Tequila Town, Jalisco: The Complete Visitor's Guide

Hola Tequila Tour • 2026-09-24

Tequila is a Magic Town (Pueblo Mágico) in Jalisco, Mexico, about 60 km northwest of Guadalajara, and the birthplace of the drink that shares its name. Its official name is Santiago de Tequila. It sits at the foot of the Tequila volcano, surrounded by blue agave fields that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 2006. Most people visit on a day trip from Guadalajara, a little over an hour away by car or on a tour.

This guide covers what you need to plan the trip: how to get there, what to do, when to go and what else is nearby.

Tequila town at a glance

Location: the Tequila Valley in Jalisco, about 60 km northwest of Guadalajara.
Official name: Santiago de Tequila. Also called Tequila, Pueblo Tequila or the Magic Town of Tequila.
A Pueblo Mágico since 2003.
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, as part of the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila.
Tequila has had a protected Denomination of Origin since 1974, and this town is where it began.
Warm, temperate climate, with a rainy season from June to September.
Time needed: one full day, or two if you want to spend the night and see the town after dark.

Where is Tequila town?

Tequila is in central Jalisco, in the valley below the Tequila volcano on the way toward Nayarit. From Guadalajara you take the highway to Tepic, passing other agave-landscape towns such as El Arenal and Amatitán along the way.

The whole area is covered in blue agave, so the drive is part of the experience: the blue rows beside the road are what ends up in the distilleries.

How to get to Tequila from Guadalajara

There are four ways to get there. The best one depends on whether you want to drive, how much you want to spend and how much you want to see.

By car: take the Tepic toll highway (15D) or the free road (15). Without traffic it takes a little over an hour. Downtown parking fills up on weekends, so arrive early. If you plan to taste tequila, someone in the group should stay sober to drive.
By bus: buses run frequently from Guadalajara to Tequila. It is the cheapest option, but once in town you have to get to distilleries and agave fields on your own.
By train: the José Cuervo Express leaves from Guadalajara, usually on weekends, and includes a visit to its distillery. It is a premium experience with a premium price, and it sells out, so book ahead.
On a tour from Guadalajara: transport, distilleries, an agave field and free time in town in a single day, and nobody has to drive after the tastings.

We compare routes, travel times and costs in how to get to Tequila from Guadalajara.

What to do in Tequila town

Most of the highlights are within walking distance of the main square:

The main square and the Santiago Apóstol parish church, a 17th-century stone church at the heart of town.
The National Tequila Museum (MUNAT), steps from the square, which explains the history and the process before you see a distillery.
A distillery. Big names such as José Cuervo's La Rojeña, considered the oldest operating distillery in Latin America, or Casa Sauza run very polished tours. Artisanal distilleries show the process at human scale: stone ovens, the tahona mill and copper stills.
An agave field, to watch the jima: how the blue agave is harvested and its heart, the piña, is cut.
Cantaritos in Amatitán, the region's signature drink served in a clay pot. Amatitán is on the way from Guadalajara.
Buying tequila straight from the distillery shops, where you find labels that rarely reach other cities.

To choose between a big house and an artisanal distillery, read distilleries in Tequila: which ones to visit.

When is the best time to visit Tequila?

November to April: the dry season, with sunny days and cool nights, ideal for walking the town and the fields. From June to September it usually rains in the afternoon, but the landscape is greener and there are fewer visitors.

Weekdays are much quieter than Saturdays and Sundays.
The National Tequila Fair runs for about two weeks between late November and mid-December (in 2025, November 28 to December 14). Dates and program in National Tequila Fair.
During Easter week and long holiday weekends the town is packed and tours sell out.

How much time do you need in Tequila?

One full day covers the essentials: one or two distilleries, an agave field, the square, the museum and a meal in town. If you want to visit several distilleries at an easy pace, hike the volcano or see the town lit up at night, stay overnight: see where to eat and stay in Tequila.

Nearby towns worth a stop

Tequila is the center of a region with plenty more to see:

Amatitán: known for its cantaritos and historic distilleries, between Guadalajara and Tequila.
El Arenal: the gateway to the agave landscape coming from Guadalajara.
Magdalena: known for opals, with workshops and stone shops.
Teuchitlán: home to Guachimontones, an archaeological site with circular pyramids unique in Mexico.

What to see in each and how to combine them: towns near Tequila.

Visit Tequila town on a tour from Guadalajara

If you would rather not drive, the tour you can book here leaves every day at 11:30 AM from Colonia Americana or downtown Guadalajara and returns between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. It starts at $490 MXN per person and includes:

Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned van.
A guided tasting of blanco, reposado and añejo tequila at Tequilera Don Valente.
A visit to the Tres Mujeres artisanal distillery and its underground cellar.
An agave field with a jima demonstration.
Cantaritos in Amatitán.
Free time in the center of the Magic Town.

The tour is guided in Spanish. You can book online and hold your spot with a deposit. The tour is operated by Guatequi Tours; bookings are handled by Hola Tequila Tour.