The Living Sierra

This is a day trip journey from Guadalajara to the Western Sierra, focused on coffee, artisans, myth, and mountains, guided by an anthropologist, exploring people and place. You leave Guadalajara early, tracing the road west into the Western Sierra — scenic landscapes of red earth and pine slopes. Your first stop is Amacueca. Here, farmers show how cherries are hand-picked, pulped, roasted — the scent is warm and nutty. You taste a cup brewed on the spot. The route continues to Tapalpa, a Pueblo Mágico of whitewashed walls and timber balconies. You wander its plaza and visit selected artisans. Later, at the Enigma Valleys, giant stones stand scattered. Alejandro shares local legends — of spirits, giants, storms — that have made this site both sacred and mysterious. You understand why these boulders are more than geology: they’re reminders of endurance. It’s a full day — mountain air, conversation, cultural heritage, and a sense that Jalisco belongs to those who live its rhythm.

Alejandro expertly connects what you see to the historical and cultural context: how geography shaped coffee in Amacueca, why Tapalpa’s craft traditions endure, and how Enigma Valleys reveal belief systems. In Amacueca, you join growers for tastings and roasting demonstrations, you learn what the grower looks for when judging a good harvest, how scent signals readiness. In Tapalpa, Alejandro introduces artisans he selects for their quality, people he has long trusting relationships with — you see leather tanned with natural oils, clay that fires to a deep rust tone, maguey fibers hand-braided for strength. At the Enigma Valleys, surrounded by stones worn smooth by time, Alejandro recounts oral histories linking the rocks to ancient storms and deities, legends and spiritual significance, while you stand amid the same winds that shaped them. This experience is about exchange — between you and the people, communities, landscape and story — all grounded in Jalisco’s living culture.

Alejandro studied Anthropology at the National School of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. His research and work have taken him across Mexico and South America – from urban neighborhoods to rural towns and indigenous communities. Now based in Guadalajara, he collaborates with a local cultural project that shares territorial routes and deep-rooted stories of the region with travelers. Alejandro brings academic insight, lived experience and a grounded respect for place. His work offers a view into how land, tradition, and identity continue to shape western Mexico today.

Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat. There'll be plenty of opportunities for photos throughout the day, so bring your camera. ** Keep in mind, the drive is long: ~2 hours from Guadalajara to Tapalpa (Pueblo Mágico). Amacueca (the coffee town) is roughly halfway.