Nature reserve 28 km west of Tlaquepaque
A 30,500-hectare pine-oak forest and UNESCO biosphere reserve on Guadalajara's western edge, with trails and warm streams.
The Bosque La Primavera is the great forest on Guadalajara's western edge, a protected area of about 30,500 hectares that has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2006. It covers the Sierra La Primavera, a young volcanic range formed by eruptions between roughly 120,000 and 20,000 years ago, with elevations from about 1,400 to 2,200 meters.
Most of the reserve is pine and oak forest, with patches of cloud forest in the stream valleys of the west. More than 740 plant species have been recorded, including most of Jalisco's orchids, along with around 200 kinds of birds. The volcanic ground also heats some of the water: the reserve has springs and warm streams, and the Río Caliente is the best known.
For people in the metro area it is the closest real forest, used for hiking, mountain biking and picnics. A small part of the reserve is set aside for public use, with marked trails and visitor areas; the rest is protected.
What to see and do
Hike one of the marked trails through the pine and oak forest.
Ride the mountain-bike routes, popular on weekend mornings.
Look for birds early in the day; bring binoculars.
Visit the warm-water areas such as the Río Caliente where access is allowed.
Take your trash with you and do not light fires; the forest is prone to wildfires in the dry season.
Getting there
The reserve's eastern edge is about 40 minutes to an hour west of Tlaquepaque by car, depending on traffic and which entrance you use; the main access points are off the roads leaving Zapopan toward the west. Public transport only reaches the edges. Some areas close during the wildfire season or after fires, so check current access with the reserve's management before going.
28 km west of Tlaquepaque
Directions from Tlaquepaque on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Bosque La Primavera
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Bosque La Primavera.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Bosque La Primavera.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Photos
Weather mild
Bosque La Primavera shares the climate of Tlaquepaque, 28 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make Tlaquepaque your base
Bosque La Primavera is an easy trip from Tlaquepaque, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Tlaquepaque
-
Tonalá
· Town · 7 km away
Jalisco's great pottery town, with a huge crafts street market on Thursdays and Sundays and a national ceramics museum. -
Barranca de Huentitán
· Nature reserve · 11 km away
A deep canyon on Guadalajara's northern edge; from the Mirador Independencia a steep stone path drops to the Santiago River. -
El Ixtépete
· Archaeological site · 14 km away
A small pre-Hispanic site in Zapopan with a stepped pyramid base, surrounded by city avenues; entry is free. -
Cajititlán
· Town · 23 km away
A lagoon town south of the city, famous for its Three Kings festival in January, with a lakeside walk and boat rides.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.