Department of State logo U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara

Living in Guadalajarara
 

Guadalajara
Metropolitan Guadalajara, with a population of over 5 million inhabitants, including approximately 50,000 resident U.S citizens, sits 5,092 feet above sea level on a broad plateau.  A dramatic canyon, “La Barranca,” forms the city’s natural northern boundary, picturesque mountains rise to the east and west, and lovely Lake Chapala lies to the south.

Guadalajara enjoys a temperate climate year round.  Dry, sunny days are interrupted by brief thundershowers during the summer rainy season (June-October).  Ninety percent of the average annual rainfall of 35 inches falls during these 5 months.  Because of its altitude, Guadalajara escapes coastal heat and humidity.  The average temperature range varies from 45 degrees F to 75 degrees F in January and 55 degrees F to 90 degrees F in May.  The climate, comparable to that of San Diego except for the greater rainfall, has been instrumental in attracting thousands of tourists, as well as American retirees.

A city of brightly colored tropical flowers, Guadalajara proudly blends its historic past with modern development.  The Cathedral, government buildings, and expansive plazas of the city center stand as impressive remnants of Mexico’s colonial heritage.  Plaza Tapatia, a downtown pedestrian mall, offers hours of pleasant strolling amidst greenery, fountains, shops, and restaurants in the city’s historic center.  It is also the location of the Cabanas Cultural Institute, which houses the world-famous Orozco ceiling murals.

Utilities and Equipment
Electric service is the same as in the U.S.: 110 volt, 60 hertz, AC.  Voltage regulators or surge suppressers to protect televisions, stereos, and computers from electrical surges are available locally.  However, houses are not grounded for electrical purposes like they are in the U.S., so surge suppressers may not offer adequate protection.  In order to better protect expensive electrical equipment, especially during the rainy season, it is advisable to unplug the equipment when not in use and to not use the equipment in the middle of thunder and lightning storms.

Most houses in Guadalajara are not equipped with air conditioning or heating.  While the lack of air conditioning is rarely a problem, a space heater may be desired in the winter months when nightly temperatures drop into the 40-degree range.  Space heaters are available locally at reasonable prices.

Food
Guadalajara is home to American chains like Wal-Mart SuperCenter, Sam’s Club, and Costco, as well as Mexican chain supercenter-type stores.  Many American products and brand name items can be found in these stores, whether they are manufactured in the U.S. or in Mexico.  However, those products made in the U.S. may not be routinely stocked by the store, so it is best to stock up on desired goods when you find them in local stores.  Additionally, there are innumerable specialty food stores, bakeries, and outdoor markets that offer a wide variety of products.

Frozen foods are readily available, and low-calorie, low-fat products are becoming more widely available.  Pasteurized milk (whole and skim), cheeses, and heavy cream may be safely purchased in supermarkets.

City tapwater is safe for bathing and cleaning, but not for drinking.  Bottled drinking water is sold in virtually all local grocery stores, and delivery service may be established whereby the water is delivered to your home on a set schedule.

It is necessary to disinfect fruits and vegetables before eating them.  Disinfectant drops and powder are readily available in all local grocery stores.

Clothing
Guadalajara boasts an enviable spring- and summer-like climate year round.  Light-to medium-weight clothing is comfortable in all seasons.  Heavy winter clothing is not needed. Bring a raincoat and umbrella for the mid-June to October rainy season.  Summer clothes are perfect for travel to low-altitude, warmer areas.  Bring your bathing suit for use at local pools and for the enjoyment of nearby beaches.  Formal social occasions are rare; most functions are informal.

Guadalajara has several large, American-style shopping malls, and a variety of clothing styles is available in the many boutiques and department stores.  Leather jackets, shoes and boots are available at reasonable prices as there are many manufacturers of leather goods in the area.  Large-sized shoes and clothing are scarce, however.

Supplies and Services
Although housekeepers are available on a part-time or live-in basis, they are becoming more and more difficult to find. Wages are very reasonable in comparison to U.S. rates. Gardeners are also available at a reasonable fee.  Their services are generally needed every two weeks during the rainy season and less frequently for the remainder of the year. Generally all services, including competent medical care, furniture design and construction, automobile and appliance repair, etc., can be found at a lower cost than in the U.S.

Religious Activities English services are offered by several churches, including Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches.  A Jewish community offers services in Spanish and Hebrew.

Education
Guadalajara is home to seven large universities (five private and two public) as well as several smaller institutions of higher learning.  Also, a good number of excellent high schools and grammar schools exist where the language of instruction is Spanish.

The American School offers a coeducational, bilingual program from prekindergarten through high school.  The student body consists of nearly 1,300 students, more than 80% of whom are Mexican.  Children with special educational needs may not be well-served by this or any other school in Guadalajara.  The teaching staff is multinational, with over 50% being Mexican.  Most of the remainder are from the U.S. or Canada.  It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges of Schools.  The school year runs from late August to late June with 2-week vacations at Easter and Christmas.

Prekindergarten, elementary, and some high school level courses have summer sessions. Uniforms are not required.

The John F. Kennedy School offers instruction from kindergarten through grade 6.  Kindergarten is taught completely in English;  pre-first grade for 6 year-olds offers two subjects in Spanish and the rest in English; and primary school beginning at age 7 is taught in Spanish and English on alternating days.  Bus service is not available.

The Lincoln School (prekindergarten through grade 12) offers two different teaching programs:  the bilingual program is taught half in Spanish and half in English; and the traditional, bicultural program offers 90% of material in English and the remaining 10% in Spanish.  The school is built on Christian principles, with mandatory 20-minute devotions each morning. Bus service is not offered.

Recreation and Social Life
Sports Guadalajara’s climate encourages a wide variety of outdoor sports.  Swimming, tennis, hiking, and horseback riding are popular.  Five 18-hole golf courses, one 9-hole golf course, and one practice range are available in Guadalajara.  Both private clubs and city recreation facilities offer swimming, tennis, racquetball, basketball, and other sports.

Touring and Outdoor Activities Guadalajara is situated in close proximity to many areas worth visiting.  The neighboring towns of Tonala and Tlaquepaque offer an enormous selection of artisan crafts at very affordable prices.  Tonala hosts exciting market days every Thursday and Sunday for additional shopping pleasure.

Lake Chapala and the lakeside village of Ajijic are only an hour away.  Beyond the lake are the picturesque towns of Mazamitla and Tapalpa. For beach lovers, there are many options within about four hours’ driving from Guadalajara.  Puerto Vallarta, the principal beach resort in the consular district, is only 25 minutes away by plane or 4 ½ hours by car.  Manzanillo, another important beach town, is only 3 hours away by car and is home to great fishing and the largest seaport on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.  Additional beaches include Barra de Navidad, Nueva Vallarta, San Blas, Tenacatita among others.

The neighboring states of Michoacan, Guanajuato, Colima, Nayarit, and Zacatecas are great, easy-to-reach destinations for vacations or long weekends.

Entertainment
The entertainment scene varies from traditional opera, symphony, dance, and theatrical productions to the typical “charreadas” (rodeos), bullfights, and mariachi music.  Touring musical and dance companies from Mexico and other countries are often featured in the stately Degollado Theater or Cabanas Cultural Institute.  Additionally, the University of Guadalajara presents an exceptional Ballet Folklorico every Sunday morning at the Degollado Theater.

A large and active American Society welcomes new members.  The Instituto Cultural Mexicano Norteamericano de Jalisco A.C.also sponsors programs of interest.

Depending on the neighborhood, many homes either have cable television or use a satellite television service.  At this time, the American networks are available through only one cable service provider restricted to a small part of Guadalajara; however, current American television shows are shown on various other channels, and popular cable channels like ESPN and CNN are widely available.