Car Rental at Guadalajara Airport

Airport travel guide

Mexico’s second largest city is often overlooked by foreign visitors but has plenty to offer to any curious traveler. From a long and varied history to interesting architecture and beautiful nature just outside the city, there’s a lot to explore. These are four of the most interesting attractions in and around Guadalajara:

• Guadalajara Cathedral. Built not long after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption is one of the most impressive buildings in this part of Mexico. As it was renewed several times over the centuries, it is made up of a variety of architectural styles and is just as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside.
• Guadalajara Hospicio Cabañas (Museum Cabañas). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is one of the oldest and largest hospital complexes on the Americas Continent — and a Guadalajara landmark. Built in the 18th century, don’t miss the exterior architecture, chapel, courtyards, and monumental frescoes painted by one of the most famous Mexican artists of all time, José Clemente Orozco.
• Colomos Forest. From snow-capped mountains to endless grasslands and beautiful beaches, there’s plenty of impressive nature in the state of Jalisco of which Guadalajara is the capital. However, some of it can also be found within the city. The best example of that is a Colomos Forest, a public nature area and a conservation site. One of the largest urban green zones in Mexico, it is made up of a very diverse primeval forest that’s crisscrossed by hiking paths. 
• Guachimontones Ruins. A pre-Columbian site to the west of Guadalajara, Guachimontones provides an insight into the lives of some of the oldest civilizations of Mexico (unlike many other famous native sites of Mexico, it was abandoned for centuries before the Europeans arrived). The site is best known for its unique religious structures like La Iguana. A trip from the city takes about one hour.

Top international routes

• Mexico City
• Tijuana
• Los Angeles
• Monterrey
• Cancun
• Houston
• Puerto Vallarta
• Dallas
• San Jose del Cabo
• Miami

Main airlines

Volaris, VivaAerobus, Aeromexico, Aeromar, Interjet, and TAR Aerolineas

Terminals

The single passenger terminal serves all domestic and international flights. The terminal is divided into Concourses A and C, and you can easily walk between them.

Location

Guadalajara Airport is about 16km (10 miles) from downtown Guadalajara. Highways 44 and 23 are the main roads connecting the airport to the city. It takes around half an hour to make the trip to Guadalajara.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $18 per day
• Medium cars - from $20 per day
• Large cars - from $20 per day
• Premium cars - from $39 per day
• SUVs - from $30 per day
• Vans - from $52 per day

Car rental desks

Most car rental companies located at the airport have shuttles that take their customers to their locations. Most are located along the same road very close to the terminal. National requires just a short walk outside of the terminal to their rental desk. Finally, America Car Rental provides a meet and greet service as it is located a few kilometers from the airport.

Services and facilities

You’ll find a number of stores, including a duty-free shop in the departures area, as well as cafés, restaurants, and snack bars. There are also several ATMs, two currency exchanges, a couple of hotels that are right next to the airport, a baggage wrapping service, and a pharmacy. Guadalajara Airport is well equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

A Pemex gas station is located right next to Guadalajara Airport. It, however, might not be the most convenient when returning a rental car as you must exit heading away from the airport and there is no place to turn around before entering the Chapala-Guadalajara highway.

Another Pemex location located at Carretera Solidaridad 1853 is directly on the way from the city to the airport about 3km from the rental car returns.

If returning a car to American Car Rental, a Pemex station is located right beside it.

Popular one-way rentals

• Puerto Vallarta (344 km / 214 miles)
• Colima (207 km / 129 miles)
• Aguascalientes (221 km / 137 miles)
• Mexico City (540 km / 336 miles)
• Leon (223 km / 140 miles)
• Queretaro (383 km / 238 miles)