Tequila, Jalisco sits 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Guadalajara, and it is the most popular day trip from the city. You can piece it together yourself with buses and taxis, or you can join a tequila tour from Guadalajara that handles transport, distilleries and tastings so nobody has to drive after the third glass. This guide covers the guided option: what it includes, what it costs, what the day actually looks like, and why the stop for cantaritos in Amatitán ends up being everyone’s favorite part.
We write this from an unusual vantage point: one of the departure points for the tour is C. Mexicaltzingo 1182, the same address as Nora Hotel & Coliving. We see the vans leave every morning and hear guests describe the day when they come back.
What is a tequila tour in Jalisco?
A tequila tour is a one-day trip from Guadalajara into the region where tequila is made, listed by UNESCO in 2006 as the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila. Along the road, the tour stops at each place that explains the spirit from start to finish: the field where blue agave grows, the distillery where it is cooked and fermented, the cellar where it rests and the table where you taste it.
What does the tequila tour from Guadalajara include?
Our reference is the tequila tour from Guadalajara run by Hola Tequila Tour, which departs daily all year round and is the one our guests recommend most. It includes:
- Round-trip transport Guadalajara → Tequila → Guadalajara in modern air-conditioned vans.
- Guided tasting at Tequilera Don Valente: blanco, reposado and añejo, with an explanation of how each one changes.
- Tres Mujeres artisan distillery, including the largest underground cellar in the Tequila region.
- Agave field with a jima demonstration: watch a jimador strip the leaves with a coa until only the agave heart is left.
- Free time in the Pueblo Mágico of Tequila to walk the center, the Santiago Apóstol church and the market.
- Cantaritos in Amatitán, the most festive stop of the day.
- A guide for the whole trip.
Important: the tour is guided in Spanish
The tour is guided in Spanish only. If you don’t speak Spanish, the landscapes, the tasting and the cantaritos are just as enjoyable, but the explanations of the production process will be in Spanish. Lunch and drinks beyond the tastings are not included either, so bring extra cash.
Tequila tour itinerary, hour by hour
| Time | Stop | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | Departure from Guadalajara | Colonia Americana or Mexicaltzingo |
| 12:30 PM | Tequilera Don Valente | Tasting of blanco, reposado and añejo |
| 2:30 PM | Tres Mujeres artisan distillery | Production process and underground cellar |
| 3:30 PM | Agave field | Blue agave jima demonstration |
| 4:00 PM | Town of Tequila | Free time for lunch and a walk |
| 6:00 PM | Cantaritos in Amatitán | The regional drink, served in a clay jar |
| 7:30 PM | Return | Back in Guadalajara between 7:00 and 8:00 PM |
The 11:30 start is a quiet advantage: no early alarm, a relaxed breakfast in Guadalajara, and you reach Tequila right at lunchtime, when the restaurants in the center are at their best.
Cantaritos tour: the stop in Amatitán
Amatitán is a small town halfway between Guadalajara and Tequila, on the same highway. Cantaritos there are not just another cocktail: they are a weekend tradition, with huge open-air palapas, live music and clay jars the size of a flowerpot.
What is a cantarito?
A cantarito is made with blanco tequila, fresh lime, orange and grapefruit juice, grapefruit soda, salt and ice, served in a clay jar that is soaked beforehand to keep the drink cold. It is close to a paloma, with more fresh citrus and an earthy note from the clay. For the full recipe, see what Amatitán cantaritos are and how they are made.
How much does a tequila tour from Guadalajara cost?
The shared tour with cantaritos costs from $490 MXN per person (about $25 USD). You hold your spot with a $200 MXN deposit online and pay the balance on the day. Here is how that compares with the other common options:
| Option | Price per person | Transport | Cantaritos in Amatitán | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tour with cantaritos | From $490 MXN | Included, round trip | Yes | Couples, friends and solo travelers |
| On your own by bus | $400 – 600 MXN with entries | Bus from Central Nueva | Only if you stop yourself | Travelers with time to spare |
| Tour with lunch included | $800 – 1,400 MXN | Included | Depends on the operator | Those who want everything sorted |
| José Cuervo Express train | From $800 MXN | Train, weekends only | No | A premium branded experience |
| Private tour | $2,500 MXN or more | Private vehicle | Your choice | Groups and special occasions |
On top of the ticket, budget $250 to $450 MXN for lunch in Tequila, plus whatever you spend on bottles. The full breakdown is in this guide to how much a tequila tour costs.
Where does the tequila tour leave from in Guadalajara?
- Downtown — Mexicaltzingo: C. Mexicaltzingo 1182, 44180. The entrance of Nora Hotel & Coliving, a 10-minute walk from the Historic Center.
- Colonia Americana: Alfredo R. Plascencia 78, 44600. Handy if you are staying around Chapultepec or Americana.
If the tour is a big reason for your trip, staying in the Mexicaltzingo neighborhood removes the morning commute: walk downstairs and step into the van. Not sure where to base yourself? Compare the best neighborhoods in Guadalajara.
Guided tour or on your own?
- Take the tour if you plan to drink, it is your first time in the region, you want to see a cellar and an agave harvest, or you are traveling solo.
- Go on your own if you need an English-speaking experience, want to visit a specific distillery like La Rojeña or Casa Herradura, or plan to spend the night in Tequila.
- Take the train if you want a branded show with food and don’t mind paying more and going on a weekend.
What you will taste: blanco, reposado and añejo
Blanco comes straight from the still and tastes of cooked agave; reposado rests 2 to 12 months in oak and picks up vanilla; añejo rests over a year and is sipped like a cognac. To arrive with a trained palate, read how to taste blanco, reposado and añejo tequila.
Tips for your tequila tour
- Eat a real breakfast before 11:30: the first tasting comes before lunch.
- Bring cash for lunch, extra cantaritos and bottles from small shops.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the agave field is loose soil and Tequila’s center is cobblestone.
- Sunscreen and a hat: there is no shade in the field.
- Book ahead for Mexican holiday weekends, Easter week and December.
- Flying home? Check bottles in your suitcase, wrapped in clothes.
For the full packing list and meeting times, see what to bring on a tequila tour, and to plan your free time, this guide on things to do in Tequila, Jalisco.
Tequila tour FAQ
How long is the tequila tour from Guadalajara?
A full day. It leaves at 11:30 AM and gets back to Guadalajara between 7:00 and 8:00 PM, about eight hours in total.
Does the tequila tour include cantaritos?
The Hola Tequila Tour trip includes a stop at Cantaritos in Amatitán at 6 PM. Not every tour does, so confirm before booking.
Is the tequila tour in English?
No, it is guided in Spanish. The tasting and the scenery need no translation, but the explanations will be in Spanish.
Does the tour include lunch?
No. Tequila tastings are included; lunch in Tequila is paid separately, usually $250 to $450 MXN.
Are there tours every day?
Yes, departures run every day of the year, unlike the José Cuervo Express train, which only runs on weekends.
Ready to go? Check available dates and book directly with Hola Tequila Tour. If you are weighing how long to stay, our guide to the cost of living in Guadalajara helps with the budget.
Ready to see Tequila and toast with cantaritos in Amatitán?
Book the tequila tourThe tour leaves from Nora’s front door. Stay in Mexicaltzingo the night before.
See rooms at Nora