10 Things you MUST do in Guadalajara

A few weeks ago, I took an unforgettable trip (with some unbelievable women) to Guadalajara Mexico. If you had asked me to tell you anything about Guadalajara before my trip, I don’t even know that I would have been able to place it on a map.

Shame on me.

When I tell you that Guadalajara IS Mexico, it’s actually an understatement. Not only is it the second largest city in Mexico, but it’s actually considered to be the cultural center of the country. It’s where Mariachi was started and just a hop, skip and a jump (or a helicopter ride) away from the town of, Tequila. More on that in a bit…

If you’re looking to plan your next vacation, Guadalajara should be at the top of your list. They have inexpensive, direct flights out of Chicago (thanks to Volaris airlines) and you’ll feel completely removed from the monotony and stress of your life.

In short, Guadalajara will transport you.

When you do decide to go (and you will), here are the 10 things you NEED to experience.

1. Stay at the Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara. This brand new luxury property is the crème de la crème of hotels in Guadalajara. With hospitality like you’ve never seen, food like you’ve never tasted and beds like you’ve never slept in, you seriously cannot go wrong staying at the Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara. Rates are usually less than $150 per night, which makes your stay affordable as well! It also happens to be smack dab in the center of Guadalajara’s most luxurious shopping mall.

It also made a great backdrop for all of my outfit snaps.
 2. Breakfast at La Postería. Whenever I see a chef using tweezers to put a dish together, I know they mean business! Typically, you find something like this at a high-end Michelin type dinner spot. Well, at La Postería, they take their breakfast seriously. With less than 15 seats in the whole place, this teeny tiny bakery packs a big punch in terms of flavor. Not only was each dish meticulously designed, but every bite I took was literal perfection in terms of flavor.
3. Go Jewelry Shopping. Guadalajara is home to some of the most incredible jewelry artisans in Mexico. I was lucky enough to meet some of the incredible designers and see their work first-hand. Brands like Mackech, Olavarrieta and Citlali are just a few of my favorites. We had the opportunity to meet some of these incredible designers and hear the amazing stories that inspired their art.
Here is a couple of photos of me and my girls wearing some of our new pieces!
4. Visit Tlaquepaque. Just a few miles away from downtown Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque is a total dream! When you close your eyes and think of what Mexico is like, this is probably what you are seeing in your mind. Oh, and if you love to shop, THIS is the spot. While the area is famous for pottery and blown glass, you can get just about anything you could dream of in Tlaquepaque. The vibrant colors, the mariachi and the food are a few other reasons you’ll want to check this place out.
Make sure you don’t miss lunch at Casa Luna. It’s one of the most magical restaurants you will ever see.
5. Helicopter ride to Tequila – Just as you can’t call it Champagne if it’s not from the Champagne region of France, you can’t call Tequila unless it’s from Tequila, Mexico! Only about an hour outside of Guadalajara, Tequila is a small town adorned with agave plants and colorful beauty. This picturesque place is something you need to see to believe.

In my opinion, the best way to arrive is from a few thousand feet above in a helicopter with the Casa Sauza Helicopter Experience. The ride literally brought me to tears. You get to experience 360 degree views as you’re transported from the city of Guadalajara to the amazing town of Tequila. You will see waterfalls, the Santa Rosa Dam and more on your way! The experience will leave you truly stunned.

6. Visit with Casa Sauza: Speaking of Casa Sauza (you know the ones who created the helicopter experience), this is a must when you are in Tequila. Once we landed, we started our day out on the Agave fields with a beautiful, breakfast drink adorned with fruit and, well, Tequila of course.
We learned how to plant and harvest the agave plants and even had the chance to do it ourselves.
Clearly I was very excited.

We then got the chance to take a trolly over and see their Hacienda. The beauty of this place simply can’t be interpreted by photographs. Here we learned all about Tequila including the how the aging time/process effects the flavor. It was a truly magical day.

7. Dine at Lula Bistro: One of the most magical experiences of my trip was dining at Lula Bistro. This beautiful restaurant feels like your being transported into a secret garden oasis. The food is so beautifully presented and of course, delightfully tasty. One of the coolest things we learned about Lula Bistro is that every meal is weighed out and in total, the food served does not weigh over a pound.
Why can’t we do that in America?!

8. Hacienda del Carmen: If you’re looking to relax and be pampered in a unique and majestic spa, look no further than the Hacienda del Carmen. This was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in my life. It was so stunning, that one of the girls on the trip decided from the moment she arrived, she wanted to get married there!
This Hacienda has not only an incredible spa (where I enjoyed a steam, hot tub and massage), but they have a full service hotel AND a greenhouse producing some of the most delicious produce you will ever taste. Some of that harvest ends up right here in the USA! Picking & eating the vegetables/fruits off the vine was truly a unique experience.
9. Attend a Charro: It’s funny, I saw “charro” on our itinerary and the whole time I thought we were going to be learning how to make a sweet, doughy treat covered with cinnamon and sugar.

No Erica, that’s a churro.

Although my foodie heart was crushed a little bit, once we arrived at the Charro, my hunger pains quickly diminished and I was completely engrossed in this amazing sport. Native to Mexico, Charro is basically the Mexican version of a rodeo where people compete and show-off what their horses can do. We went to Charros de Jalisco and it was so cool!

I had the opportunity to dress in some traditional garb (which I never wanted to take off BTW) and hop on a horse myself. I think I may have found myself a new career…
Overall the Charro was such a cool experience. We got to watch the children and I was SO impressed at their athleticism and dedication. It was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.
10. Dinner at Hueso: Our last night in Guadalajara was spent at one of the most unique restaurants I’ve ever been to, Hueso. This all white restaurant covered in unique art and bones (that’s what hueso means) was totally wild. It’s a must see and a must eat if you’re in Guadalajara.
At the end of the day, Guadalajara has changed me. It’s opened my eyes to a whole new Mexico. I simply cannot WAIT to go back there and explore more of this city’s beauty.

Love always,
Erica