Tequila is the easiest big day out from Guadalajara: a town of blue agave fields, working distilleries and a UNESCO-listed landscape, roughly 65 km northwest of the city. The real question is how to go. We compare the Jose Cuervo Express, the Tequila Herradura Express, guided van tours and the do-it-yourself bus, so you can pick the one that fits your budget and how much you want to drink, walk and see. Prices below are approximate, as of 2026.
If you would rather book a guided day with transport, tastings and an English-speaking guide handled for you, browse the Tequila tours from Guadalajara on GetYourGuide, which has a good spread of distillery and agave-field departures. For the wider picture of the city, start with our Guadalajara guide and the other day trips from Guadalajara.
The four ways to do it at a glance
| Option | Cost (2026, approx.) | Door to door | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Cuervo Express | MXN $3,250 general to $4,810 Elite | About 11 hours, Saturdays | All-inclusive, music, no planning |
| Tequila Herradura Express | Check the operator (2024 fares MXN $1,900-2,100) | About 7 hours, weekends | Cheaper train, Herradura distillery in Amatitan |
| Guided van tour | From about USD $65 | 8-10 hours | Several stops, tastings, a guide, no driving |
| DIY bus | Bus MXN $80-120 each way, plus distillery tours | 1-1.5 hours each way | Flexibility, lowest cost, choosing your own distilleries |
Jose Cuervo Express
The Jose Cuervo Express is the better known of the two trains. It leaves from the Guadalajara station on Saturdays (about 9 am), runs to the town of Tequila and returns in the evening, with a whole-day programme built around the Cuervo brand: tequila cocktails on board, live mariachi and regional music, a tour of the La Rojena distillery, lunch, and time in the town.
Per the official operator, Mundo Cuervo, Saturday fares in 2026 run from MXN $3,250 for the general class and MXN $2,680 for youths (6 to 17) up through Premium Plus (MXN $3,670), Diamante (MXN $4,440) and Elite (MXN $4,810). A separate special-theme railcar has been priced around MXN $4,850 on selected dates. Dates are published in batches, so a Saturday you want may not be on sale yet; book as early as the calendar allows, especially around holidays.
Verdict: a polished, festive day that suits groups and first-timers who want everything arranged. It is the most expensive option and the most Cuervo-centred; you will see one brand’s distillery, not several.
Tequila Herradura Express
The Tequila Herradura Express follows a similar idea on a different rail line and with a different brand. It runs between Guadalajara and the Casa Herradura hacienda in Amatitan, a few kilometres before the town of Tequila, with a distillery tour, tasting, lunch and folk music and dancing. Past schedules have shown a morning departure around 11 am and a return around 6 pm.
We could not find a published 2026 fare. The most recent figures we can source are from 2024: about MXN $1,900 for the family-friendly Premium car and about MXN $2,100 for the adults-only Club car. Treat those as a floor and confirm with the operator before relying on them. The train tends to sell out ahead of weekends, so do not leave it to the last week.
Verdict: a lower-cost train day, with a stronger focus on the distillery at the heart of the Herradura operation, but it does not enter the town of Tequila itself as the Cuervo train does.
Guided van tours
For most travellers who do not want to organise anything but also do not want a 11-hour party train, a small-group van or minibus tour is the best balance. Typical full-day departures from Guadalajara cost from about USD $65 (as of 2026) and usually include:
- Hotel or central pickup and return transport
- A distillery tour with tastings, commonly at one of the large houses and sometimes a smaller artisan producer
- A stop in the blue agave fields, often with a demonstration of how a jimador cuts the leaves and harvests the piña
- Time in Tequila town for lunch (usually not included) and the plaza
Our Guadalajara tours roundup lists the better-reviewed operators across the city, and the Guadalajara tours on GetYourGuide show live prices and free-cancellation terms. Choose a smaller group (12 to 20 people) over a coach if you want more time with the guide; check whether tastings and lunch are included, as this is where the price gaps come from.
Verdict: the best value for most people. You see both the fields and a distillery, you can drink without worrying about the drive back, and you are not tied to a single brand.
DIY by bus
The independent route is straightforward and cheap:
- Take a bus marked Tequila from the old bus station (Antigua Central Camionera) in Guadalajara. Departures run roughly every 30 to 60 minutes through the day, and the journey is about 1 to 1.5 hours for around MXN $80-120 each way.
- In town, walk to the main plaza. Distillery tours at La Rojena (Cuervo), Casa Sauza and others are sold as individual tickets, generally from about MXN $200-600 depending on the tasting level, and boutique producers such as Fortaleza need advance booking.
- Spend lunch in the town centre, then walk the lanes of agave-themed shops and the historic centre.
- Take the last convenient bus back before dark.
This is the best way to see more than one distillery and to set your own pace, and a full day costs a fraction of the trains. On the other hand, you need to book distillery slots in advance on weekends and during holiday periods, and it takes some energy to stitch together a good itinerary.
What to see in Tequila
Distilleries
- La Rojena (Jose Cuervo): the oldest operating distillery in the Americas, set in the middle of town with guided tours of the old production areas and tasting rooms. It is the most visited stop in Tequila.
- Casa Herradura (Amatitan): a hacienda distillery with its own history and a focus on traditional methods, reached by the Herradura train or a tour.
- Casa Sauza: another large house offering a structured tour and tasting.
- Smaller producers: boutique distilleries such as Fortaleza offer more artisanal visits, usually booked ahead.
Most tours run 1 to 2 hours and include 3 to 5 tastings from blanco through reposado to anejo. Our mezcal and tequila guide explains how to read a label and what to buy, including why you should look for 100% agave.
The agave landscape
The surroundings of Tequila form the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila, a UNESCO World Heritage site listed in 2006. Rows of blue-grey agave stretch to the horizon, and in season you can see jimadores cutting the spiky leaves to reach the piña. A guided tour or a visit to one of the working fields gives a better sense of the 6 to 8 years the plant needs to mature than any tasting room.
The town
Tequila itself is pleasant to walk: the plaza and parish church, the shops, and small museums and tasting rooms. Allow an hour or two between your distillery visit and the return journey.
Which one should you pick?
- Short on time and budget: DIY bus, with one pre-booked distillery tour.
- Want a guide, tastings and no driving: a small-group van tour.
- Want a party day and all-inclusive: Jose Cuervo Express.
- Want a cheaper train experience: Tequila Herradura Express, subject to checking the 2026 fare.
- Car and designated driver: possible, but tastings and mountain roads are a poor mix. Our car hire guide covers rentals if you plan a longer route.
Practical tips
- Wear closed shoes and sun protection; the agave fields are exposed.
- Bring cash for bus fares, tips and small purchases.
- Eat before tasting; lunch is rarely generous on budget tours.
- Check travel insurance covers organised excursions: see travel insurance for Mexico.
- Most bottles can be bought at the distilleries, usually at lower prices than at the airport; keep within your home country’s duty-free limit.
Where to stay
Tequila is an easy day trip, so most visitors stay in Guadalajara and return the same evening. If you want an early start or a slower pace after the tastings, base yourself near the historic centre or the Chapultepec area: see where to stay in Guadalajara or search Guadalajara hotels on Booking.com.
Fitting it into a Guadalajara trip
Tequila fits a full day and pairs best with a more relaxed day on either side. If you are weighing Guadalajara against the capital, our Guadalajara vs Mexico City comparison explains why Tequila is one of Guadalajara’s strongest advantages. For a wider trip, see more things to do in Guadalajara.
All prices and schedules are approximate, as of 2026, and change by season. Confirm directly with the operator before booking.