How to Spend One Day in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico

Thinking about visiting the birthplace of the famous tequila drink? If so, then I hope this blog post will help you to plan how to spend one day in Tequila. The town is an excellent day trip if you’re visiting Guadalajara, the capital city of the state of Jalisco.

Surprisingly, there is plenty to see and do in Tequila even if you aren’t just here to sample the drink. You can check out all the sights in the town, visit a distillery to learn about the tequila making process and even hike to a beautiful waterfall through agave fields.

We spent 3 weeks in Guadalajara, so we had the chance to take many incredible day trips like Tequila. During this time we learnt a lot about the area and its historical significance, witnessed a few traditions and tried a ton of Mexican food. All in all, we fell in love with this area of the country. So, I hope this blog post will help you to plan your itinerary, see what to expect or convince you that you have to take a trip to Jalisco. 

Introducing the Town of Tequila, Jalisco

As you’ve probably guessed, the town of Tequila in Jalisco state is actually the birthplace of the famous ‘tequila’ drink. Tequila is made from the blue agave plant that is native to this area. It is basically a variety of ‘mezcal’, a distilled beverage. It only received the name ‘Tequila’ in 1873 to differentiate it from ‘Mezcal’, spirits that are produced in regions in the south of Mexico, such as Oaxaca.

Did you know? – All of the tequila in the world is produced in this region.

The town’s name comes from the Nahuatl word ‘Tecuilan’ which means ‘place of tributes’.

Both the town of Tequila and its surrounding area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tequila itself has also been a Pueblo Magico since 2003. Click here to learn more about Pueblo Magicos. 

How to Get to Tequila, Jalisco

If you’re visiting Tequila, you’re most likely to be based somewhere in the city of Guadalajara. Tequila is easily accessible from Guadalajara by the following modes of transportation:

By Car

Tequila is located approximately 60km to the north-west of Guadalajara. If you rent a car you can easily reach Tequila in about 1 hour / 1.5 hours by following Road 15 out of the city then Road 150 pretty much all the way to Tequila. You can find a free parking spot along the road outside of the town centre. Discover Cars has been recommended on multiple websites where you can find the best rates as it compares local, national and international companies.

Please Note – Make sure to have a responsible driver and avoid drinking and driving. 

By Bus

If you’re on a budget and/ or planning on having a few drinks in Tequila, then I highly recommend getting there via bus. The bus company to take is called ‘Tequila Plus’ and you can hop onto one from Antigua Estación Central de Autotransporte station. The buses run about every hour and will drop you off at Francisco y Madero #150 in Tequila.

One way tickets cost MX$100 or MX$120 depending on whether you’re booking the Tequila Bus or Tequila Plus. You can plan your journey by clicking here.

By Tour

There are plenty of organised day trips to Tequila you can choose from if you want to skip all the planning or you’re short on time. If you wish, you can even book the Jose Cuervo Express which is a privately owned train service between Guadalajara and Tequila with a lot of fun and tequila on board. It’s definitely the most expensive option you can take to get to Tequila. So, make sure to shop around and find the best company based on your budget and interests.

How to Spend a Day in Tequila, Jalisco

Obviously many people visit Tequila for…well…the tequila. Although the whole town is based around the famous drink, there’s definitely a lot more to do in Tequila then just sampling the spirit. Below you’ll find the perfect one day itinerary to make the most of your visit to the magical town.

1. Traverse the Town of Tequila

The town itself surprised me a lot with its charm and character. Whilst Tequila isn’t a massive place, it has a lot of beautiful landmarks that are worth checking out.

• Enjoy the atmosphere at Plaza Principal Tequila. Probably the best place to start your tour around the town is the main square. Here, you can enjoy mariachi music and performances on the bandstand. You can also find the giant ‘Tequila’ sign here to take a photo of. In addition, if there’s a festival, it will take place in this square which will be filled with stalls selling a good variety of food and drinks.
• Check out the Temple of the Purisima. Just across from the main square is a beautiful temple that was built in the 17th century. It definitely dominates the centre of Tequila so you really can’t miss it.
• Learn about the history of tequila at the National Tequila Museum (MUNAT). The museum has different spaces representing the evolution of the famous drink. 
• Walk along the pedestrianised and umbrella covered cobblestone street of Jose Cuervo. Walking along the streets of any town is a must when in Mexico. They are filled with colourful buildings, shops, restaurants and street vendors.

2. Drink Tequila in the Streets of Tequila

Whilst consuming alcohol on the streets in Mexico is illegal, it would be a crime not to grab a drink when walking around the streets of Tequila. We visited the town at the end of November which is the time period when the The National Festival of Tequila is held. The festival period usually lasts until mid December and during this time you can sample some drinks from pretty much all of the main distillers in the area.

There are many different kinds of drinks you can choose from. However, probably the most popular and must try drink is called a ‘Cantarito’. It is a very tasty cocktail made of tequila, grapefruit, orange, lime, and salt. They normally come in a beautifully decorated mug and cost around MX$75 for a small.

Top Tip – I recommend giving a second life to your mug by taking it home and planting some plants in it. Wouldn’t it be the cutest plant pot and also an amazing souvenir from your Tequila adventures?

You can walk around with your drink or just sit somewhere around the square and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere and mariachi music. 

Please Note – Make sure to stay responsible during your stay in Tequila. These drinks are very tasty and you can easily drink a bit too much if you’re not careful. Just mind the amount you can personally handle, obviously don’t drink and drive, eat plenty of food and also don’t forget to drink water.

3. Hike to Cascada Los Azules

I guess it wouldn’t be one of my blog posts if I didn’t include a quick hike, right?

Hidden in the Barranca de Tequila, among coffee, mango and banana plantations is a stunning waterfall called Cascada Los Azules. The water falls in two stages into a very inviting crystal clear pool that’s perfect to cool off in. Are you ready for a hike?

How to find Cascada Los Azules?

We definitely learnt on this first hike that hiking in Mexico isn’t as straight forward as it is in the UK.

There are normally trails, but they don’t always have signs. Therefore, the route can get confusing even when using apps like AllTrails. So, below I’ll describe how to reach the waterfalls as best as I can to help you find it more easily.

To get to the Cascada Los Azules, I recommend parking at the very end of Calle 27 de Septiembre. If you don’t have your own car then you can start your hike from Tequila too. The street will just become a dirt path that will take you to the Barranca Los Azules. You’ll know that you’re on the right path if you pass a little stand selling some cold drinks and snacks.

Follow this trail now, passing agave fields on both sides. You’ll soon reach the rim of the gorge from where the trail will be downhill. The views will be amazing so make sure to stop and appreciate the stunning vegetation. The trail will zig-zag down from here.

You’ll come to a fork in the path after walking downhill for a while. Take the left path here to reach the waterfall quicker. AllTrails suggests that you can reach the waterfall by going right too, but it’s definitely a long way around and we have no experience on how the path is that way.

After taking the left, you’ll come across another crossroads. Take the first right here from where you’ll reach Cascada Los Azules shortly.

Please Note – The path down to the pool is very steep and narrow and will require a bit of scrambling, but it’s totally worth the effort.

Once you’re done, just follow the same path all the way back to your car or the town centre. 

Top Tips for Visiting Cascada Los Azules?

• If you’re visiting on a weekend, try to do the hike in the morning for two reasons. Firstly, it gets pretty hot even during winter! Secondly, it seems like a popular place with locals because on our way back we saw many families heading to the waterfall for the afternoon taking everything with them but the kitchen sink.
• It’ll be hot, so have plenty of water and sun cream on you. (You can always purchase something from the little stand to support the locals.)
• Make sure to wear comfortable trainers because the path is rocky and can be slippery. Don’t wear flip-flops because they can be very dangerous.
• If you’re planning on having a dip in the pool, then obviously bring some swimwear and towels. 
• The path on the way back is uphill, so make sure you’re okay with that before you attempt the hike.
• Enjoy your time in nature but Leave No Trace! Whatever you bring with you, make sure you either take it home with you or dispose of it responsibly. I suggest bringing a garbage bag with you where you can collect all your waste. 
• If you’re after even more of an adrenalin rush, then check out some tours that offer mountain biking, canyoneering and even rappelling. 

4. Go On a Distillery Tour

As I mentioned before, pretty much all tequila in the world is made in the state of Jalisco. Therefore most of the major Tequila brands operate in or around the town.

As you’ve probably guessed, many of them offer tastings and tours around their distilleries. So, if you’d like to learn the step-by step tequila making process and have an insight into the machines and techniques they use then make sure to go on a distillery tour.

One of the most popular ones that’s also included in many of the tours is Jose Cuervo’s La Rojena Factory. It’s famous and convenient as it’s located in the heart of the town. The downside is the entry fee which is pretty pricey (around MX$440 + tips or higher for private tours) especially if you’re on a tighter budget. Due to the cost, we only walked around the gift shop which I highly recommend whether or not you’re taking a tour in the factory.

If you’d like to keep your cost low, but still want to learn about tequila making and want to taste some, then consider visiting Tequila Tres Mujeres Distillery. 

The entry fee is only MX$50 (plus tips) which is much cheaper than Jose Cuervo’s factory. The downside is that it’s located about 20km to the south of Tequila just after the town of Amatitan. Luckily you can book a bus ticket with ‘Tequila Plus’ buses to Amatitan and they only cost MX$50 from Tequila. From there you can book your ticket back to Guadalajara.

Top Tip – Arrive towards the end of the day and ask for an English tour. We pretty much had the entire factory to ourselves, plus we also got a private tour with extra tastings for no extra cost. Obviously if you get as lucky as us make sure to tip well. 

Additional Things to Do in Jalisco

The Guadalajara area in Jalisco is definitely a place that offers a great amount of unique activities. Therefore, if you’re in the area for a bit longer, make sure to check out some fun day trips and hikes you can easily do from the city:

• Explore Guadalajara Historic Centre – A 5km long self guided walk around Guadalajara Historic Centre connecting all attractions that you can’t miss when visiting the city.
• 8 Day Trips from the City of Guadalajara, Jalisco – 8 day trips from Guadalajara that you can’t miss.
• How to Spend a Day at Lake Chapala in Jalisco – A guide on how to spend a day at Mexico’s only freshwater lake.
• The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Barranca de Huentitán in Guadalajara, Jalisco – A detailed guide to hiking the iconic Barranca Canyon.

You can also browse my Mexico blog posts for more Mexican adventures.

Final Thoughts on One Day in Tequila

Although I’m not a huge tequila drinker, I couldn’t have enjoyed our day exploring Tequila more. Whilst I enjoyed sampling some tequila, I really loved the fact that there’s much more to do in and around the town then just drinking. Hiking to the beautiful waterfall through some agave fields was definitely a unique hiking experience but I also thoroughly enjoyed the distillery tour and learning more about how tequila is made.  

Have you ever been to Tequila before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore and what was your favourite activity? If not, would you want to visit Tequila, Jalisco? Let me know in the comments below.