Guadalajara is a blend of Mexican traditions and modern conveniences. With the largest convention center in Mexico, 61 unique venues, 22 arenas and stadiums, and 23,500 hotel rooms suitable for groups within the metropolitan area, Guadalajara is the perfect location for your next high-impact event or meeting. In Guadalajara, we trade with confidence. From the small to the grand, from the discreet to the extravagant, Guadalajara has been there and done it all.

THE MAJESTY OF MOVING AROUND

Interesting Facts About Guadalajara

  1. Five Nicknames: Guadalajara awakens love, earning these additional names:
    • The Pearl of the West: For its location and undeniable beauty, featuring colonial plazas, theaters, and natural sites.
    • La Perla Tapatía: Reflects the charm of its streets and its people. “Tapatío” derives from “Tlapatiotl,” meaning “worth three,” referring to its historic trading system.
    • Guanatos: Legend says this name was coined by rock bands in the late ’60s, combining “Gua” (from Guadalajara) with “natos” (born in).
    • The City of Roses: Roses have always characterized Guadalajara, especially in its medians and plazas.
    • The Bride of Jalisco: Jorge Negrete explains this nickname in his song “¡Ay, Jalisco no te rajes!”
  2. Guinness Record Holder: La Perla Tapatía holds the record for the largest Torta Ahogada in the world, measuring 646 meters, celebrated during the 2010 Bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence in Plaza de las Armas.
  3. Secret Tunnels Beneath Landmarks: Numerous underground passages connect symbolic buildings, such as the Cathedral of Guadalajara and the Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which served as hiding places during the Cristero War (1923–1926).
  4. Distinctive Scent: The scent of petrichor, created by rain on dry soil, can be detected in the City of Roses even when it’s not raining—an experience for all senses!
  5. Host of the Most Important Literary Event in Latin America: The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) is the most significant in the Spanish-speaking world and the second most important globally in terms of editorial presence.
  6. Home of the Torta Ahogada: This famous dish was created in the 1930s by accident when Luis Torre dropped a sandwich into chili sauce while packing his lunch. This “inconvenience” led to the discovery of a delicious combination of bread and meat soaked in sauce, eventually becoming a staple in local restaurants, with around 1,800 sold daily in downtown Guadalajara.
  7. Land of Mariachis: Cocula, Jalisco, is where mariachi music originated, but Guadalajara popularized this genre, inspiring thousands of artists. Historians offer two theories on the word “mariachi”—one connects it to “marriage,” while the other links it to the tree used to make guitars.
  8. Multiple Foundings: Guadalajara was founded four times: January 5, 1532; May 19, 1533; 1534; and finally on February 14, 1542, in the Valley of Atemajac. Interestingly, it wasn’t until 1560 that Guadalajara became the capital of New Galicia.

 

The Best Way to Explore Guadalajara

Getting around La Perla Tapatía is relatively easy due to its well-connected main avenues. Along the busiest routes, you’ll find bus routes, light rail stations, taxi stands, and even Macrobús. The city also hosts various international private transport companies, including Uber, Easy Taxi, and Cabify.