Guadalajara

Founded in 1542 by Juan de Oñate, Guadalajara is Mexico's second largest city. Located in the state of Jalisco, the city spreads out over a mile-high plateau 300 miles northwest of Mexico City and 150 miles east of Puerto Vallarta. Its altitude provides Guadalajara with a spring-like climate year round, with high temperatures in the seventies during the winter and summer seasons. June, July and August bring substantial afternoon showers.

Guadalajara's colonial center, comprised of four large plazas surrounding a 16th century cathedral, is evidence of the city's long history as an important commercial and cultural center. In the central plazas are beautiful gardens and fountains, magnificent churches and government buildings, and abundant public sculptures. The newer Plaza Tapatía is lined with five blocks of galleries, cafes, and shops. The Instituto Cultural Cabañas, which was once an orphanage, houses an extensive collection of dramatic murals by native José Clemente Orozco.

While Guadalajara prides itself on maintaining its reputation as Mexico's most traditional city, it has established itself as a modern and efficient metropolitan area. Today lavish colonial buildings stand side-by-side with ultra-contemporary structures housing communications, computer, and other high-tech industries. Tapatíos (as residents of Guadalajara like to be called) and tourists alike enjoy this combination of tradition and modernity, because it provides urban advantages without the anonymity and overwhelming size typical of many large cities.

Surrounding sites of interest include Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, nationally known arts and crafts centers, and Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake and the center of a string of picturesque villages that have become popular with US and Canadian retirees.