Jalisco is Mexico's cultural heartland, birthplace of tequila, mariachi music, and the Mexican hat dance. Home to the vibrant metropolis of Guadalajara and the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, it offers a stunning blend of colonial heritage, indigenous traditions, and natural beauty.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Tequila Town
The UNESCO World Heritage town of Tequila is the spiritual and commercial heart of Mexico's most famous spirit. Set amid vast blue agave fields with the Tequila Volcano rising behind the town, it offers distillery tours, agave harvesting demonstrations by traditional jimadores, and excellent restaurants. The Jose Cuervo Express train is a festive experience with live music, food, and unlimited tastings.
Highlights: Jose Cuervo La Rojeña distillery (oldest active distillery in Latin America, est. 1758) · Mundo Cuervo agave field demonstration · Casa Herradura distillery and museum · Artisan tequila producers (Fortaleza, G4) · Tequila town plaza and colonial church · Agave landscape photography
Lake Chapala & Ajijic
Mexico's largest lake provides a stunning backdrop for a day exploring the charming lakeside communities of Chapala and Ajijic. Lake Chapala's shores have attracted artists, writers, and retirees for over a century — D.H. Lawrence wrote his Mexico novel here. The villages offer boat tours to the islands, excellent restaurants, art galleries, and a peaceful atmosphere totally unlike Guadalajara's urban energy.
Highlights: Chapala Malecón boardwalk and pier · Boat tour to Isla de Mezcala (colonial fort ruins) · Ajijic cobblestone streets and art galleries · El Muro de Los Muertos art installation (1,000 clay skulls) · Fresh lake fish (charales and white fish) at lakeside restaurants · Monte Coxala hot springs and spa (near Tizapán el Alto)
Guachimontones & Teuchitlán
Jalisco's most important archaeological site features unique circular pyramid structures built by the Teuchitlán culture between 300 BCE and 900 CE. Unlike any other pre-Columbian site in the Americas, the concentric ring pyramids of Guachimontones were used for ritual ceremonies and possibly for the voladores (flying men) ceremony. The adjacent museum provides excellent context. The charming village of Teuchitlán and its agave-related gastronomy make this a rewarding full-day excursion.
Highlights: Guachimontones circular pyramid complex · Site museum with Teuchitlán culture artifacts · View of the extinct Tequila Volcano from the pyramid summit · Teuchitlán village plaza and traditional church · Local birria and pozole at village restaurants
Tapalpa Highland Village
One of Jalisco's most charming Pueblos Mágicos, Tapalpa sits at 2,000m in a pine-forested highland valley with a refreshingly cool climate. The whitewashed colonial architecture, ranchero cheese-making traditions, and horseback riding culture make this feel like a different Mexico from the tropical coast. Highlights include the dramatic Piedrotas volcanic rock formations, apple orchards, and excellent traditional cuisine.
Highlights: Piedrotas volcanic rock formations (30-minute walk from town) · Tapalpa town plaza and colonial church · Artisanal cheese (queso ranchero) tasting · Horseback riding through pine forest · Local pozole and atole at traditional restaurants
Mascota & Sierra Occidental
A spectacular mountain drive through the Sierra Madre Occidental leads to Mascota, a pristine Pueblo Mágico at 1,250m altitude with a cool climate and authentic ranching culture. The town's charming plaza, colonial church, and surrounding pine-oak forest are untouched by mass tourism. The drive itself — winding through canyons and forests — is half the attraction.
Highlights: Mascota colonial town and plaza · Scenic Sierra Madre mountain drive · Laguna Juanacatlán (mountain lake, 20 min from Mascota) · Local mezcal and ranchero cheese · El Salto waterfall hike (3-4 hours) · Endemic Sierra Madre bird watching
Mazamitla Pine Forest Village
A magical log-cabin Pueblo Mágico in Jalisco's Purépecha Highlands, Mazamitla's streets are lined with white-and-brown log-style architecture unlike anywhere else in Jalisco. The cool pine forest climate, artisanal cheese markets, and vibrant December Christmas decorations make this a popular weekend destination for tapatíos (Guadalajara residents).
Highlights: Mazamitla town's unique log-cabin architecture · Artisanal cheese (queso añejo) and cream · El Salto de Tomatlán waterfall hike · Pine forest hiking trails · Local ponche (hot fruit punch) in cool mountain air
Puerto Vallarta Day Trip from Guadalajara
While better as an overnight destination, Puerto Vallarta can be done as an extreme day trip by flying. The Pacific beach resort city offers the Bay of Banderas, colorful Zona Romántica, the Malecón sculpture walk, and spectacular seafood. A 5AM flight out gives a full day and return evening flight is feasible.
Highlights: Los Muertos Beach swimming · Puerto Vallarta Malecón sculptures · Zona Romántica breakfast and lunch · Fish tacos at legendary local stands · Malecón sunset
San Cristóbal de la Barranca
A dramatic day trip into Jalisco's deepest canyon just north of Guadalajara. San Cristóbal de la Barranca village sits on the rim of a 600m deep canyon with hot springs at the bottom (accessible by a strenuous 2-hour hike down). The canyon's walls expose millions of years of geological history and the tropical dry forest ecosystem is spectacular.
Highlights: Canyon rim viewpoints over the barranca · Strenuous hike to canyon floor hot springs · Tropical dry forest birdwatching · Small colonial church in San Cristóbal village
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Guadalajara to Tequila run $50-100 including transport, entry fees, and meals. Lake Chapala tours run $40-60. Book through your hotel or tourist information office.
- Private
- Private car with driver from Guadalajara: $100-150 for a full day to most destinations. Good value for groups of 2-4. Hotels can arrange.
- Public
- Buses from Guadalajara's Central Vieja and Camionera Sur serve Tequila, Chapala, Ajijic, Tapalpa, and Mazamitla at low cost ($4-20 round trip). Check schedules at the bus stations.
- Rental
- Car rental from Guadalajara airport ($30-60/day). Excellent for visiting Guachimontones, Tapalpa, Mazamitla, and Lake Chapala in the same trip.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — leave Guadalajara by 8AM to maximize time at your destination before afternoon crowds
The Jose Cuervo Express train to Tequila (Saturdays) requires advance booking — it sells out during peak season
Lake Chapala and Ajijic are best visited midweek to avoid Guadalajara weekend crowds who flood the area on Saturdays and Sundays
Mountain roads to Mascota and Tapalpa are scenic but winding — drive slowly and avoid nighttime driving
Carry cash for rural day trips — ATMs are scarce in small Jalisco Pueblos Mágicos
For Guachimontones, hiring a local guide ($10-15) dramatically enhances the experience of the poorly-signed site