Guadalajara: Western Highlands and the Light of Jalisco

Guadalajara sits at 1,566 meters in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, with Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake at 1,078 square kilometers, 45 kilometers to the south. The lake provides the main flat-water photography near the city: from the Malecón in Chapala town, the horizon extends over open water to the south-facing shore. Cerro del Cuatro, 15 kilometers southeast at 2,243 meters, gives a panoramic view of the city and the valley. The historic Hospicio Cabañas faces east on the Plaza Tapatía; golden morning light enters the interior through east windows for about 35 minutes after sunrise. At 20.7°N, golden hour lasts 23 minutes. The tequila-producing town of Tequila, 50 kilometers west at 1,200 meters, offers agave fields and the Tequila volcano (2,920 m) as sunset subjects in the Jalisco highlands.