There are several possibilities, we could do any you would like or choose; the idea is me to offer you a personalized tour, to accomplish your “Three Wishes” one at a day:
For one day, I would say the first, The Guadalajara City and Tlaquepaque Tour: Guadalajara has a huge history, almost 5 centuries and lots of Monuments, Squares, Gardens, Churches and Cultural or Civic Buildings to discover. Tlaquepaque is a very nice Colonial Magic Town, with magnificent Architecture, Arts and Crafts Town that used to be “near” Guadalajara, and now became part of the city metropolitan area. Gorgeous food and drink, with Folklore dance and Mariachi music!
Another day could be Tonalá and Chapala’s Lakeside. Tonalá is another Colonial Town for Arts and Crafts, in the exit way to Chapala, the biggest natural lake in Mexico; that now thanks to a very good rainy season, in 2018, it is in the best situation after many years. The old Train Station to discover, nice old towns to walk, the views of the lake and mountains that are magnificent and the restaurants by the lake are a Must! Or do you want to go to the “Presidium Island”? And what to say about the sunsets!
Another day could be “Tequila Magic Town” visit, ones having discovered “Tequila Distilleries”, learning and having a degustation of the production process of “Tequila”, the National Spirituous Drink, after crossing the “Agave Landscape”, declared Human Heritage by UNESCO, by “The Tequila Road” and the view of The “Tequila Volcano”, the 3rd largest Obsidian mine in the word, the 3rd Highest Mountain in the State: more than 10,000 feet above the sea level, with its famous “Tetilla”; for continuing with a lunch – dinner by the 1,800 feet deep Canyon of Santiago River or in a cave of tequila.
Another day could be, the “Guachimontones” Archaeological Site: the discovering that came to change all previous concepts Archaeologist had about the Mexican Pre-Columbian time and the West of Mexico. The visit of the “Interpretation” and “Cultural Centers”, as well as an Obsidian Arts and Crafts Workshop, to appreciate watching the lapidary artisans working. As well as having the chance to buy jewellery and art crafts directedly from the producers. And finally, by the “La Vega Lake”, nice view and excellent food and drink, lunch – Dinner, with mariachi or Norteño music.
There are much more possibilities in Guadalajara: if you like and enjoy nature: The Largest Latin-American Zoo and a natural Park, a Belvedere, called Independencia, both in the “Oblatos - Huentitán” Santiago River Canyon, the Hydraulic system Lerma – Chapala - Santiago. There is a nice aquarium and a fun park inside the Zoo Guadalajara. We could eat in a Mexican restaurant, by the canyon side. Also, a very nice new Aquarium in another location called “Michin”.
The Zapopan Virgin, Franciscan Church, with a more than two centuries traditional Pilgrimage, now declared Human Heritage by UNESCO and Zapopan nice old Downtown, or super modern financial and commercial areas, now also part of Guadalajara metropolitan area.
There is also a nice traditional natural park, called “Agua Azul”, (blue water), with lots of attractions: the lake is the origin of freshwater for the city; a live butterflies dome, a second one with live Birds and the third one with Orchids. Outside, a Paleontological museum, with a complete Gonfoterium recovered from Chapala’s Lake some 15 years ago. The Art and Crafts house, theatre, flowers market and nearby is the Charros Rodeo stadium, the Mexican National Sport.
And of course, lots of different museums, auditoriums, theatres and cultural centres, with all kind of activities.
Without forgetting shopping days in modern malls or typical traditional Markets, as San Juan de Dios, the largest covered market in Latin America and also the Jewelry Centers by Plaza Tapatía.
There are also other further away possibilities, but feasible in a one “little long” day: like going to the beach, to see the “Manglares” (Mangles in the jungle), in a little boat by the river, watch live and free birds, turtles and crocodiles (don’t worry, completely safe) or big ones in a farm and a zoo. Swim in a fresh natural source of water, then going to swim in the sea, in a bay like a swimming pool, and finally have delicious seafood by the beach, and come back!
Or going to do trekking by the second-highest mountain in the state, more than 12,000 meters high, the Active “Volcano of Colima” (don’t worry we would be in the appropriate route and distance), and then have lunch at the Magic town Comala.”