The Highlights of Tapalpa in Jalisco, Mexico
Being located 2000 meters above sea level, Tapalpa in Jalisco welcomes you with the aroma of pine trees, oaks, oaks, and flowers that surround it, as well as the smell of wood-burning to keep homes warm.
Tapalpa is located about two hours (133 kilometers) from the city of Guadalajara, in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the middle of a wonderfully wooded landscape. With its highland atmosphere, it combines natural beauty with color and tradition. It is distinguished by its houses with white facades and red gabled roofs. It is an excellent destination for adventure, recreation, and rest.
The first thing you can visit in Tapalpa is its "pilas" (communal fountains), where the inhabitants used to get water, which still have their original names, such as Pila de las Culebras, del Tecolote, del Perro, and La Colorada, and each name is associated with legends of the place.
You can also visit the Church of San Antonio de Padua, a neoclassical construction built-in 1650 by the Franciscans, and the Church of La Merced, with a predominantly baroque style with beautiful murals and stained glass windows.
Near Tapalpa it is recommended to visit: The Paper Mill (2 km from Tapalpa), built-in 1840 was the first in the region. Atacco (3 km south of Tapalpa), where a Franciscan church was erected whose ruins are still standing. Las Piedrotas (5 km northwest of Tapalpa) are natural monoliths of whimsical shapes in an environment of forests and streams where you can practice rappelling, zip-lining, and climbing.
Los Frailes (9 km north of Tapalpa), rock formations higher than the previous ones, an ideal place for those who enjoy extreme sports. Salto del Nogal (18 km south of Tapalpa), a beautiful waterfall 105 meters high, surrounded by pine and oak forests, is ideal for mountain climbing.
El Nogal Dam (8 km from Tapalpa), where you can swim, fish for catfish, bass, and trout, camp and go boating. Hacienda la Media Luna (15 km northwest of Tapalpa), is a picturesque landscape with ruins of a hacienda in front of a lagoon where you can fish for bass and tilapia.
Tapalpa has become the site of one of the main stops of the Paragliding World Cup, which began in 2002. The competition departs from Cerro del Balcón and uses Las Piedrotas as its landing point.
Due to the abundance of wood in the region, most of Tapalpa's handicraft production is made from this material, seen in numerous carved ornaments and furniture. In addition, it is common to find hand-woven wool items such as warm jorongos, blankets, and backpacks. Pine needles are also used to make handicrafts such as baskets, hats, and blowers.
