10 Great Day Trips from Guadalajara, Mexico
Activities families will enjoy within ~1 hour of the city
Our little people don’t have much patience for car trips; the “are-we-there-yets” start about a minute after leaving home. In this post, we cover our favorite destinations about one hour-ish outside of Guadalajara, perfect for an exciting day trip.
West of Guadalajara
Tequila: home of tequila + UNESCO World Heritage site + Pueblo Magico!*
We didn’t know until moving to GDL that tequila, the liquor, is actually named after Tequila, a beautiful town at the foot of Tequila Volcano and only a 45-minute drive from Guadalajara. It’s a beautiful drive too, through miles of blue agave farms with a view of the volcano and often alongside a railroad (our kids go nuts for trains when there is one chugging along).
The town of Tequila is a recognized national treasure as part of Mexico’s Pueblo Magico program and, with its surrounding valleys, comprises the the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila UNESCO world heritage sit . The downtown central square has a lovely cathedral - the Parroquia Santiago Apostol -built from volcanic pumice stone and, to the left of the church is the main town square - the Plaza Principal de Tequila - filled with artisans and the Tequila sign for a great group photo. There is often a very affordable bounce-house/jumping castle set up in the Plaza that kids will enjoy (just be careful it’s not too hot on a very sunny day). A must see, in our opinion: the Plaza is also a regular (~every 30-60 minutes) performance of the ancient Mesoamerican ritual Danza de los Voladores (AKA Palo Volador, or Dance of the Flyers). Five Flyers climb a 30-meter (98 ft) pole. One sits on the central post and they wind ropes attached to their feet around the pole and then the other four launch themselves off, flying upside down, spinning around lower and lower as the rope unwinds all the way to the ground. Have some coins and/or bills to put in their hats as a tip. Note: if you miss Los Voladores here, we’ve also seen them in Chapala (which we cover further down in this post) and Puerto Vallarta.
While the kids are bouncing or you’re waiting for the Voladores, visit one of the many stands in the plaza selling tequila drinks in traditional painted clay cups. While the Margarita is certainly Mexico’s most famous cocktail, the Paloma is far more the norm here and equally delicious, made with Fresca (“Squirt” is the local brand), lime, and (of course) tequila. Try one, and maybe pay a little extra for a cup you love as a souvenir.
Many of the world-famous tequila companies are here, with Jose Cuervo having the highest profile on the southwest corner of the Plaza. You can take distillery tours with most (if not all) of these companies - and seeing the variety of hilarious-looking tour vehicles driving through town (barrels, chilies, agaves, etc.) adds to the fun.
We highly recommend walking from the Plaza up the enchanting cobbled, pedestrian-only road starting at the southwest of the plaza, running alongside Casa Cuervo up to the arches at the top, and then come back down. Also very close by the Plaza are also a huge, beautiful mural of Mayahuel, the Goddess of Tequila, and the National Museum of Tequila.
While all of the above is wonderful, our absolute favorite thing to do in Tequila is to have lunch at Casa Sauza. The restaurant is set within an absolute exquisite garden filled with interesting and fun features for the kids to explore, and its all walled-in too (so there are no escaping children). The menu is huge and the food and drinks are delicious. We’ve never needed a reservation (although this may be because as Westerners we eat meals far earlier than most Mexicans).
Getting there: We drive out there and park in one of the many empty lots throughout the town that have made a business of this - follow the blue “E” signs (E for Estacionamiento, meaning parking). We often park here, but there are many good options. Payment will be in cash, so be sure you have pesos with you. You can also take the Jose Cuervo Express train to Tequila - we’ve heard its a great experience, but haven’t ever seen the sense in paying for a somewhat pricey seat and drinks for our not-of-drinking-age kids :)
Río Salado: a thermal river in the Bosque Primavera forest
Rio Salado (AKA Rio Caliente) - a warm (sometimes legitimately hot!) volcanic river
If you are somewhat outdoorsy, its a real treat to drive ~30 minutes out of the city and into La Primavera forest to swim in a shallow geothermal river. This is especially fun to do in the colder months - lying down in what is functionally a steamy flowing bath is heavenly. The river has a sandy bottom and is shallow enough in most spots that even quite little ones can enjoy it (although the water does flow quite swiftly, so do keep a close eye on them and/or pick a particularly shallow/edge spot). Our kids love the rocks, in all forms - throwing them in, using them to build dams, finding “arrowheads” (volcanic obsidian is all over). There are also many little fish for them to follow around (we marvel at how they survive in the hot water) and we saw a crayfish-like thing once. We love getting back to the simple joys of nature here.
We recommend packing a picnic, or picking up some food and drinks on the road out - bringing water is a bare minimum. We also recommend sunscreen and wearing shoes down to the water as sometimes there are thorns/broken glass near the road/picnic sites. The cell signal once you get out there is very spotty (at least with AT&T). Sadly, no dogs are allowed - ours would love it!
Getting there: Take a sturdy, preferably higher-clearance and 4-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle - the last half of the drive is on dirt roads (which, to us, is part of the fun) - all this being said, we drive a Prius so don’t worry too much! Navigate yourself to here. Along the way, you’ll pay 2 very affordable fees in cash - one to enter Bosque Primavera, and one for the Rio Salado recreation area - so don’t forget to bring your pesos. After you pay at the Rio Salado entry, drive along the river until you find a spot you like and park off to the side.
Guachimontones: ruins of rare ‘circular pyramids’ + UNESCO World Heritage site
Mexico has an incredible and long history (which we highly recommend you read about!) with the ruins of ancient civilizations scattered across the country, the most famous of which are probably Chichen Itza, Monte Alban, and Teotihuacan (which we’ll cover in other posts soon). The State of Jalisco’s largest pre-Colombian architectural site is only a 1 hour drive from Guadalajara - the Guachimontones de Teuchitlán, built between 300 BCE to ~450 CE (300 BC-450 AD), and part of the Tequila-area UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built by the Teuchitlán peoples (after which the town below this site is named), Guachimontones is by far their largest site in the Tequila area by both number and size of the ceremonial buildings - there are also others near Guanajuato (which we absolutely love and will cover in a future post), Bolaños, and Colima. We describe them as ‘circular pyramids’ but are best visualized as stepped bulls-eye structures. shaped buildings consisting of several distinct architectural elements that constitute a whole structure.
There is a modest but nice museum (the Centro Interpretativo Guachimontones) and gift/snack shop near the parking lot, and you head up the hill from there to the archeological site - if you have very little ones, you might want to take a stroller for this bit. We also saw but did not engage a tour guide, if that is of interest to you - note that the signs at the site are mostly bleached out by the sun and entirely in Spanish. We’ve included a map of the site in the images above to help you navigate. Water and sunscreen highly recommended.
Getting there: Other than a few higher speed-bumps (topes) on the final leg of the drive, you don’t need a particularly sturdy car to visit. Direct yourself here. If possible, we highly recommend going during rainy season (July-October) so that you can see it in its green splendor. Dry season (February-June) can be quite brown, hot, and dusty.
North of the City
El Diente (‘the Tooth’): rocks for people of all sizes & ages
If you and/or your littles love hikes and bouldering, El Diente is only 30 minutes outside of the city and suitable for pretty much anyone, from venturing around the trails, rocks, stream, and pool near the foot of the mountain to very steep hiking and full-fledged rock climbing if you so choose. If you do venture higher, you’re rewarded with a lovely view of Guadalajara on clear weather days. Just be careful not to climb higher than you’re willing and able to come down - it gets steep in places!
Our general approach is to let the kids trailblaze with us following to make sure they’re safe - we almost never come down the way we went up, but that’s not a concern since you have an orienting view of the parking lot most of the time. Take a picnic and make a day of it! If not a picnic, definitely bring lots of water and some snacks - there is no shop there.
We recommend going during rainy season (July-September) if you can - it can be dusty and quite hot in the dry season. During rainy season, there is a lovely little waterfall and pool to cool off at towards the left from the parking lot if you’re facing the hill - listen for the sound of the waterfall.
Getting there: The parking lot is here. As with Rio Salado, we recommend a sturdy car for this one - there is a dirt road for the last mile or so with sizeable rocks and gullies. Its close enough to the city that you could get an uber to drop you off but successfully being picked up out there might be more difficult, so we’d recommend a reliable car. When you turn into the second dirt road here off of Jose Maria Morelos, someone will most likely wave you down and ask for a small amount of money to park - we pay even though we’re not sure we have to; its so little that we figure its not worth any hassle. Unless you’re a pro, if you want to rock climb, we recommend you go with an organized group.
Cascada De Huaxtla: a short & rewarding waterfall hike/swim
View from the Cascada de Huaxtla trail about 2 thirds of the way to waterfall 1
In under an hour’s drive with spectacular views, you will feel entirely out the city and immersed in Jalisco’s natural beauty and stunning vistas. The Huaxtla Cascada is a series of 4 waterfalls in total. With our littles, we just hike to the first one, which takes us about 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back. Without the kids, we’ve gone much further and can confirm it is well worth it. The trail is quite steep in places and gravelly (and sometimes muddy) so wear good shoes (sneakers are fine).
If you want to swim in the pool under the waterfall, we actually recommend going in dry season (Jan-May) when the water is less likely to be contaminated - and not as torrential! The staff who run the trail will provide lifejackets free. If you don’t intend to get in the water, you don’t have to take the lifejackets.
Getting there: Drive out and park here. There are bathrooms right by the parking lot. Very reasonable payment for the trail is cash only, so bring your pesos. There’s also a little restaurant you can buy snacks, drinks, and food at before you head out or as a welcome reward when you return.
Camachos Water Park
On a warm day, its lovely to visit Camachos for a day of water fun. Only a ~30 minute drive from the city, the park is situated down the canyon to GDL’s north meaning that it is often in shade for the morning hours. For the same reason, there is no cell signal there. Entry is cash only, so bring your pesos. As with most local family fun places, you’re welcome to bring your own picnic too. We recommend driving your own car; we’re not sure you’d be able to reach Uber given the poor cellular service.
If it isn’t the warmest of days, consider Agua Caliente water park in the ‘Heading South’ section below.
Hiking the Barranca (Canyon) de Huentitán
The beautiful canyon of the Rio Santiago to the north of Guadalajara, La Barranca de Huentitan
This is perhaps the shortest commute “day trip” on the list, given that it begins within the city - but doing the entire hike will take you all day (or at least likely exhaust you for a whole day). NOT for the faint of heart, this hike believed by many to be harder than the Grand Canyon. Unless you are all seriously fit, we recommend you go down a few switchbacks for a lovely view with your kids - or go to Parque Mirador (see our Guadalajara Parks & Playgrounds post)! If, and only if, you are all fitness junkies, you can attempt to hike to the bottom and back. If you do, start EARLY and take lots of water. Remember: while on normal mountain hikes you get exhausted going up first and then have a relatively restful walk back down, in a canyon hike you’re doing the easy walk first and then have to come all the way back up. Therefore, the risk of going down much further than you are able to hike back up is high!
Bridge over the Rio Santiago at the bottom of the Barranca
There used to be a cable car (“funicular”) down to the bottom, and you will cross its track a few times on the hike down. Some insanely fit people run down the trail and then run/climb up the funicular track - we are left speechless by these people. At the bottom is a bridge over the Rio Santiago - turn left on the road when you reach the bottom to get to the bridge. If you turn right at the road at the bottom, you’ll reach an abandoned village leading to the bottom of the funicular.
Getting there: plug Barranca de Huentitán, Av. Belisario Domínguez 4446, Dr Atl, 44390 Guadalajara, Jal. into Uber. If you drive, we park to the side of the road parallel to the entrance to the trail, Ramón Aldama del Puerto. The entrance is a passage through a few shops, starting with sloped paved steps at the far right corner.
Heading South of the City
Lago de Chapala (Lake Chapala) shore towns: Ajijic & Chapala
Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest, with numerous towns along its shores. The most well-known and worth visiting in our opinion are Ajijic and (the town of) Chapala. Both have substantial expatriate communities - unlike most of Jalisco, you will hear a fair amount of English here.
Ajijiic (pronounced “ahh-hee-heek”) is an artist’s haven, and one of the newer inductees to Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos program*. The streets are cobbled and almost every house and wall is beautifully painted in color or with murals. We recommend visiting the water-side promenade/boardwalk (malecón); walking from this point westward you’ll pass a nice playground, a skatepark our kids enjoy watching or riding their bikes on, and further on a little walking maze. Its not a far walk to the end and back, with lots of room for the kids to run (or bike or skate). Visit the central plaza (often lushly decorated) and walk the cobbled streets admiring the murals and pick from the many restaurants along them - we like to play a seeking game - we think of something and challenge the kids to find it in the murals or around the town as we walk.
Chapala is the much bigger and well known town, also a Pueblo Magico* and a magnet for expatriate living. Chapala’s malecon passes a market and skatepark, and has boardwalk/bridge out to a fountain (our kids always have fun dodging the tricky water spouts) and a small island with a statue of Jesus the Fisherman (the Isla de Jesus Pescador). Chapala’s voladores (Flyers) do their danza here, right next to the bridge (see the Tequila section above if you’re not sure what we mean by voladores). By the market, there are often (well-treated) little ponies your kids can ride (led by an adult) in a small loop around the square. If you love architecture like we do, the town’s main church - the Parroquia de San Francisco - is right nearby, as well as the quintessential Chapala sign for a great group photo.
If you’re looking for more adventure in the Chapala area:
Horseback trail rides: Rancho San Francisco offers 2 hour long horse-back rides through the mountains; we took our kids. We highly recommend bringing helmets (bike helmets are fine), water, and sunscreen. Organize with the Rancho by calling a day or more ahead - the owner speaks English.
Boat ride out to an historic island: You can get a boat out to Chapala’s largest Island, the Isla de Mezcala (AKA Isla del Presidio), from here. The Isla’s history dates back to ~1240AD but it is best-known as a former stronghold of native Mesoamericans during their fight against the Spanish. Various tour companies offer organized trips out if you’re looking for a guided tour.
General Lake Chapala notes: Because the lake is the main water source for the Guadalajara metro area and also because the water is not the cleanest, it is not one for swimming or watersports. With almost perpetual sunshine and high evaporation, the lake can be bright and a bit glare-y, so we recommend sunglasses.
Getting there: We recommend driving out to Chapala and/or Ajijic - it generally takes just over an hour. In Ajijic, there is often a parking spot open at the malecon park; if not, there are generally lots of open spaces on the streets. Parking in Chapala is more difficult because it is more popular - if we don’t find a spot in the main malecon parking lot, we generally head up Calle Gonzalez Gallo until we have luck parking on the street.
Agua Caliente Parque Acuático (Water Park)
"Sunny" kids pool, Agua Caliente water park
This place is SO. MUCH. FUN. for kids and adults of all ages and comfort levels with water, ranging from shallow (4-inch deep kids pools to some of the most intense water slides I’ve ever seen. There are also non-water things to do, including elevated obstacle and tricycle courses, and ziplining. We’ve spent the most time at the kids pools marked 5 and 6 on the map below - 5 is “full sun” and huge; 6 is smaller and shadier. There are many places to buy food there or you’re welcome to bring your own picnic/coolers. Sunscreen is a must :)
Getting there: drive yourself out to here - its just under an hour’s drive from Guadalajara outside of the town of Villa Corona.
Map of Agua Caliente water park
Other posts you may enjoy & helpful resources for families visiting Guadalajara:
For the top cultural and historic spots for visitors to Guadalajara, with routes kids can enjoy, see our post here!
For playgrounds, parks & attractions for kids in Guadalajara, please see this post!
For restaurants in Guadalajara that kids love with play places and/or acitivities so grown ups can enjoy a relaxing meal and conversation, go here!
Interested in venturing a little further afield? Our post about great family day trips & activities within about an hour’s drive from Guadalajara is here!
For variable and seasonal events in GDL, go to This Week in Guadalajara (TWIG).
*Our post about our favorite Pueblo Magicos (so far!) is coming soon!