Mariachi and Tequila Tasting Expedition

  During this tour you will experience up close a great celebration, held in September each year in Guadalajara, the International Mariachi Festival is a 10-day event where over 500 Mariachi bands perform. Since 1994, Guadalajara has played host every summer to the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería, the International Festival. Mariachi music, along with traditional dance and charrería, the Mexican national sport, take over the whole city. So colorful, so festive.  We will enjoy the International Mariachi Parade from the comfort of nice restaurant balcony .

· Round Trip Airfare from Tijuana to Guadalajara on Volaris Airline.

· Private Ground Transportation to and from airport, hotel all tour spot and includes Riders Insurance while in the private.

· 6 nights’ accommodations in Hotel Casa Blanca in Guadalajara Jal.  in a single, private room.

· Breakfast buffet  each morning at our hotel’s restaurant each day. 

· 7 Day Guided Guadalajara Jal. Expedition with more than 18 stops and many historical sites.

· ALL DAYTIME Entry Fees to planned activities and destinations.

· TWO private, bilingual (English, Spanish) tour guides .

· Tequila Tasting experience included.

• Alcoholic beverages, lunches and dinners, personal snacks, cosmetics and anything NOT specifically listed above.

• Any optional Night Time Activities you choose to participate in

• Tips that are not specifically listed (such as the lunches and dinners purchased)

• Travel Insurance NOT provided.

• Any transportation that is not listed above. All group activities are by private van at very specific times, if you miss the scheduled departure time or meeting location, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN transportation to and from hotel

Sandys Tip NOT included 

  What to expect 

The weather in El Bajio is fairly warm throughout the year. The nighttime

temperatures during these months will drop to the 60’s. The season from Aug to Sep, as the temperatures drop to the comfortable range.

Attire: Layered clothing for the duration of the trip to stay warm on chilly mornings that quicky heat up as the day goes on. Much of the tour will be walking through the various attractions… WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOSED TOE, GOOD SUPPORTIVE SHOES( Have on mind that we will walk on cemented sidewalks). A hat day to protect from the scorching Mexican sun.

Don´t forget to bring: YOUR COMMON SENSE, WILLINGNESS TO LEARN, EXPLORE AND BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS.

LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES AT HOME! You may need sunblock for the outdoor tours. Proper identification should be carried at all times.

This tour requires a lot of walking in a slow-paced time, possibly standing for long periods of time, the ability to sit and ride in the bus for up to 2 hours.

Any souvenirs, personal items, medical attention or medicine that may be needed, food/snacks not included as listed above and any incidentals you may need that are not SPECIFICALLY listed in the above sections. If you miss the van or other tour provided transportation, you will be responsible for additional cost to catch up to tour. Please be sure to plan your individual budget ahead of time and consider things you will want or may need to purchase during the tour.

***IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT MISS SCHEDULED PICK UP TIMES…if you do, you may have to pay for your own transportation to the catch up to the tour at next stop. *** 

 For more information on hotel and places we will visit, please click the links below or type them into your web browser. Please take your time and explore each site to prepare and

¨Know Before You Go¨ everything needed to make your visit more enjoyable.

• Historic Downtown Guadalajara: https://ontheroadin.com/guadalajara-1-hour-walking- tour-of-historic-downtown/amp/

• History of Mariachi:  https://www.villapalmarcancun.com/blog/lifestyle/history-of-mariachi

• International Festival: https://visitguadalajara.com/festivals-events

• Guadalajara Turi Bus: https://www.tapatiotour.com.mx/conoce-el-autobus

• Escor Tauro: https://www.escortauro.com/about-us

• Tlaquepaque: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/9-things-to-do-in- tlaquepaque-guadalajara/

• Tequila Express: https://m.gdltours.com/tequila-express-train/

• Ajijic Chapala: https://www.chapala.com/lake-chapala-towns/ajijic

• Downtown Guadalajara: A city that can be described as a cultural mosaic that has been built in over 470 years. People from all walks of life, from different cultures and nationalities who took up residence in it and over decades of work, dedication and love, have enriched its vision, its essence and its wealth of traditions and customs in a distinguished personality not only in Mexico but in the world.

• History of the Mariachi: One of the most beloved forms of traditional music in Mexico is, without a doubt, Mariachi. Able to evoke a great range of emotions within its listeners, mariachi is a distinctive sound that involves confident singers, powerful harmonies and pulsating rhythms designed to move you.  Today’s mariachi ensembles are a favored entertainment choice to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, baptisms, holidays and funerals.  Mariachi is so important to Mexican culture, in fact, that UNESCO named it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

International Mariachi   

•Mariachi and Charrería Festival: The International Mariachi and Charrería Festival has become an experience full of tradition. Every year, since 1994, thousands of spectators attend the festival to enjoy performances by some of the best mariachis in the world, the National Charro Championship, and other culture related events. This festival has turned into a spectacular party filled with Mexican folklore.

• Turibus: It gives tourists the advantage of enjoying a privileged perspective of the city, thanks to its unobstructed view, since the top of our bus has a roof overhang.

In addition, we have implemented add-ons for people with different abilities,   

well-trained operators and audio equipment, which allows us to provide information to tourists in 2 languages, about our heritage and the historical events gestated in their surroundings, all this for guarantee a service, as in the great capitals of the world.

• Escor Tauro: As our guest, you’ll experience all dimensions of the tequila production process, from the cultivation and harvesting of agave to the distilleries and the private tasting rooms of some of the best tequileros in the world. Learn all about tequila and the best way to drink it.

• Tlaquepaque: The look, feel, and atmosphere around Tlaquepaque is distinctly colonial; there are various pedestrian areas featuring a wide assortment of charming cafés and restaurants—some with outside tables where you can watch the world go by. Street

performers provide curbside entertainment while musicians’ instruments fill the air with the warm sound of Mexican music.

Tequila Express Train: You can travel to Casa Herradura in many ways, but the most festive is the Herradura Express train experience. Starting out from Guadalajara in mid-morning, the     

• historic passenger train travels into the Jaliscan countryside and its beautiful views of mountains and blue agave fields, heading to Amatitán and Casa Herradura.

• Ajjic Chapala: Ajijic is in the state of Jalisco on the shores of Lake Chapala, which at 417 square miles is the largest lake in Mexico. Ajijic is about a half-hour drive from Guadalajara’s international airport. This positions the town close enough to the big city benefits of Guadalajara, while still being tucked away from the urban sprawl in a unique natural setting. Imagine a huge lake with fisherman out on the water in pangas (small boats) casting for carp. At the shoreline are snowy egrets doing their own fishing. Someone in Ajijic must have made a concerted effort to protect the town’s trees since the streets are lined with huge specimens, including palm trees mixed in with pines and flowering jacarandas.