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Meet Your Tlaquepaque GuideI’m Martin, the creator of this website and the Tlaquepaque Walking Tour. Many years ago I left the NYC area where I grew up, and began a life abroad. I first moved to France and later to Thailand, where I settled for two decades, working in tourism.
When I came to this Mexican town of Tlaquepaque in 2020 it was the fulfillment of a lifelong desire to know this country. I spent much of the first year of the pandemic exploring the streets and sights of this pueblo magico.
I’m a writer and media producer, and soon became fascinated by the area’s history and culture. I soaked up as much of Tlaquepaque’s charm as I could. In 2022 I became a resident of Mexico.
On the Tlaquepaque Walking Tour I share my love of the place I now call home and where I live just steps from Tlaquepaque’s main square and the places we will visit.
The process to obtain the approval of the local Office of Tourism and Tlaquepaque’s Historical Committee was long, but worth it. I was put in touch with a local historian who went through my itinerary and script and painstakingly helped me correct a few factual errors. It all helped me in creating a Walking Tour of Tlaquepaque that leaves visitors with an unusually well informed impression.
Interested in learning about expatriate life here? I host Jalisco Living, a video program about the area’s international community. Watch the show, and if you’re tempted to consider Mexico as a place to live, you can ask me about my life here as a US emigrant.
I speak Spanish and French and enjoy including visitors who are comfortable communicating in those languages. Be sure to read the information below. We hope to see you here soon!
Tlaquepaque lies at the southern doorstep of Guadalajara, and is just a 20 minute taxi ride from the capital’s historic center. If coming by car from Lake Chapala or Puerto Vallarta you may arrive via a different route. Either way you’ll meet as the town’s Visitor Welcome Center with its convenient drop-off lane.
Tlaquepaque is en route from Guadalajara airport to the city center. If you are flying in from another country or city, you may want to make our Pueblo Magico your first stop. It’s a great way to ease into your Jalisco experience!
Tlaquepaque and Guadalajara are in the eastern part Jalisco state, about a 5 hour drive from the Pacific Coast. The area is known to have some of the best weather in Mexico. We are at about 5,000 feet above sea level, and you can expect comfortably sunny days year round, with temperatures in the 70s. The temperature drop in December, and until March you can expect the morning and evenings to be pleasantly cool. Rainy season begins in August and there are occasional downpours through September, usually lasting not more than a couple of hours. Tlaquepaque center is on a hillside, and even during rainy season flooding is rare.
It’s hardly a secret that Mexico has an organized crime problem. The country´s powerful cartels are internationally known, due to the way they have been portrayed in the news and entertainment. However it is extremely rare for a law abiding visitor to be a target or even the collateral victim of violence. The main risk faced by tourists is petty crime in the form of purse and phone snatchings. These occur most often in some areas of the capital where it is best to be extra vigilant. It’s inadvisable to wear expensive jewelry and watches, nor is it a good idea to walk around with your phone in your hand.
Tlaquepaque center is part of the greater Guadalajara area. Due to the large number of visitors it receives and its importance to tourism, it is patrolled by an unusually large contingent of police officers. The town center is where all our tours take place, and it is as safe as any in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.