Due to its importance within the country as well as its geographical location, the Pearl of the West is one of the best connected cities in Mexico. How to get to Guadalajara will not be a problem, whatever the origin or the means of transport that is chosen. Whether you prefer the speed and convenience of the plane, rest while you take in the scenery from a bus, or drive and enjoy the road at your own pace, here you will find information to plan your trip to Guadalajara.
Arriving by Car
Being the second largest city in Mexico, Guadalajara is very well connected. Toll highways connect the Jalisco capital with other cities in the region. To the west, a modern highway connects with Tepic. That same road can be used to get to Puerto Vallarta, although the last section is free highway. If you travel to or from Colima or Manzanillo, you can travel on a modern four-lane highway. Guadalajara is also connected via highway to central Mexico, including León, Aguascalientes, and Morelia to the east.
How to get to Guadalajara by Bus
To any of the mentioned destinations, there is also the option of free highway, although you are not always in the best conditions.
How to get to Guadalajara by Bus The main bus terminal is in Tonalá, a municipality to the east of the Metropolitan Zone, although the buses that arrive there indicate “Guadalajara” as the destination. This bus terminal is the origin and destination of routes longer than 100km or those to/from other states of the country. The buses that leave here and travel to a destination to the west, such as Puerto Vallarta, stop at the Zapopan terminal. For those who live or stay in the west of the city and travel west, it is convenient to take the bus in Zapopan. In this way they will save an hour of traffic within the city.
Those who travel to the south, such as Colima or Manzanillo, there is a similar alternative. Take the bus at the Tlaquepaque terminal located on Periferico Sur and Avenida Colón, 100m from the “Periferico Sur” light rail station. If you are moving to or from cities in the vicinity of the metropolitan area, such as Chapala or Tequila, then you must use the suburban central. This terminal is known by locals as the old station, located to the south of downtown Guadalajara.
How to get to Guadalajara by Plane
Guadalajara International Airport is located 16km south of downtown Guadalajara, in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga. It is the third busiest airport in the country (after Mexico City and Cancun) with direct flights to many Mexican cities. Among the cities connected by air are Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana, Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and many others.
From the United States there are non-stop flights from Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San José, Houston, Ontario, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Oakland, San Francisco, San Antonio among others. From many other smaller cities in the United States there are connecting flights to Guadalajara. From and to the main European and Latin American capitals, there are flights with one or two connections via Mexico City, Panama City and various cities in the United States. For more information about the airlines at the Guadalajara Airport, destinations, schedules and costs, and contact numbers, we suggest you visit their websites or contact them by phone.
How to get to and from the airport
Airport Taxis
Once at the airport, you can take a taxi to any point in the city, the average rate is MXN$350.00; it is necessary to buy a ticket at the ticket offices located inside the terminal. Previously there was a shuttle that connected the airport with La Zona Minerva, however since 2019 this option is no longer available.
Transportation Platforms
Platforms like Uber and Didi are available both to go to the airport and to go from the airport to the city. There is a designated area to be picked up by the driver, which is on the main road leaving the national arrivals gate. Raids by the Federal Police and airport security personnel on platform drivers have occasionally been reported, however this is rare. In those cases, the ticket has to get out of the car and find another transportation option.
Car rental
Another good option to get to the down town and move around is renting a car at Guadalajara Airport. Depending on the season you can find attractive rates, which are often cheaper than a taxi, considering the high rates on the airport site. Renting a car can even be cheaper than platforms like Uber or Didi. Consider this option if you have to make more than one journey in the city or return to the airport. It is advisable to have a prior reservation and make sure that the cost of insurance is included in the rate to avoid surprises. A good option is Veico Car Rental Guadalajara, since they have competitive prices and recent model cars.
Public transport
If you prefer to take urban public transport, there is also a bus that stops inside the airport in front of the Fedex offices. For only MXN$15 it takes you to the old central of Guadalajara (Central Suburbana) or to Chapala. Consider that even though it is the cheapest option, it is also the one that takes the longest, around an hour. Also keep in mind that the bus is full at peak hours and it is difficult to carry luggage.
Foreign buses to Guadalajara Airport
If you start your trip outside of Guadalajara, there are foreign bus services that connect some nearby cities with the Guadalajara Airport. Some of the cities from which this service is offered are Colima, Manzanillo and Tepic. The bus lines that provide this service are: La Linea, ETN and Primera Plus. The service only exists to the Guadalajara Airport, it is not possible to take the bus from the airport to travel to another city.