SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES

Touring near Guadalajara ? As you?re leaving Guadalajara on Highway 44 headed south, you?ll find two towns, which form part of the city?s metropolitan area, where they make crafts that are exported throughout the world. Tlaquepaque, considered one of Latin America?s most important handicrafts centers, has hundreds of galleries promoting local artists? works. The artists there work with such materials as corn husks, forged steel, copper, galvanized lamina, wood, leather and papier-mâché. They make ceramics, such as Petatillo pottery, and hand-blown glass objects, just to name a few of the items produced. In Tonala, located 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Tlaquepaque, you can visit a famous outdoor market that is held from Thursday through Sunday. There are also many stores selling crafts. If you continue south along Highway 44, about 48 km (30 mi) ahead is Lake Chapala, considered Mexico?s largest lake. Chapala is an ideal place to take a walk, a bicycle ride or a boat tour. You can even visit nearby ranches. If you head west along the main highway, you?ll run into the town of Ajijic, which is 48 km (30 mi) south of Guadalajara. This picturesque town is known for its adobe constructions with red-tiled roofs and white walls. While you?re there you can visit El Manglar, the country house of former Mexican president Porfirio Diaz.

The road to Tequila ? Departing from Guadalajara, as you head northeast along Highway 15, you?ll discover some of the region?s most important agricultural areas, where they specialize in the production of Mexico?s world famous tequila and agave-based drinks. Just 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Guadalajara is Amatitan, where you can visit the San Jose del Refugio Hacienda, which has the reputation of being one of the best tequila distilleries since it was founded in 1870. After that, continue along the same highway until you reach one of Mexico?s most emblematic towns: Tequila. Tequila, which has a nearby volcano of the same name, is a region that has the ideal ecological conditions for the cultivation of Agave Tequilana Weber, a blue agave variety that has domination of origin status in the production of the authentic national drink. On weekends in Tequila you can take a tour of the distilleries on the Tequila Bus, or the Tequila Express, as it?s called. The tour includes a visit to the Jose Cuervo factory, which is a lovely colonial-style construction.