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Petroglyphs, delightful hot springs and an ephemeral lake

pg8bLas Piedras Labradas has long been an ideal stop during the long drive from Guadalajara to Barra de Navidad.

After hours of winding roads through the hills south of Autlán, you finally reach the small town of La Conchita (about nine kilometers before La Huerta).

It’s at this point that a long, straight stretch of highway opens up before you—an ideal moment to veer off the road, navigate your way through peaceful mango orchards, and arrive at the base of a sheer marble wall covered in dozens of strange petroglyphs. These carvings depict everything from dogs and frogs to a large figure that resembles a bizarre mix of the old comic-strip character Nancy and an astronaut with a Mafalda hairdo.


Ocho Cascadas: Jalisco’s beautiful & poetic mountain waterfall escape

These picturesque cascades are only a 28-kilometer drive from the south shore of Lake Chapala. I first visited them years ago, but I never included them in my books for these two reasons:

1. The road is hopelessly muddy during the rainy season.

2. It would have taken 20 pages to describe how to reach the falls from the Mazamitla highway.

Guadalajara pause for cyclists on epic trans-America trek

A neighbor of mine is a member of Warmshowers, an international organization that connects long-distance cyclists with hosts who offer a free place to rest and clean up. The other day, he invited me to meet two young men from Cork, Ireland, who were biking from Vancouver, Canada, to Ushuaia, Argentina—a journey of 12,641 kilometers.

The Huaxtla Car and Bike Route: A scenic drive par excellence

Some time ago, I stumbled upon a country road that might just be the most beautiful drive in the greater Guadalajara area. This 25-kilometer stretch north of the city connects Highways 23 and 54, offering stunning views of the Huaxtla Canyon. Along the way, it opens up a world of hiking, biking, picnicking, and even canyoneering opportunities.

Jalisco’s Highlands hide a wealth of wonders

All five of Mexico’s major ecosystems converge in the state of Jalisco.  And while the beaches, volcanoes and forests may get most of the attention, the semi-arid highlands of Los Altos offer their own quiet drama—sun-drenched ruins, mysterious rock art and sweeping views that stretch for miles.

‘We did the impossible’: A Mexican innovation that could end the plastic plague

It seems the world is being smothered by microplastics. Our oceans are full of them. Fish are ingesting them. Our clothes are shedding them. And here in Mexico, the ubiquitous leaf blower stirs up clouds of plastic particles for us to breathe. A little of it enters our bodies every time we eat or drink from plastic containers.