ACTIVITIES

Students are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural activities both here in the historical downtown area as well as around the city of Guadalajara.  

Language and Cultural Exchange Group

For those interested in practicing their Spanish, a language and cultural exchange group is available. It is made up of other Spanish students and students studying English. Students take turns practicing language and sharing information about their culture. With many Mexican English students, you are sure to obtain a real cultural and linguistic interchange. This activity takes place in the school auditorium.
Focused Conversations
If you wish to live in Mexico, we highly recommend you gain a deeper insight of Mexican culture. You are cordially invited to lectures with lecture related discussions that follow. With the use of movies, CD ROMS, and slide shows, among others, some of the following topics are discussed daily at 3:00 p.m. with participation at no extra charge, A few typical topics are History & Culture of Guadalajara, Fiestas Mexicanas, Los Aztecas, Celebrating the Day of the Dead, and History & Culture of Mexico. 

City Tours

Exciting activities during the summer months are the walking and bus tours. They are open to the public so that students can visit with other vacationers. The tour visits many places and sites of interest around the city. Since Guadalajara sports a wealth of beautiful architecture and historical buildings, these tours are very worthwhile. Most of the sites visited are located in the downtown area, as is IMAC. There are also tours to other parts of the city and some little known, but very important sites. The tour guide informs participants about the significance and cultural points of each site. The best thing about these tours is that they are completely FREE. They are conducted on various days of the week, during both the morning and afternoon.
Salsa Lessons (free of charge)
Since all skill levels run in parallel during the class, you don´t have to attend consecutive lessons. Practice the Spanish Language and join in the fun every Friday at 6:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

Karaoke Club (free of charge)

Meet local students as you gather at the school auditorium for an evening where you will enjoy singing, practicing language or merely chatting along with the tunes of “Cielito Lindo”, “Besame Mucho”, “Guadalajara” and many of the memorable songs that have made the native Tapatío singers and authors representative legends of the most traditional Mexican folk songs. A professional music instructor conducts this event every Wednesday evening at 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

Ceramic Crafts (free of charge)
 

Would you be interested in learning the craft of ceramics during your stay in Guadalajara? This is just another one of the extracurricular activities that may be of interest to you. IMAC works with a local ceramic school that can teach you and give you pointers on how to create your own works of art. The lessons are provided FREE of charge, students only need to buy all the necessary materials. Classes are held in the afternoons and you may attend as long as you wish during the class hours,

Guitar Lessons (free of charge) 

Free guitar lessons are offered at our school. These lessons are conducted in our facilities in the evenings, on Saturdays. Students must either bring their own guitar or rent one in the city. Lessons consist of many of the most traditional Mexican ballads and songs. 

EXCURSIONS

There are also excursions offered at very reasonable, optional cost. Costs range from $20 to $80. 

Guadalajara - Tlaquepaque

Visit historical, cultural and traditional places. Los Arcos de Guadalajara, Hospicio Cabañas (Humankind Patrimony), Minerva Fountain, Republic Square, Niños Heroes Monument, the Cathedral, Expiatorio Plaza, El Palacio de Gobierno, the famous Degollado Theatre, and picturesque San Pedro Tlaquepaque with its typical arts and crafts from the region. The tour takes approximately 5 hours and is available Monday through Saturday with departure at 9:30 a.m.  

Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Lake Chapala, the largest lake in the country, is located 48 km (30 miles) southeast of Guadalajara. A visit to its towns and villages along the shore is a truly memorable experience. The town of Chapala boasts a beautiful church and pier, and has nearby Chulavista, a beautiful American residential colony. Ajijic is an old rustic town with craft shops, hand made rugs, clothing, leather goods, and silver jewelry. The tour takes approximately 6 hours, including one hour for lunch, and is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday with departure at 9:30 a.m.

Tequila

You will be taken to the land of Tequila, 48 km (30 miles) west of Guadalajara. Learn the history of Mexico’s national drink: planting, harvest, distillation, aging process, and its taste. You will visit La Roseta, the Jose Cuervo Hacienda where you can see the cultivation of the plant that is used to make tequila, the blue agave. After experiencing the Mexican ranch, you will then be taken to the processing plant where the distilling process is explained. You will also see the aging warehouses. Souvenirs and samples are available. Do not miss this unique experience. The tour takes approximately 6 hours and is available Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday with departure at 9:30 a.m.  

Tequila Express

The Chamber of Commerce of Guadalajara, Ferrocarril Mexicano and the Jalisco State Goverment have organized a unique train tour on weekends, the "Tequila Express". The trip begins at 10:30 AM at the train station located at Washington Avenue and Calz. Independencia. Once there, passengers are received with live mariachi music. Once they check in they are assigned a wagon and boarding begins at 11:00 a.m. During the trip to the town of Amatitïan (1h, 30min) snacks and complimentary drinks are offered while the mariachi bands play Mexican music. A tour guide, meanwhile, explains the history of Hacienda San Jose del Refugio (home place of "Tequila Herradura").

Once the train arrives at its destination, passengers board a bus that takes them to Hacienda San Josïe del Refugio where a tour guide shows the premises. Next, the guests visit the tequila production area, passing by the steam ovens where the agave pines are cooked, followed by the old distillery (circa 1800) where you can see all the tools and instruments of the time that were used to produce tequila, included a device pulled by a mule.

The tour includes a visit to the museum where a video is shown depicting everyday work at the hacienda. Finally, guests have a buffet lunch of Mexican dishes accompanied by a live show of folk dances, charro tricks, mariachi music, and a dance contest (winner receives a free gift from the host). Guests can sing and dance in a real Mexican atmosphere, surrounded by gardens, trees, and plants.

Magdalena, Jalisco - OPAL Mining zone

Live a different experience, visit the mine, "Santo Niño de Atocha", in the heart of the San Simon mining zone located only 9km from Magdalena, Jalisco one and a half hour from Guadalajara. Come and we'll take you into the fascinating and mysterious world that encompasses this precious gem.
The journey includes a visit to the mine where you can find your own opal inside, a visit to the workshops where we can help you polish your opal, and information, an orientation and details so you can understand, distinguish and value the different qualities of opals. Then a break will be taken and visit the gift museum where you can appreciate photographs of the different mines in the region and winning pieces from the National Craft Competition, shop for silver and gold jewellery, buy obsidian turtles with opal shells, animal figurines in opal quarry, loose stones and many other interesting things that have been prepared for you. Venture to discover and explore the magical and mysterious world that surrounds this extraordinary gem. The tour takes approximately 7 hours departing at 9:30 a.m. from outside of IMAC on Donato Guerra #180. The excursion is available every other Saturday.
Guachimontones Pyramids Teuchitlan Jalisco, Mexico.
The “Guachimontones” are located in Teuchitlan, just one hour and 30 minutes from Guadalajara. It is considered as one of the most important archaeological zones of Mexico. This complex was built around 200 B.C. and 400 A.D.
“Guachimontan” means “closed place”, making reference to the constructions found in the area: circle shaped ruins. This is the only archaeological site in Mexico where the public is allowed to visit while the excavations are being performed. You visit the Teuchitlan Museum, where several artifacts of the inhabitants of the Guachimontones are found. Here you will see the archaeological site in a scale model, showing the 9 round pyramids. After visiting this museum, you visit the archaeological site for an interesting and unusual experience. An archaeologist working on the site will give you an extensive explanation of the area.
The tour takes approximately 6 hours and is available on Saturdays departing at 10:00 a.m.

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