Tequila route
Tequila ranks number one among the products most consumed by foreigners when visiting Mexico.
To experience the magical world surrounding this emblematic drink, there is nothing better than spending at least one day visiting the “Tequila Route”, a tourism concept that embraces history, tradition, and culture.
By law, only 5 Mexican states can produce tequila:
- Jalisco
- Guanajuato
- Tamaulipas
- Michoacan
- Nayarit
Most tequila is produced in the Tequila Valley in Jalisco.
Jalisco is home to some of the world’s most recognized tequila distilleries. Distilleries are scattered throughout the region. There are a hundred factories of emblematic tequilas such as Herradura, Cuervo, and Sauza.
What is the Tequila Route?
The Tequila Route is a tourist destination that began in 2006.
The Tequila Route is a popular multi-thematic tourist destination that combines historical, cultural, and natural wealth, full of Mexican traditions linked to the historical development of this emblematic drink.
Tequila Valley is located 1,5 hours from the city of Guadalajara. The valley is known for its great fame due to the beauty of its landscapes during the rainy season or the blooming of the blue agave in early April.
The Tequila Valley has plenty of attractions that can be visited at other times of the year, such as the so-called Otoñada del Valle de Tequila, a celebration that takes place in the Tequila Valley in the fall.
Tequila Route consists of 8 municipalities surrounding the Tequila Volcano:
- El Arenal
- Amatitán
- Tequila
- Magdalena
- San Juanito de Escobedo
- Ahualulco de Mercado
- Etzatlán
- Teuchitlán
The first 4 municipalities of this region are part of the Agave Landscape: almost 35 thousand hectares of land with huge bluish plants planted with blue agave were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
Flanked by mountains on both sides and a dormant volcano in the center, most of the distilleries are located in or near the valley towns of El Arenal, Tequila, and Amatitan. The small town of Tequila is the most popular.
Amatitan and Tequila dispute the honor of being the cradle of tequila.
Tequila Trains & Tequila Bus
The fastest and easiest way to explore the region is to take the Tequila Express train, which transports passengers through a desolate landscape of agave-filled countryside. There are two tequila trains from Guadalajara:
- José Cuervo Express: From Guadalajara to Tequila.
- Tequila Herradura Express: From Guadalajara to Amatitán.
There is also another similar tour with the Tequila Express, a regional bus service that runs from Guadalajara to the Sauza Tequila distillery in the municipality of Tequila. To travel on your own, rent a car in Guadalajara.
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