Guadalajara's Action-Packed Sundays: Charrería and Lucha Libre

Guadalajara, Mexico - When planning a trip to Guadalajara, make sure you have a full Sunday to take in the city's most exhilarating sporting events. This is when widely popular Charrería and Lucha Libre both take hold of the city, and venues crackle with energy from the crowd and performers.

Named to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, Charrería is a Mexican rodeo with deep history, as the state of Jalisco, where Guadalajara resides, is the birthplace of the Mexican horsemen known as Charros. Charrería is a way of life that originated from the herdsmen culture of the 1500s. As large estates haciendas began to break up after the Mexican Revolution, charros saw their traditions slipping away, so they formed the National Charros Association in the 1920s to keep charrería alive. Today, it's an art form demanding constant training and practice.

One way visitors can experience a charrería is with the tour company Andares de México which is owned and operated by a Charra. Every Sunday, Andares de México hosts the Charrería Tour, a four-hour experience comprised of a tour of the oldest charrería arena in Mexico located in Guadalajara's historic center, an introduction to Suertes Charras (horse shows) to learn how the professionals execute their skills, and the opportunity to ride a horse with a charro hat and take the charro oath. Rates start at $27 USD per person.

Mexican pro wrestling, or Lucha Libre, dates back to the late 1800s and is known for its colorful masks and costumes. Dedicated fans create a lively atmosphere as they cheer on top fighters like Shocker and El Satánico. La Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara is one of the best arenas to catch a full blown lucha libre event, which typically consists of three or four wrestling matches and a lively atmosphere with deafening cheers. The "good" fighters deemed brave and honest face off against the "wicked" fighters as they receive praises and boos during their acrobatic performances. Visitors can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, or at the door. Online tickets average $6 USD per person plus service fees. Tickets at the door typically start at $3 USD.

In addition to Sundays, Lucha Libre also takes place on Tuesdays when the Red Pub tour provides round-trip transport to the arena in a double-decker bus, ringside seats, and a complimentary beer or soft drink. Tickets are approximately $10 USD per person.

For additional ways to visit Guadalajara, or to view a full list of exciting tour packages, go to VisitGuadalajara.com.

About Guadalajara

The birthplace of iconic Mexican heritage including tequila and mariachi, Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico and considered the country's cultural center. Each year, tourists travel to this cosmopolitan destination to experience a plethora of attractions including nearby magical towns such as Tequila, where the popular spirit is produced; explore colonial architecture; and visit museums and small towns with exquisite crafts and artwork. Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco, which is located in the center of Mexico, 350 miles west of Mexico City and 200 miles east from Puerto Vallarta along the Pacific Ocean. The metropolitan area of Guadalajara consists of four urban districts - Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque, Tonala, and Zapopan - and three suburban districts, Tlajomulco, El Salto, and Tequila. Travel to Guadalajara is easily accessible via the Miguel Hidalgo International Airport (GDL), which is located 24 miles from the city center, with non-stop daily flights from major markets across the United States and Canada.