Mariachi, tequila and colonial plazas
Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco, the state that gave the world mariachi music and tequila. The historic centre is built around the twin-spired cathedral and a string of plazas, and the Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO-listed former orphanage, is covered in dramatic murals by José Clemente Orozco. Nearby Tlaquepaque is known for crafts and mariachi performances, and the town of Tequila, amid blue agave fields, makes an easy day trip. Try birria and tortas ahogadas, the city's signature sandwich drowned in sauce.