Malinalco

With my new friend, tour guide, and traveling companion, Roberto, I visited one of the best preserved and most powerful Aztec archeological sites near the town of Malinalco. The mountaintop temple served as the location where elite Eagle and Jaguar warriors were initiated in elaborate ceremonies from 1476 until the Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish in 1521.

Tequila and Guadalajara

I finally left Sayulita and made my way inland. First stop: Tequila, a town recognized worldwide for producing the famous agave-distilled liquor. Just like Champagne in France, tequila is produced exclusively in the state of Jalisco in the area surrounding Tequila. After a brief stop to taste the local beverage and pick up some amazing reposado for the journey, I made my way to Guadalajara, the second most populist city in Mexico. Guadalajara, the state capital of Jalisco, is a hub of art and culture as well as being the birthplace of mariachi.