[I] waved goodbye to Christine, Drew and family at the Puerto Vallarta bus terminal, and was soon speeding east toward Guadalajara.
Not knowing much of Mexico, I always thought Guadalajara was a pueblo.
Turns out it's the capital of the central state of Jalisco, and the second biggest city in the country after Mexico City (which we all know to be one of the largest cities in the world).
Five hours later, we pulled into the new bus terminal on the western outskirts of the city.
From there, I took a taxi to my hostel in the historic city center.
Downtown Guadalajara is awash in historic buildings, and despite its size, it's still more relaxed and manageable than Mexico City.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
Nice shots of Guadalajara, Dave. Nice city, very different vibe from Mexico City. I love that mural in the Palacio de Gobierno.
Thanks Stephen, the murals were a nice surprise.
Great pics Dave. Mexico was my first destination when I left Toronto on a 1969 March break to find some place warm. I travelled down the west coast & got a fast education in how to survive. LOL. After several winters in Fort Lauderdale I’m now considering Costa Rica for a warm alternative.
Take care
I am heading to Mexico next month and Guadalajara is my first stop! After 8.5 months in Asia, I will be 100% ready for some proper tortillas, huevos rancheros, and frijoles. It looks like a beautiful place from your photos and I can’t wait to visit.
I only had a few days in Guadalajara, but I could see myself spending more time there.
I found the historic center more manageable, and less crowded than Mexico City. Make sure to do a tequila tour while you’re there!