After going camping outside Guadalajara with a Mexican friend, I wanted to experience more of everyday local life, so I decided to visit Parque Agua Azul in Guadalajara.
I also came across an exhibition that I had not expected to see. In this post, I will share my visit to Parque Agua Azul and the nearby Casa de las Artesanías de Jalisco.
Table of Contents
Parque Agua Azul
Getting There & First Impressions
On the way to Parque Agua Azul, I saw a huge piece of graffiti. I mentioned this in a previous post as well, but Guadalajara has many surprisingly high-quality graffiti artworks scattered throughout the city.
Parque Agua Azul is an urban park located about 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) south of Guadalajara’s historic center, or Centro. At first, I considered visiting Parque Revolución, which is closer to the city center, but I eventually chose Parque Agua Azul because it appeared to be larger.
A Small Local Moment
Before heading there, I stopped at a convenience store and bought a sandwich and a drink for lunch. While I was sitting alone on a bench and eating, a local person walking past me said, “Provecho.”
“Provecho” is commonly used in Mexico to mean something similar to “Enjoy your meal.” People may even say it to strangers sitting at a nearby table in a restaurant. When someone says it to you, there is no need to feel confused. You can simply reply, “Gracias,” which means “Thank you.” If the other person is also eating, you can respond by saying “Provecho” back to them.
Atmosphere & Park Features
I visited the park on a weekday afternoon, so I expected to see many older people spending time there. However, perhaps elderly Mexicans do not normally gather in parks like this, because there were far more students who seemed to have arrived after finishing school.
The name Agua Azul means “blue water” in Spanish: agua means water, while azul means blue. However, I could not find any blue water anywhere in the park. There was still a small lake with a fountain, and many different types of plants grew around it, so it was enjoyable to look around.
The park itself is not particularly large. You can probably walk around the entire area in about 20 to 30 minutes. However, it contains several attractions and cultural facilities, including a butterfly house, an aviary, an orchid house, and a performance venue.
Facilities & Condition
I had heard that visitors could experience a dreamlike atmosphere inside the butterfly house while being surrounded by countless butterflies, so I wanted to see it. Unfortunately, I could not enter. I was not sure whether it was outside the opening hours or whether the facility was simply not being properly maintained.
There were also several other buildings apart from the themed exhibition halls. Strangely, every building seemed empty and almost abandoned. The weather was also becoming cloudy, and it looked as if it might start raining, so I reluctantly decided to leave the park.
Casa de las Artesanías de Jalisco
The Casa de las Artesanías de Jalisco is located directly beside Parque Agua Azul, so I stopped by on my way out. It is a cultural space created to support local artists and preserve the traditional handicrafts of Jalisco. Anyone can enter for free after writing their name in the guestbook.
Why It Stood Out
Personally, I enjoy handicrafts much more than paintings, so I found the exhibition very interesting. Perhaps it is because you can more clearly feel how much time and effort the artist has invested in creating every small detail.
There were especially many traditional handicrafts made by the Huichol people, an Indigenous community living in Jalisco and other parts of west-central Mexico. Huichol art is particularly known for its colorful works made with yarn and beads.
Traditional Crafts & Highlights
Ceramics are also surprisingly well developed as a form of traditional Mexican art. In Jalisco, the pottery produced in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá is especially famous.
One of the most impressive pieces in the exhibition used dyed leather as a canvas. The artist combined relief work and embroidery to create a complete picture. I really liked the unusual technique and the amount of detail in the work.
On the first floor, various artworks were displayed in a somewhat random arrangement, which made the space feel slightly cluttered. Among them, the sculpture made by joining together pieces of scrap metal immediately caught my attention.
I also took a photo of a cute sword set decorated with an axolotl, a type of salamander sometimes known by the Japanese nickname “wooper looper.” I liked the vivid colors and the design featuring a blue ocean, whales, sharks, and other marine creatures.
Unique Materials & Cultural Elements
Opposite the handicraft exhibition room, there was also what could probably be described as a souvenir shop. In any case, it was a space where works made by artists from Jalisco were both displayed and sold.
Corn originated in Mexico and has been an essential crop for Mexican people from ancient times until today. Mexicans have a great love for corn, and they even create handicrafts using corn husks.
I had often seen sculptures made from paper or wood, but this was my first time seeing works created from corn leaves and husks. Unexpectedly, the material had a very warm and distinctive texture, which I really liked.
The Mexican love and pride for corn is so strong that there were even pendants shaped like ears of corn. At first, I wondered why anyone would wear something like that, but the more I looked at them, the more strangely cute they seemed.
More Artistic Pieces
There was also a chessboard and a set of chess pieces based on traditional Mexican ceramic techniques. The set was attractive enough to be displayed purely as decoration, but you could also use it to play chess, making it both practical and decorative.
Sacred rituals practiced by the Maya and Aztec civilizations could also be considered an important part of Mexico’s traditional culture. Ceremonial masks and other objects once used during these rituals continue to influence Mexican art today. It was especially interesting to see styles that combined traditional cultural elements with modern design.
Another piece on display was an Árbol de la Vida, or Tree of Life, one of Mexico’s traditional ceramic artworks. During the early Spanish colonial period, these sculptures were originally used to teach Indigenous people stories from the Book of Genesis, including the story of Adam and Eve. Today, however, artists create Trees of Life in many different forms and designs.
Visitor Information
- Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Closed on weekends
- Admission : Free
- Check Exhibitions and Visitor Information on the Official Casa de las Artesanías de Jalisco Website
Final Thoughts
It was a day when I could enjoy both the relaxed atmosphere of a local park and the appeal of Jalisco’s traditional art.
Parque Agua Azul was interesting because of its variety of plants, but the overall condition and maintenance of the park were disappointing. For that reason, I would not necessarily describe it as a must-visit attraction in Guadalajara.
However, the Casa de las Artesanías de Jalisco is located right beside the park and offers free admission. For travelers interested in Mexican handicrafts, ceramics, or local art, visiting both places together could still be a worthwhile option.
HDND travel
Journeys, Kept Fresh
