Traveling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Guadalajara International Airport (GDL), officially named Don Miguel Hidago y Costilla International Airport, brings you to Mexico's second largest city, located in the middle of the state of Jalisco.

GDL is situated about ten miles south of Guadalajara's city center. Nicknamed "The Pearl of the West," Guadalajara is one of the country's primary cultural centers, and tourism is one of the main industries, especially in the city's Centro Histórico, or Historical Center.

Key Facts

While there's plenty to do in Guadalajara proper, such as a visit to Instituto Cultural Cabanas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the seven mile drive northwest of the city to Zapopan offers two highly rated attractions. Here you'll find the 17th-century Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan and, just adjacent to that, the Huichol Art Museum, full of artwork produced by the area's indigenous people.

The drive there will take you about 25 minutes. Back to Guadalajara, you might stop at the world-class Zoologico Guadalajara, housing more than 2,000 animals, or drive the 45 minutes to Guachimontones, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, to view the ancient pyramids.

Hints and Tips

The flight between SFO and GDL takes almost four hours. GDL airport is a major travel hub for Mexico, with up to nine major airlines providing service.