and have a drink, made with tequila of course.

EAT: Ole Ola Tappas y Mas
While your in Ajijic stop at Ole Ola Tappas y Mas for Spanish Tapas located at Donato Guerra and the 16 de Septiembre. The chef a retire delta pilot who has taken culinary classes from around the world. oleolatapasymas.com

Friday Afternoon

DO: Visit Tequila City
Take a short drive to the city of Tequila where the volcanic rich soil is perfect for growing the agave plant that tequila is made from. Take a tour of the local tequila factories for about $18 USD and learn how tequila is made and get to try a sample of Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo tequilas. Tours available from the town Plaza Principal.

DRINK: Local Tequila Favorite Drink
Tequila and Squirt, mix to taste.

STAY: Tierra Magica
We picked this cute hotel online because of their great location, beautiful rooms, traditional style, and free parking. As you walk into the hotel you are greeted by the friendly family that operates the hotel and tequila chocolates and water await you in your room. The hotel was very clean and full of traditional Mexican design including painted tiles, wood-carved furniture and white cotton linens. Call for reservations held until 7pm. Accepts cash only. tierramagica.com

EAT: Market Pastor Tacos
Don’t miss the small food market to the right of the town’s main church at the Plaza Principal, be sure to grab some Pastor Tacos with onion, lime, and hot red or verde chile. Our favorite is always Salsa Verde.

Coming soon… A Weekend in Guadalajara, Mexico: Saturday