Jalisco

Introduction

Jalisco, in western Mexico, is the birthplace of much of what the world thinks of as Mexican — tequila, mariachi music and the charro (cowboy) tradition all come from here — and it pairs the great city of Guadalajara with agave fields, a vast lake and Pacific beaches. For travellers it offers Guadalajara's culture and crafts, the UNESCO agave landscape and distilleries around the town of Tequila, the resort beaches of Puerto Vallarta, and the lakeside towns of Lake Chapala — a state that distils the essence of Mexican identity.

Overview

Jalisco is the cultural heartland of Mexico, and a remarkable amount of the country's national identity was born here. Its capital, Guadalajara — Mexico's second city — is a confident, cultured metropolis with a grand historic centre: the twin-towered cathedral, the plazas, the Teatro Degollado, and the Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage former hospice whose chapel holds the searing murals of José Clemente Orozco. On the city's edge, the craft towns of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá are famous across Mexico for their pottery, blown glass and handicrafts, and their plazas ring with mariachi — the music that was born in Jalisco. Charrería, the elaborate Mexican rodeo and the country's national sport, also originated here, performed by charros in their distinctive dress. An hour north-west of the city, the town of Tequila gives its name to Mexico's most famous spirit: the surrounding sea of blue agave, the volcanic fields and the old distilleries (tequila can only be made here and in a few neighbouring states) form a UNESCO World Heritage 'Agave Landscape', toured by road, by the tourist Tequila Express train, and through the big-name and boutique distilleries that explain and pour the spirit at its source. On the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most beloved beach resorts — a walkable old town with a famous seafront Malecón of sculptures, set on the vast Bay of Banderas beneath the jungly Sierra Madre, with beaches, whale-watching and a lively dining and LGBTQ+ scene. Inland, Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake, draws weekenders and a large expatriate community to its lakeside towns like Ajijic. Jalisco is rewarding year-round; the dry season from roughly November to May is the most reliable, with the Guadalajara highlands pleasantly mild and the coast warm.

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Frequently asked questions

Cities in Jalisco