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Tequila is a working distillery town, so the main things to do all revolve around how the agave spirit is made, from the fields to the barrel. Most visitors pair a distillery tour with a stop at the national tequila museum and a wander through the historic center. Distillery tours run in both Spanish and English, and the biggest ones sit within a short walk of the main square. The neighborhoods guide will help you get oriented once you arrive.
Things to Do in Tequila: Distilleries and Tequila Experiences
La Rojeña (José Cuervo) Distillery
La Rojeña is the oldest distillery in Latin America, operating since 1758, and it anchors the Mundo Cuervo complex in the town center. The Classic Experience costs MXN 345 per adult (MXN 80 for minors) for a 45-to-60-minute walk through the production line, while the José Cuervo Experience at MXN 585 adds a 90-minute tasting of the Tradicional line. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; book at the Mundo Cuervo office or on mundocuervo.com.
Casa Sauza (La Perseverancia)
Casa Sauza, founded in 1873, runs tours of its La Perseverancia distillery and the Quinta Sauza estate on the edge of town. Tours cover the jimadores (agave harvesters) and the copper-still distillation process, with tastings of the Sauza line. Expect to pay around MXN 300 to 500 depending on the package, with English tours on a set daily schedule.
Casa Herradura in Amatitán
Casa Herradura sits in the neighboring town of Amatitán, about 10 km from Tequila along the agave-lined highway. The hacienda dates to 1870 and still ferments in the original brick ovens, a rarity among industrial producers. Tours run MXN 300 to 400 and include a look at the old barrels and a tasting. Take a local bus or taxi from the main square, roughly 20 minutes each way.
Things to Do in Tequila: Museums and Culture
Museo Nacional del Tequila (MUNAT)
The National Tequila Museum, on the main square at José Cuervo 33, traces the drink from pre-Hispanic fermented agave to today’s global industry across five rooms. Entry is around MXN 35, and it’s open Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Budget 45 minutes, and note that most signage is in Spanish, so pick up an audio guide if you want English context.
Parroquia Santiago Apóstol
This 18th-century parish church faces the main plaza and is the town’s visual centerpiece, with a stone facade and a tower you can photograph from the plaza kiosk. It’s free to enter during the day, and it hosts the July 25 patron-saint festivities, covered in our events and festivals guide. Mass times vary, so pop in between services.
Mundo Cuervo and the Juan Beckmann Cultural Center
The Mundo Cuervo complex wraps La Rojeña and includes the Juan Beckmann Cultural Center, a free museum space with rotating exhibitions on agave culture and Mexican art. It’s open most days alongside the distillery, and its shop is one of the best places in town to buy limited-edition Reserva de la Familia bottles.
Things to Do in Tequila: Outdoors and the Agave Landscape
Tequila Volcano (Volcán de Tequila)
The 2,920-meter (9,580 ft) Tequila volcano looms over the town and is a day hike for fit visitors. The standard route starts from the La Toma trailhead on the northeast flank and gains about 800 meters over 8 km round trip, taking 5 to 6 hours. Go with a guide or an experienced group, start by 6:00 am to beat the heat, and carry at least 2 liters of water. Pick a dry window using the weather by month data, since the trail turns slick after rain.
Agave Landscape Viewpoint and Jimador Demonstrations
The UNESCO-listed agave landscape, inscribed in 2006, stretches for kilometers around town. The scenic lookout on the road toward Amatitán gives a panorama of blue agave rows against the volcano. Several fincas run jimador demonstrations where you can watch an agave harvester trim a mature piña with the traditional coa blade; these are usually bundled into distillery field tours like the José Cuervo Agave Fields experience at MXN 1,305 per adult. If you want to stay out by the fields, the where to stay in Tequila guide lists the hacienda hotels.
Things to Do in Tequila: Train Rides from Guadalajara
José Cuervo Express
The José Cuervo Express is a luxury tourist train that runs between Guadalajara and Tequila on Saturdays, with a bus leg for the return or outbound trip. General class starts around MXN 3,250 per adult and includes the train ride, an agave-field stop, the La Rojeña tour, and tastings; premium cabins run higher. Book well in advance at mundocuervo.com, and sort bus versus train logistics with our travel tips and FAQ guide.
Tequila Express (Classic Train)
The original Tequila Express train runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Guadalajara’s station at 10:00 am, arriving in about two hours. A train-only ticket starts at MXN 1,150 per person, while a round trip with a distillery visit starts around MXN 2,350. The all-inclusive Saturday tour with agave fields, mariachi, and folk ballet runs about MXN 3,900 per person. For a seasonal rundown of the best months to visit, see our best time to visit Tequila guide.
