The Pan American Games are not only happening in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala, but in 4 other areas of Jalisco as well:

Lagos de Moreno

Nestled in the northeastern corner of the state of Jalisco, Lagos de Moreno is a quiet but beautiful city, with colonial streets climbing steeply from a small river to a hilltop monastery.

Local landmarks include the massive Baroque church beside the main plaza, or “zocalo,” as such squares are known in Mexico.

To the north side of the square behind the church is the Teatro Jose Rosas Moreno, an opera hall dating back to 1906. The dome is adorned with an elaborate mural depicting the Mexican Revolution and Independence, with local hero Jose Rosas Moreno, a famous writer who gave the city its name, as the centerpiece.

There are a number of reasonable bars, restaurants and hotels in and around the zocalo, while away from the center it is worth making the climb up to the Templo del Calvario, a hillside church ten blocks to the north.

Home to the newly built 3,700-capacity Pan American Baseball Stadium, this charming destination will take on a new lease of life during the games and is a must-visit for any baseball fans.

Buses leave almost every hour from Guadalajara’s new bus station, the Nueva Central Caminonera. Driving time from Guadalajara: two hours.

Puerto Vallarta

Popular with domestic and foreign tourists, Puerto Vallarta is no longer the quaint   fishing village made de famous by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1960s, but is now world-renowned for its nightlife as much as its many surrounding beaches.

Hot and humid, the resort is replete with luxury hotels, bars, clubs and even a zoo. Puerto Vallarta is Mexico’s gay capital and once won the accolade of “The Friendliest City in the World.”

Aside from its sandy beaches, Vallarta offers day trips aplenty, including boat trips, diving tours, horseback rides and ecotours. Those less adventurous are free to laze by the pool or wander the malecon and its host of shops, and the city’s charming cobbled streets.

One event not to miss is the beach volleyball to be played in a temporary 2,700-seater stadium put up specially for the Pan American Games.

Vallarta will also be hosting sailing events at its Yacht Club, as well as open water swimming and the aquatic leg of the triathalon at the API Maritime Terminal.

A common stop-off point for Pacific Coast cruise ships, Vallarta is well served by airlines and is also accessible via bus or car from Guadalajara (four hours).

Tapalpa

A 90-minute drive south-west from Guadalajara will take you to Tapalpa, a town and municipality of the same name in the “alpine” region of southern Jalisco.
Officially designated one of Mexico’s 40 pueblos magicos (magic towns), Tapalpa is an endearing destination with a municipal population of just 16,000.

Replete with pine forests, waterfalls and mountain streams, it is ideal for hiking and will host the mountain bike events during the Pan American Games.
Nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains at 2,200 meters above sea level, the nights are cool, making Tapalpa the perfect place to sit beside a roaring fire and take in the smell of wood smoke in one of its many homely wood cabins.

Ciudad Guzman

Nicknamed the “Athens of Jalisco” for being the birthplace of several well-known intellectuals and artists, including famous muralist Jose Clemente Orozco, this historic city is located 120 kilometers south of Guadalajara.

Prior to being conquered by the Spanish in 1526, the region was home to the pre-Columbian kingdom of Zapotlan.

Many treasures and weapons are still thought to be buried throughout the many colonial homes, buildings and farms, while the stone Catedral de San Jose in the historic city center is haunted, according to local folklore.

Water sports enthusiasts should take the time to visit Ciudad Guzman, which houses the new rowing and canoeing course with room for 1,500 spectators.