Guadalajara is Mexico's second biggest city and a major force in Mexico's economy, culture and religion. It has significant influence on the rest of the country, and has the most significant and ambitious infrastructural projects in Mexico.

The bottom line there is that while many other destinations in Mexico are too hot to enjoy being out and about in the summer, Guadalajara is just right. The added bonus being its close proximity to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and nearby Lake Chapala.

The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area also includes the municipalities of Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, El Salto, Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos and Juanacatlan, which together totaled about 4.3 million inhabitants in 2008.