Excursions

Bellissimo’s offers numerous types of special packages for events, area excursions and seminars.  Among our colorful and exciting excursions for guests who want to explore Mexico’s fascinating culture and sights are the destinations below:

• TLAQUEPAQUE ~ An Artesanal Mecca

Almost every beautiful item exported from Mexico originates here. (Click to enlarge photos.) Tlaquepaque is artesania central. Find exquisite, hand-made items here. Art, jewelry, furniture, lighting, pottery, apparel, leather goods, and glass. Buy and browse decorative goods of every imaginable type. Most all crafted in nearby Tonalá and sold here.

Tlaquepaque merchants ship worldwide. They also custom make almost anything you can dream of. In fact, if you have something you’ve seen in magazines and want, rip out that page and bring it along. You would be surprised what you can get made in this town! And the prices? Amazing!

This pleasant day trip includes a private driver and round-trip transportation by car. Easily navigate around Tlaquepaqaue on this ‘self-guided” trip. You choose your shops and lunchtime restaurant.

Cost: $50 US per person (includes driver and round-trip transportation). Additionally, you pay for your food, drinks and purchases. Make return trip arrangements with your driver (and pay him/her directly.)

• TONALA ~ Craftsmen and Their Finest Wares

Tonala is an experience you’ll never forget! It is the town where most of the expensive Tlaquepaque goods are actually made. These workshops are off the beaten track, and their doors are not open to the public. You may have to sift through a lot of touristy shops with mediocre merchandise before you come to a wonderful find! But they are there and MUCH LESS expensive.
This town is a more difficult area to navigate alone; but if you are a well-seasoned traveler, you will do just fine. You do have the option of a guide. Most people in Tonala do not speak English, but they will try to help.
Eating here is very casual. You can be very sure that almost all of the fish dishes are excellent in most places. You can’t go wrong with garlic shrimp and an ice cold beer or a Margarita.

Cost: $50 US per person (without guide or paid lunch) OR $75 US per person (including guide and lunch with one beverage at a famous Tonalá seafood restaurant). We do not offer this  excursion on Wednesdays or Sundays, as these are Tonala’s giant (and we do mean giant!) market days.

• GUADALAJARA MUSEUM-HISTORICAL TOUR ~ Amazing Culture and Architecture

Our Museums and Historical Guadalajara Package is only offered as a Guided Tour. This all-day adventure starts with an early Bellissimo’s gourmet breakfast.

During this excursion, you will first visit Mercado Libertad, the largest in-door market in the world. Then you will stroll down the wide central avenida, with its amazing sculptures, and arrive at the cultural museum. Afterward, you will visit Magno Centro Joyero, one of the largest indoor jewelry marts in the world. You will then stroll past the magnificent Teatro Degollado to the Palacio de Gobierno. The Palacio is an architectural marvel, with ceiling murals by Mexico’s world famous artist, José Clemente Orozco.
Additionally, there are dozens of breathtaking cathedrals, especially the Metropolitan Cathedral nearby, should you wish to step in.

For lunch, pre-selected options include five outstanding restaurants serving Italian, Thai, Mexican, Argentinean, or Japanese cuisine.

Cost: $120 US per person (includes driver, guide, transportation, boxed snacks with drink, exquisite lunch & entrance fees).  Please pay directly for non-inclusive food items, alcoholic beverage and tips.

• GUADALAJARA  SHOPPING ADVENTURE ~ Shop Till You Drop at Exclusive Andares Mall

If you know where to go, Guadalajara offers some of the world’s most amazing and complete shopping malls. It also happens to have some of the best restaurants! So allow your personal concierge to arrange your day.

This is a single-stop trip. Your driver will transport you from Bellissimo’s to the famous Andares mall, located on the far side of Guadalajara. Andares is located in Puerto de Hierro, an exclusive section of the incorporated area of Zapopan.

Andares is an extravagant indoor-outdoor shopping mall. Find and buy whatever you need here. These shops are exquisite…and expensive.Visible from the mall are the glass skyscrapers of the state-of-the-art Puerto de Hierro hospital.

Cost: $50 US per person unguided. OPTIONAL CHOICE: $110 per person, which includes your driver, a guided tour and three restaurants stops: one for a Margarita or other alcoholic beverage, the second for a non-alcoholic beverage and appetizer, and the third for a non-alcoholic beverage, appetizer and nice meal. Oh, and plenty of people watching at every stop.  By prior arrangement, at the third and final restaurant, Bellissimo’s has already paid for your choice of three dishes (a veggie dish, a fish dish, and a chicken dish) as well as another non alcoholic drink).  Anything above that — such as alternate or  additional appetizers or alcoholic beverages — can be put on a separate tab for you. Also note that tips (20% is customary) are billed separately.

• SAN JUAN HOT SPRINGS ~ One of Our Most Popular Excursions!

Bellissimo’s is very lucky to be located only 20 minutes from one of the best natural hot springs in all of Mexico: San Juan Cosalá balnearios! This is one of our guests’ favorite excursions.

Our natural hot springs are a crystal clean sprawling spa facility located right on Lake Chapala. The balneario features multiple hot pools. Some areas are just for adults; some are just for children; and some are mixed. The temperature of the pools varies from 94°-104° F (34°-40° C).

There are also attractions such as a natural cave steam room, two large Jacuzzis, at least five separate mineral water pools of varying temperatures, a water park and high dive. And for an extra charge, eight separate Jacuzzis are available. One Jacuzzi has therapeutic flowers, another is infused with coffee. Still another is a mud bath, and so on. Have a massages, relax in a temazcal (indigenous sweat lodge), or have a eucalyptus facial. A poolside waiter will even bring you a beverage (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and menu dishes from the various restaurants on premise. Changing rooms, lockers, lounges, chairs, and covered tables are all provided.

Do not miss this excursion! Just let your concierge know in advance of the day you wish to go. We provide a driver to take you to spa, checked you in and show you around. You are then free to do as you please and pay as you go until your driver returns for you at your pre-specified hour. Book your massage in advance.

Cost: $200 pesos per person for round-trip transportation and introductory tour.

• TEQUILA EXPRESS TRAIN ~ Unforgettable Food, Drink, Music and More

All aboard the Tequila Express, one of the few remaining passenger trains in Mexico! We will transport you to the depot in Guadalajara, Tequila capital of the world. From there you will board the express train that travels directly to the town of Tequila, birth place of its namesake beverage. This is another of our guests’ favorite excursions.

This small-group tour takes you through the scenic agave fields to Jose Cuervo’s La Rojeña, the oldest distillery in the Americas. At the distillery, learn about the history, process and techniques in producing this world-famous liquor.

In the afternoon, enjoy in a delicious Mexican buffet lunch, accompanied by tequila tasting. The excursion concludes with a vibrant folklorico show with mariachi band and traditional dances.

The Tequila Express runs on weekends. The ride is full of characters and mariachis and — of course — Tequila and more Tequila! This excursion is very alive and colorful…something to remember forever.

Your personal concierge will make your reservations, provide transportation to and from the train depot, and assist in buying your ticket and boarding the train.

Cost: $50 per person (driver both way ~ to Guadalajara Train Depot).