Juanacatlán and El Salto

On the outskirts of the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara live these two twin towns and municipalities.  Between them lies one of the prettiest sites within the metropolitan area - Juanacatlán Falls.

AMAZING!

Once one of the most impressive falls in the Americas and called the Niagara of Mexico. Situated between the two towns and seen from a noisy dusty bridge road, the falls are a shadow of their former glory. Massive influx of industries and factories surrounding the falls caused a lot of water drainage and pollution into the water which has lessened the flow of the falls themselves and also made the whole area stink rather badly.  The chemicals which were used near the water can be seen in the form of massive foamy substances by the side of the falls and the occasional floating soap suds that fly off into the sky.  This is a very sad mistreatment of a wonderful natural location.  The derelict factory buildings next to the falls now (still rather powerful - although nothing what it used to be!) beg to be turned into something and used or significantly smartened up.  The area really is rather attractive - green marshes and vegetation galore everywhere, but pollution and rubbish everywhere really lessen the impact of such a sight.

Our first stop after the falls was the very quiet and peaceful town of Juanacatlán.  Visiting on a Sunday afternoon everything seemed silent and deserted.  The church was closing presumably the mass had just finished and the people must have returned to their house.  The church itself is very pretty.  The stone tower the tallest thing around and rising in unison with a beatiful tree from the rest of the building.  Those expecting places to eat will be disappointed.  All the stands and small restaurants here were completely empty or deserted.  The busiest area seemed to be around the liquor store where drunk men were congregated and shouting loudly at each other.  It couldn't have been past 1pm!  Being the smallest town within
Guadalajara one of the most popular past times here as a youth is to ride a motorbike around the streets at very high speeds.  I suppose this is a universal way of passing the time...

Next stop was El Salto, around a five minute walk from the falls.  El Salto is an odd mix of modern buildings and ramshackle run down concrete monstrosities.  Sunday hosts a busy and bustly market full of clothes, candy, fruit, vegetables and the occasional hot food stand.  The stand out buildings are in the main square at the top of the hill.








The beautiful church looks like it has been dipped in chocolate (maybe because I was hungry) and also the municipal building which looks like a mini white house - in stark contrast to the buildings surrounding it in the town.

All in all, not the most exciting town in Jalisco by far, but worth the day trip for the waterfall.  Just hold your nose a little.





En las afueras de Guadalajara se encuentran dos pueblos que forman parte de la Zona Metropolitana: El Salto y Juanacatlán.

Estos dos pueblos comparten una cascada llamada "El Salto de Juanacatlán", que alguna vez fue comparada con las cascadas del Niagara. Fue testigo del florecimiento de diversas industrias en la zona, que convirtieron a esos pueblos en punto de atracción para negocios.

En la actualidad las cascadas no son ni la sombra de lo que alguna vez fueron - pues hay basura y desperdicios químicos en forma de espuma en el agua - pero aún así conservan su hechizo natural.

Se puede observar al cascada desde un pequeño mirador o caminando por un angosto puente de concreto; por donde también circulan carros y camiones.

Nuestra primera parada fue Juanacatlán. Es un pueblito callado, calmado y casi desierto. Visitamos la iglesia y caminamos unas cuadras alrededor de la plaza principal buscando algún lugar para comer, pero no tuvimos suerte a pesar de ser la una de la tarde. Los únicos lugares abiertos eran tiendas de abarrotes o licorerías.

Sin mucho por ver o hacer decidimos caminar hasta El Salto, cruzando de nueva cuenta por el puente que pasa por la cascada.

El Salto es un pueblo muy distinto a comparación con su vecino. El domingo es día de tianguis; se encuentra a unos metros de la plaza principal, y se pueden encontrar puestos de ropa, comida, vegetales, juguetes y demás cosas. Muchas personas por todos lados.

Comimos en un puesto de tacos, y el dueño nos dijo que eran los mejores tacos de lengua del pueblo. En verdad eran muy buenos.

La iglesia y el palacio municipal son verdaderas atracciones arquitectónicas debido a sus estructuras inesperadas, pues, por ejemplo, la iglesia parece una galleta barquillo cubierta con chocolate.

Se puede llegar fácilmente a El Salto y a Juanacatlán. Pues hay camiones urbanos que llevan directamente. Tan solo es cuestión de aguantarse la respiración un poco al estar cerca de las cascadas.