guadalajara mexico...travel, vacation, retire, relocate for less in mexico!...great trips, hotels, retirement places, golf and more!

Mexico's second largest city, the City of Roses, is a tourist and retirement center offering stately architecture, colonial plazas, outstanding weather and a charm not found in many large cities. Parks, fountains and wide boulevards dot the city. Many expatriates, mainly Canadian and American, reside here, and the city is a center for education, the arts and native crafts.

Guadalajara

There is always something to do, from attending the Folklorico Ballet to dining in dozens of elegant restaurants that represent a variety of international cuisines. Guadalajara has at least six championship-quality golf courses, most of which are usually vacant during the week, and visitors will find five professional soccer teams. The Mexican rodeo (Charreadas) performs every Sunday at noon, and not to be missed is the Mercado Libertad, a sprawling covered market where vendors sell just about everything imaginable. And some things not so imaginable!

Several nearby towns, including Tlaquepaque and Tonola, are world-famous for their folk art, including blown-glass, pottery and leather goods. Lake Chapala, home to the largest North American expatriate retirement community in the world, is just 30 miles to the south. For those wanting to change their status from tourist to resident (please note that there are some restrictions), visit the Regional Immigration Department at the Palacio Federal, Avenida Alcalde 520, 4th Floor.

Guadalajara has seen tremendous growth in recent years, and it struggles with traffic jams and air pollution, although not on the scale of Mexico City. The best day to visit is on Sunday when fewer automobiles are on the road. We recommend taking one of the calandrias that operate downtown. These horse-drawn carriage rides will take you on an hour's tour of some of Guadalajara's prettiest neighborhoods.

Don't miss our retirement in Lake Chapala/Ajijic, Mexico packet!