Guachimontones // The pre-Hispanic legacy of Jalisco

We wanted a tour focusing on the Prehispanic civilization of the Valley of Guadalajara and there are not very many available. Some also go to the town of Tequilla which makes for a very long day and probably gives both parts of the tour less than an ideal amount of time. Daniel also speaks good English so it allowed for a great bilingual tour where I could ask for clarification in English of anything I didn't understand as presented in Spanish. Daniel kept in good contact before the tour and we were well prepared for what to expect logistically. Daniel picked us up at our Downtown Guadalajara hotel at 8am sharp in a nice new VW van with great A/C which is very comfortable and modern. It was Saturday so the drive to Teuchitlan was traffic-free and pleasant. We talked about the anthropological history of the Valley and more on the drive, it was very enlightening. Even though the tour instructions were clear to eat breakfast before the pickup Daniel was gracious enough to take us to a yummy carnitas stand for breakfast. Since we had already stopped in toen for Breakfast he then showed us around the town center and explained about its history. Then he took us to walk along the lovely nearby riverbank and discuss the local flora and fauna as well as the remnants of the historic floating gardens that were so important to the Prehispanic inhabitants. Next we went to the Guachimontones Archeological Park itself and toured the ruins of these very unique, circular, stepped structures. The Volcano of Tequila dominates the lush background and the top was encased in clouds the whole time. Daniel explained in great detail the history and discoveries of the site including the particular form of Pelota (or cadena) historically played there. The early arrival was a blessing as the site was almost completely empty but for a few employees which made for superb photography opportunities which Daniel patiently indulged and assisted with. Even though it was morning the Sun was growing strong and after making a thorough circuit of the ruins we proceeded to the Site Museum. The Museum is only about 15 years old and has some incredible murals and other very nice appointments. The mural that depicts the site as it may have looked during its peak of development was extremely impressive and lovely. While Daniel continued the tour within the museum explaining more details he didn't neglect to include the staff who would display certain additional items like a selection of the types of obsidian produced in the area and an example of a traditional pelota used for the sport. Once all our curiosities were indulged we proceeded on to the final part of the tour. Daniel took us to a place in town run by a kind old woman where we drank Aguamiel and got to make tortillas from masa (not from scratch which would take forever and be frankly uncomfortable for most people 😅) It was a nice, old-school lunch to cap off the tour. Then Daniel drove us back to our hotel. Daniel's extensive knowledge and passion for history and culture is what really took the tour to the next level. You could do all the activities or more and if your guide isn't knowledgeable and passionate it simply wouldn't come close to the experience Daniel provided us.

It was a great tour with Daniel! Incredibly interesting, insightful, and gave us a completely new perspective on Guadalajara region. The hands-on experience of making traditional tortillas with Grandma Berta was also a real highlight and a truly memorable part of the tour.

If you are interested in less known history and cultural experience, this is a great choice. Daniel is a great tour guide and explains everything. On top of that you get to experience ancient recipe drinks and experience traditional tortilla making. Parent and kids (13, 10) had a great experience. Everything was as described (admission fees included). Recommend if you have 6-7 hours, well worth it! Thank you Daniel!

We loved the experience The area is beautiful, but what really made everything special was our guide, Daniel. It has a very pleasant and close way of explaining, and makes the tour feel different, more lived, more authentic. It was a very beautiful moment that we will certainly not forget. We are very much looking forward to returning, now with friends to live it too.

He is a caring and dedicated person on the tour, you can see the experience and knowledge

Very good tour, you can see the passion for pre-Hispanic culture and left a great taste in my mouth the tour and what I learned from that culture.

We ended up having a private tour with Daniel by chance and he offered so much knowledge about not only Guadalajara, Guachimontones, Teuchitlan and the indigenous people but he also offered us recommendations for the rest of our trip and even talked to us about the tequila industry. It was very clear that he cares and loves teaching visitors about his region and the history of the ruins. I would 100% recommend this tour and it was a highlight of our trip!

What a wonderful and educational day getting to know Guachimontones with our guide Daniel. He was very knowledgeable about the site and the region and readily shared what he knows. We learned much from him about life in the past and also about what is happening currently in the region. Transportation to and from the region was in his clean and comfortable vehicle. I highly recommend including a visit to Guachimontones in your itinerary and using Daniel as your guide.

One of the best tours I've done in Mexico. Daniel guided us along the Teuchitlán archaeological route to the Guachimontones pyramids and made the whole experience feel personal and unhurried — exactly what this site deserves. Daniel clearly knows and loves this region deeply, and his knowledge of the circular pyramid complex and the Teuchitlán tradition is impressive. We stopped at a small tequila distillery on the way back to Guadalajara for a tasting, which was a fantastic addition and gave real insight into the local craft. What stood out most was his kindness and patience. He never rushed us, gave us plenty of time to explore and take everything in, and was genuinely warm throughout. The Guachimontones site is stunning on its own, but having Daniel as a guide elevated the whole day.