Tequila & Mariachi

Guadalajara and Jalisco the state, are known as home of tequila, mariachi and charro traditions..

Mexico's ornately dressed horsemen who perform a Mexican-style rodeo known as charreadas. When visiting Guadalajara, day trips will showcase the state's diverse natural beauty. Many visitors enjoy the gorgeous villages lining Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. Others head for the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains and the tranquil alpine villages of Tapalpa and Mazamitla. 

Tequila is a strong, transparent, alcoholic drink that is considered to be Mexico's national drink. It is obtained from the plant called maguey that grows in and around the town of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco. Ancient people made alcoholic beverages using the maguey plant long before the Spaniards came to the New World. In order to refine the drink the Spaniards introduced the process of distillation. It takes between 8 and 12 years for the maguey to mature. When it is ready to be harvested, the leaves and spikes of the maguey are stripped away, leaving only the heart, which looks like a pineapple. The heart is roasted, pressed, and then shredded to extract the juice, to which sugar is added. The mixture is left to ferment for four days, and then it is distilled twice. Afterwards the tequila is aged in wooden casks and the final product is a clear liquid