Thanks to Narcos – This Mexican City is On Top Travel Wish List Now

Guadalajara, known as the ‘Pearl of the West has made it’s mark on World tourism; thanks to Narcos, the Web television series on Netflix.

The show revolves around the drug syndicates across South and Central America. One of the key locations is Guadalajara. The series portrays the city as the home of the Guadalajara Cartel. However, the destination is far from what is shown and is actually a city that is steeped in history and culture.

Guadalajara Trivia

• Mexico’s 2^nd largest city
• Mexican city with a strong Spanish influence. The city organizes the largest Spanish language book fair in the world
• The home town of Tequila
• The birthplace of Mariachi music and hosts the International Mariachi Festival each year
• The home to Charreria, the country’s official national sport
• Locals are known as Tapatíos; this is a Nahuatl word which was used for monetary unit in pre-Colonial times.
• The city is also known as Mexico’s Silicon Valley with many IT companies having their offices here.
• Home to Guadalajara Chivas, Mexico’s most popular soccer team

History of Guadalajara

Do you know the city was established in five different spots before moving to current location? The settlement of Guadalajara was brought in by Nuño de Guzmán, a Spanish colonial administrator. The city has seen the best of days and the worst of it too and has fought the wars, financial crisis, and other problems before making it big today.

The Arabic Connection

Guadalajara gets its name from the Spanish hometown of Nuño de Guzmán. This name has origins in Andalusian Arabic origins and literally translates to “river/valley of stones.”

Must Visit Guadalajara Attractions

• Instituto Cultural de Cabañas
• Catedral de Guadalajara
• Plaza de los Mariachis
• Museo Nacional de la Cerámica
• Palacio de Gobierno
• Museo de las Artes
• Tonalá Street Market
• Mercado San Juan De Dios – largest street market

What to Eat When in Guadalajara?

1. Birria – A fusion dish of Spanish lamb or goat made with flavorful local spices and tomato
2. Torta ahogada – Sandwiches stuffed with cuts of preferred meat soaked in tomato sauce. It is served with the birote, a salty and crispy kind of baguette which is only available here.
3. Carne en su jugo – It’s a broth which is made with small pieces of juicy beef steak.
4. Lonche bañado – It’s a variant of Torta ahogada which just has the extra tomato sauce which is mixed with sour cream, and served with avocado slices.
5. Pollo a la Valentina – Fried chicken where the chicken is marinated for hours in tomato sauce. This is served with fries and a fresh salad.
6. Tacos de barbacoa – Tacos but the Mexican variantwhich is fried, fatty, and spicy.
7. Pozole rojo – This is a broth, stew, or soup with preferred mead, lettuce, and radish.

How to Reach & Where to Stay?

The Aeropuerto Internacional Miguel Hidalgo airport is situated 17km away from the downtown. It is well connected to Mexican and international cities.

From budget stays to luxury hotels, the city has a range of accommodation options.

Fun Fact: The city is connected to other cities in Mexico by The Tequila Express.