What to do and see in Guadalajara, Guadalajara Metropolitan Area: The Best Bus Tours

April 15, 2022 Concepcion Newsome

The inland city of Guadalajara is bursting with history and culture. Many attractions are in the city's historic center and in the neighboring city of Zapopan. Museums, parks and churches flourish alongside bullfights, rodeos and soccer (futbol). Nearby are the towns of Tequila, where the liquor of the same name is produced, and Tlaquepaque and Tonala, where artisans create an abundance of Mexican handicrafts. Mariachi, which originated in the area, is a common sight and sound in Guadalajara.
Restaurants in Guadalajara

1. Mexican Muralism Cultural Tour in Guadalajara

Dragonfly Group
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Enjoy the architectural beauty and the historical and cultural significance of Guadalajara as you learn about Orozco and his murals on this half-day tour. Your tour includes transport and a professional guide. A maximum of 6 people per booking

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Professional guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Reviewed By ksofka1

This a very customized and helpful trip to take. It will be helping the multiple talented artisans in Jalisco by giving them more exposure. There are a number of artisan villages that fail to achieve the recognition they deserve. The originality of the artists is impressive and the value of multiple purchases being shipped to you is beyond convenient. Very eye-opening trip and I would do it again.

2. Day Trip to Artisan Villages of Jalisco from Guadalajara

Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Guadalajara Metropolitan Area Dragonfly Group
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5.0 based on 7 reviews

Visit two ancient towns, both dedicated to the making of arts & crafts and full of stories to tell. Begin your tour visiting Tonala with its rustic atmosphere. A visit to City Hall will help you learn about the history of the Tonaltecas as you see the colorful murals decorating the walls. Visit a workshop to admire the talent and creativity of the artisans. Continue to Tlaquepaque, where lovely old mansions are now shops and galleries. The tour includes a guided walk to see the monument of Hidalgo, the Historic House, the Ceramic Museum (closed on Mondays) the main plaza and the world famous Parian.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Professional local tour guide, One refreshing drink (non-alcoholic), Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Lunch or food (we will recommend restaurants), Gratuities

3. Colonial Treasures: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Guadalajara

Mexitours Day Tours Mexico City
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Enjoy a wonderful 10-day, 9-night tour from Mexico City to visit some of the most important colonial cities in Mexico filled with culture and history. See San Miguel de Allende and its historical downtown. Stop at Guanajuato and learn about its subterranean avenues. Go to Zacatecas and head to La Bufa Hill, taste tequila in the town of Tequila when you visit Guadalajara and see the World Heritage Site of Morelia. This trip includes breakfast, a professional guide and transport.

Inclusions: Nine nights accommodation, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Round-trip shared transfer to and from Benito Juarez International Airport, Breakfast, Local English- and Spanish-speaking guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities

Reviewed By Ksksksksks

Festive weekend atmosphere, plenty of artisanal shops inside this monetary bazaar. Fresh tacos Made in the courtyard, beer, live music.

4. Guadalajara City Tour

Panoramex Tours & Travel
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Discover the City of Roses, know its attractions accompanied by a professional tourism guide that shows you the traditions, culture, secrets and legends. We will know the Historic Center and other places with neo-Gothic and classical and neoclassical style. Enjoy the beauty of Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco. This experience will convey the history of interesting places, monuments and colonial buildings of great architectural wealth. We stop at one of the most beautiful churches of the Tapatia Pearl: The Expiatory, where after a review of the history we will know its interior. Have fun in the pariah of the new Magic Town of Tlaquepaque, place of beautiful crafts, galleries and restaurants, buy traditional souvenirs from the region

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, Travel insurance

Exclusions: Breakfast, Gratuities, Lunch

Reviewed By Jennifer F

Carmen our guide, and Jesus the driver were outstanding. We were treated with respect and enjoyed every moment of the tour. Completely worth the money.

5. Private Tequila Route Tour with a Local Expert

Jalisco Trip
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

Tour the Tequila Valley and its craft distilleries hosted by an expert in agave distillates. Discover the true story behind Tequila while enjoying high-quality premium distillates. In this full-day unique, educational, and fun experience, you will visit places that are managed 100% by local Mexican families who make their products with great passion and dedication. You will visit the magical towns of El Arenal, Amatitán, and Tequila, which belong to the tequila route declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006. You could also appreciate the incredible agave fields where you will learn everything related to the raw material of the Tequila. If you want to visit some of the large producers like Herradura, José Cuervo, or Casa Sauza we can take you there depending on the availability (entrance ticket not included). This experience is dedicated to anyone looking for something different, authentic, local, and personalized. We adapt according to your time and interests.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Bottled water, Unlimited Premium Tequila Tastings, Mexican snacks during the tour, Soda or mineral water

Exclusions: Lunch

Reviewed By raulhP2712QR

The tour guide was very professional and took me and my cousin all over the places. I really recommend this trip with Fernando- tour guide. I would definitely come back and enjoy this experience.

6. Artisan Villages of Tonalá and Tlaquepaque Small-Group Tour

Jalisco Trip
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Enjoy a unique cultural experience dedicated to the art and history of the region. Tour the artisan towns of Tonalá and Tlaquepaque led by a local expert. Two pre-Hispanic towns dedicated to fine art like pottery, ceramics, blown glass, carpentry, and many more. Explore and discover its colonial buildings, squares, markets, temples, art galleries, and local craft workshops learning all about the regional culture of Jalisco. You can see the artisans working live in their workshops. Your local host will share history, traditions, and gastronomy in a social, friendly, and fun atmosphere during the tour. This experience is dedicated to art aficionados or anyone looking for something authentic, local, and personalized.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Purified and Mineral water, Mexican snacks during the tour, Beers on board, Traditional Lunch at the local market, Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Breakfast

Reviewed By raulhP2712QR

My favorite part of this tour was the distillery's I had no idea existed. Our tour guide Fernando helped me and taught me a lot about Tequila, the origins and how it is made. I really recommend this trip for people who like drinking tequila. When making the tour I suggest asking for Fernando. Amazing person and the is willing to work with you on places you want to visit

7. Private day tour of Tlaquepaque and Tonala

Diego Hannon
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

In this private cultural experience you will discover two authentically Mexican artistic enclaves. First, we will visit the traditional, working-class neighborhood of Tonalá, home to a broad diversity of affordable artisanal goods such as pottery, blown glass, ironwork, wooden furniture, indigenous handicrafts and more! Then I will take you behind the scenes to a family-owned workshop to observe the most refined ceramic techniques. We will also visit the municipal market to taste some of the region’s food products while engaging with the local community. At noon we will visit Tlaquepaque. We'll walk in the Independencia Cultural Corridor: a charming cobblestone street lined up with tens of local boutiques, museums, markets, workshops and art galleries! Lastly, we will taste the local cuisine as we listen to live mariachi music and drink tequila cocktails in El Parian! As we walk and explore both towns, you will gain a deeper understanding of Mexico's artistic culture.

Inclusions: Private transportation, My services as a local guide

Exclusions: Meals, snacks, drinks are not included.

Reviewed By Peteatty1

HIGHLY recommend this tour. Diego provides a relaxed and informative introduction to the city and it’s history. For gringos, Diego speaks perfect English. For everyone who might take this tour, Diego’s love of the city comes through. He’s a true ambassador for GDR culture, and made me want to learn more and visit again. Thank you for bringing this beautiful city to life for me, Diego!

8. Premium Maestro Tequilero Experience

Agave Experience Tequila Tour
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5.0 based on 97 reviews

Hi! Welcome to the OFFICIAL Tequila Tour from The Agave Experience. My name is Giancarlo Castañeda a Biologist and almost an Official Maestro Tequilero, from Guadalajara, Jalisco. Why booking this tour? Tequila is my passion, it became my work, my life, and my best friend. I´ve been surrounded by this beautiful drink since I was born, and always wanted to make my own. If you are looking for a deep understanding of Tequila and Mezcal this experience is for you, my goal is to provide you all the official information in order that you experience and learn the science, the passion, and the art that is behind our national drink in an easy and personalized way. I´m not just a tour guide with four years of experience doing tours, I´m a biologist who has been studying tequila for the last five years and now, making it in a small crafted distillery for the last months. Vegetarians and Vegans Welcome CRAFTED TEQUILA VIP ACCESS PREMIUM EXPERIENCE ALL INCLUDED

Inclusions: Tasty breakfast INCLUDED, Regional Food INCLUDED, Water, cold beer, cigarretes, peanuts, fruit INCLUDED, Bottled water, Only crafted boutique tequilas, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, All Fees and Taxes

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Reviewed By jphill12

The best tequila tour available. The more commercial tours take you to the boring places. Giancarlo's tour takes you to the real authentic distillery's that have been operating for years. He is very knowledgeable and great at entertaining. This was a great time and the best tequila I've ever had!

9. José Cuervo Tequila One Day Experience

Panoramex Tours & Travel
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4.9 based on 11 reviews

Visit the most renowned factory in Latin America: "La Rojeña" by José Cuervo. Tour the Magical Village of Tequila on a day trip and its majestic agave landscape declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Explore the Magic Town of Tequila, Jalisco. Discover the origin of the national drink par excellence, explore its old distilleries and admire its agave landscape declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Experience the sensation of losing yourself among the blue agave fields, perceive the aroma of cooked agave and taste the taste of tequila in the most representative artisan distilleries of Mexico.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, Travel insurance

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities

Reviewed By ibsparticus

Ronny was a good guide, picked up in private transport for a small group, was there for any questions but also let us experience/explore on our own. Visited a smaller tequila operator (many samples included in the tour) and the town itself.

10. Best of Tequila and Guachimont Pyramids in One Day!!

CoyoteKan
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4.9 based on 42 reviews

*Private groups minimum 3 persons. Anyway we only do small groups: bookings from 1 or 2 persons will be set into a 4 persons group. - - - We are Carlos and Alejandro, brothers and copartners in this tourism project. Carlos is a Certified Guide by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism, an audio engineer and a gifted musician. Alejandro studied Anthropology in the National School of Anthropology and History, in Mexico City, and is about to complete a Master's program in Cultural Philosophy . We are passionate about Mexican history, art and culture. Therefore we like to share experiences related in the matter. In the last 10 years we have walked different cities around the globe, including rural and indigenous communities in México and Southamerica.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Soda/Pop, Snacks

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Reviewed By Penny C

My wife & I visited our daughter who lives & works in Guadalajara the first week of February 2021. Daughter had to work during the week so I went to the TripAdvisor website two days before my wife & needed something to do. We selected and signed up for the half day Guachimotones Pyramid tour. A total of $78 was posted to our credit card. That evening we got an email from tripadvisor saying that tour is of a State run museum that was closed due to the pandemic. As an alternative, the email suggested a day long tour to include brunch at a Hacienda on the way to other not yet State run and commercial pyramids in the area and then on to Tequila Town to tour a local privately owned distillery in addition to the town itself. My wife & I agreed. Alex & Rodriguez picked us up at our airB&B about 9:30 am in a nice clean privately owned vehicle – I think it was Rodriguez’s because he drove and Alex did most of the talking. So it was just the four of us. They were nice, both spoke fluent English and had plenty of hand sanitizer and bottled water. We did wear our masks while riding in the car. Alex & Rodriguez were awesome! We thoroughly enjoyed lunch at the Hacienda El Carmen. Alex obviously knew his way around in addition to the local history & politics taking us (walking) down dirt roads (paths) that no one-else was on or seemed to know about to both pyramids and Aztec temples. We then went on to Tequila stopping at a locally owned & operated distillery – again that few other tourists seemed to be interested in – on the out-skirts of town. We took a self guided and un-chaperoned tour of the operation and sampled some of the finished product before departing. We, however, chose not to purchase any at the distillery’s store as we normally do not drink alcohol and it’s difficult to get back to the US. We then went on into Tequila and parked to stroll around the historic and beautiful little town with Alex pointing out high-lights and answering any questions along the way. Finally, we headed back to Guadalajara and were dropped off back at our place about 5 pm. It was the BEST tour we have ever been on! That’s saying something as we have been on such tours all over north America and Europe. Before departing, we gave them a well deserved generous tip. We suspect that they spoiled us because business was still slow due to the pandemic but, would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a guided tour of Guadalajara’s surrounding attractions. The photo is of tour-guide Alex and driver Rodriguez next to our ride for the day.

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