A quiet town in the Altos de Jalisco highlands, 95 km east of Guadalajara.
EventThe town cemetery gets ready to welcome families on November 1 and 2
Delegado de San José de Gracia (Facebook)
Pedro Moreno Street rehabilitation finished with hydraulic concrete, new water and drainage lines
Semanario 7 Días
Projal's Plan Impulso Económico: business loans from $20,000 to $100,000
Delegación San José de Gracia (Facebook)
Senderos Seguros survey on safety around schools in Tepatitlán
Delegación San José de Gracia (Facebook)
Nestled at about 1,900 meters above sea level in the municipality of Tepatitlán, San José de Gracia is a historic town of cobblestone streets, the centuries-old Parroquia de San José, and the kind of unhurried warmth the Altos de Jalisco are known for. Come for a weekend, stay for the coquitas (a local shot of cola and cane alcohol), the tequila, and the homemade chorizo and cheese.
San José de Gracia has been shaped by faith, family, and the rhythms of the highlands for over two centuries. This short film captures its soul.
The town's fiestas through the year, starting with the next one.
See the details →
December 12Día de la Virgen de GuadalupeMañanitas to the Virgin the night of the 11th, then mass and pilgrims through the day.
December 16 to 24Las PosadasNine nights of posadas with candles, songs, piñatas and ponche.
March or AprilSemana Santa (Holy Week)Processions through the old streets and the Via Crucis on Good Friday.
May 1 to 10Fiesta Patronal de San JoséThe town's biggest fiesta, for Saint Joseph: masses, processions, music and fireworks in the plaza. His feast day is March 19, but the town holds no fiestas during Lent.
September 15 and 16Fiestas Patrias (Mexican Independence)Music and lights in the jardín, the Grito on the night of the 15th and a parade on the 16th.
Every Sunday: the tianguis fills the center with fruit, local cheese, handmade tortillas and antojitos.
Images: the Virgin of Guadalupe (1531), Murillo's Saint Joseph and El Greco's Christ Carrying the Cross, all public domain; the plaza during the fiestas patrias (2023) by Jaime Murillo; the jardín and a lane on Día de Muertos (2026) and a catrina at the Parroquia (2025), by Luz Gutiérrez Murillo; piñatas by Víctor Emilio Rodríguez Velasco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Our apartment in the center of San José, hosted by us.
★ 4.9 · Guest favorite
San José de Gracia, Jalisco
Bright 2BR/1BA apartment steps from the historic plaza and the Parroquia de San José. New appliances, A/C, keyless entry. Perfect for couples, families, or remote workers.
On the Baja coast: we also host the MG Beach House in Rosarito, with Pacific views.
See it on Airbnb
Detailed guides for first-time visitors and returning paisanos alike.
Take the Carretera Tepatitlán (Federal 80D, toll road) to Tepatitlán, then follow the signs to San José de Gracia. About 95 km, 1 h 45 min, and roughly $150 MXN in tolls.
Buses to Tepatitlán leave often from the Nueva Central (about 1 h 30 min, around $200 MXN). From Tepa, a local line or a ride into town takes about 30 min.
Guadalajara airport (GDL) is about 110 km away, roughly 1 h 45 min by car. There are rental cars at the airport, and Uber and DiDi reach Tepatitlán reliably.
Full guide to getting here → Directions in Google Maps
