Historic buildings like as the towering 16th-century church and the Hospicio Cabanas, both recognized by UNESCO, may be found throughout the downtown area of the Mexican city. However, just under the surface of this popular area lies a construction that is distinctly of the twenty-first century: Line 3 of Mi Tren, the region’s metropolitan light rail system.
The city’s continuing investment in infrastructure — as well as the way the tourist experience in Mexico’s second-largest city continues to change and improve — is symbolized by the opening of the newest line in 2020.
Below is a list of the top reasons to plan a trip to Guadalupe, Mexico, right now.
Guadalajara’s transportation options are expanding.
To be clear, not every visitor to Guadalajara opts for public transportation while visiting. However, individuals searching for an economical and effective method to move about the urban sprawl — people like me, to be precise — would do well to consider taking a trip on Mi Tren’s new Line 3, which employs train carriages manufactured in Europe, namely the Barcelona Metro 9000.
With a distance of 13 miles and a ticket of less than 50 cents, the route links various sites popular with foreign tourists, travelling from Zapopan to Guadalajara’s southernmost long-distance bus terminal in less than 40 minutes and costing less than 50 cents. Both Zapopan and Guadalajara’s historic downtowns are serviced by the train, and Tlaquepaque, another popular tourist destination, is served by the train as well (although it is about a 15-minute walk from the station to the major pedestrian thoroughfares in Tlaquepaque).
The Guadalajara International Airport is also expanding, with a new terminal building and an extra runway scheduled to open by 2026, according to the airport’s website (in addition, the airport now offers on-site COVID-19 testing).
Hotels in Guadalajara are beginning to open
The city’s hotel industry has already seen an increase in the number of options available to visitors. According to the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Office, a total of around 2,000 additional hotel rooms will be installed by the end of the year.
The 142-room HS Hotsson Hotel GDL Country Club, which is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and the 119-room Staybridge Suites Guadalajara Novena are among the new hotels that have already opened their doors.
Additionally, several long-standing properties have been rebranded, including the 36-room Casa Habita, which is a renovation of the former Casa Fayette, a member of Design Hotels in the trendy Americana neighborhood, and the 142-room Doubletree by Hilton Guadalajara Centro Historico, which will be the result of a 2020 reflagging of a former National Hotel Collection property in downtown Guadalajara.
Restaurants that are new and innovative
It has long been recognized as a gastronomic mecca, owing in no little part to traditional delicacies like as tortas ahogadas (pork carnitas sandwiches “drowned” in red chile sauce) and birria, a hearty stewed beef delicacy that is popular across Mexico. Throughout addition, the city’s eating scene features excellent modern and international cuisine, with notable new dining establishments opening on a regular basis in the city. (It’s no surprise that Guadalajara has been dubbed “Mexico’s next culinary city to watch” by Afar Magazine, which just published an article on the topic.)
Matilde Mi Amor, a hip, urban restaurant and eatery located in the trendy Via Libertad retail complex; Negroni, an upscale Italian trattoria; TaCorea, a contemporary Korean eatery; Yunaites, which serves gourmet Mexican food in the Mercado del IV Centenario; and Octo Pescadera, which will open in November 2021 with an eye-catching design and an extensive seafood menu, are among the newest entrants.
These new establishments join the city’s impressive number of long-standing favorites for upscale cuisine, which includes places like Hueso, a chic venue with all-white decor that specializes in shared plates and craft cocktails; and Peligro al Fondo, a casually stylish, open-air restaurant that’s popular for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on sunny days.
It might be difficult to keep up with the constantly changing offerings in Guadalajara’s eating, drinking, shopping, and lodging. Antiturista is an outstanding resource that I discovered while on my visit. Alex Serranos produced the website and guide, which I found to be quite useful (who also happens to be the cofounder of Peligro al Fondo restaurant). The free guide identifies stylish and style-conscious establishments that are less well-known to most international visitors (thus the term “Antiturista” or “anti-tourist” in Spanish).
Trips to Tequila for the day
For those interested in visiting the town of Tequila, which is most famous for being the birthplace of the namesake drink that bears its name, there are many new options to see and enjoy this lovely Pueblo Magico on day excursions from Guadalajara.
After stopping operation in 2020, the Jose Cuervo Express is back on track and has introduced a new service category known as Elite wagons, which are equipped with sofas, huge windows, and an open bar for passengers. Travelers may upgrade to the Diamond wagon, which has velvet curved couches and various suites, for an even more premium experience on the train.
Casa Salles Hotel Boutique, which will open near the La Guarrena distillery in 2020, will be one of the city’s newest lodging alternatives, according to the company. All of the rooms have a private balcony, and the hotel has a bar, a restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a spa on the premises.
