9 Best Things to Do in Mexico's Tequila Country

Located about 60 miles west of Guadalajara and encompassing 85,650-acres of land between the Tequila volcano and the Rio Grande River, the town of Santiago de Tequila was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for the unique features of its natural landscape and cultural traditions. It is also one of the few places that the Mexican government has dubbed "Pueblos Mágicos" ("Magical Towns") due to the cultural and historical significance of the city.

Your visit to Tequila Country would not be complete without a stroll along the cobblestone streets of this charming town, which contains a living, working landscape of agave fields, distilleries, factories, and haciendas. Stop by Plaza Principal de Tequila, the town's main square, to visit its parish church, La Parroquia Santiago Apóstol (Our Lady of the Purísima Concepción), which dates back to the 18th century. The church has a stone facade, a bell tower, and inverted, truncated pyramid pilasters that flank the main portal. Inside, there is a statue of Our Lady of the Conception that has stood watch over the church since it was sculpted in 1865. Also make sure to stop by the Municipio de Tequila (Town Hall), which is located across the main plaza and features artwork by Manuel Hernández that highlights the significance of the agave plant in pre-colonial Mexico as well as the woman Aztec deity Mayahuel, who is associated with fertility and nourishment.

The cultivation of agave dates back to ancient times when every part of the plant was cultivated for a wide variety of practical uses, including fermenting a drink known as pulque from the sap. Although there is some question about whether the people of Mesoamerica were familiar with the distillation process before the arrival of the Spaniards, it is likely that the distilled spirit of tequila we know today was not produced until after the 15th century.

In Tequila Country, you can see how the drink is produced—from the agave field to the finished bottled product—starting with la jima, the term used to refer to harvesting the agave plant. Agave is harvested in the traditional way in a very labor-intensive manner wherein the worker, called a jimador, uses a special tool like a sharp, pointed shovel to remove the spikes from the agave and extract the heart of the plant, the piña, which resembles a pineapple when the spines are removed.

Tequila has a similar origin to mezcal since both spirits are made from the agave, but tequila is made only with the blue agave found in this specific area, and the separation between the two began with the regulation of tequila in the 1940s. The law "de Calidad para el tequila" was passed on June 14, 1949, and has been upgraded and revised ever since. It wasn't until 1974 that the Mexican government passed the "denomination of origin" that specified that tequila could only be produced in a few specific places in Mexico. 

The oldest distillery in Tequila Country is known for producing the world-famous Jose Cuervo brand. Known as La Rojeña, this distillery offers tours periodically throughout the day where guests are invited to witness how this signature drink is made and bottled.

During the 90-minute guided tour of La Rojeña, you'll see the agave hearts being chopped up and taken to the ovens, the labs where the tequila is tested to be sure that it meets the factory's strict standards, and the barrels where the spirit is aged—up to one year for reposado tequila, up to five years for añejo, and up to eight years for the special product, Reserva de la Familia. After the tour, stick around for a special tasting of the Reserva brand of Jose Cuervo.

The Mexican state of Jalisco is considered the cradle of Charreria and mariachi music, and visitors to Tequila can witness some of these cultural events and performances at a number of venues across the region—especially in Guadalajara.

Charreria is Mexico's national sport, which consists of Mexican cowboys (and girls) known as charros (charras) that dress in clothing seen on mariachi bands and do a variety of different tricks and manoeuvers on horseback or foot. During this Mexican-style rodeo, the charros lead their horses through fancy step work and perform ropework called "Flores de Soga" featuring intricate moves with a lasso. Head to the Lienzo Charro del Tequila near the middle of town to catch one of these shows while you're in Tequila.

On the other hand, Voladores ("flying" dancers) mostly originate from the state of Puebla, where the ritual was born. However, they are also a regular fixture in Tequila and often perform their ritual dance in the Plaza Principal. During Voladores' shows, the performers spin around a tall wooden pole from which they are attached by their ankles. The ceremony has even been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

If you want to make your visit to tequila country a memorable day-long excursion, take the tequila train. The Jose Cuervo Express departs the Ferrovia station in Guadalajara on Saturdays (and some Fridays and Sundays) and takes just over an hour to reach Tequila after winding through the beautiful blue agave-covered region. After the train ride, you can take a complimentary tour of La Rojena Distillery as part of your ticket price for the train. Alternatively, the Tequila Express departs Guadalajara and visits the Herradura Distillery but doesn't actually visit the town of Tequila.

Besides visiting distilleries in the town of Tequila, you can also visit the National Museum of Tequila, located at Ramon Corona #34 in Tequila proper. Opened in 2000, the National Museum of Tequila traces the origins of agave cultivation in the region from pre-Hispanic times to the present and contains over 300 artifacts on display in five permanent exhibit halls. The National Museum of Tequila is housed in a building from the late Porfirian period, which features stunning archways and a central courtyard where you'll find a pre-Hispanic oven and a mill.

Food is a big part of the cultural landscape of Tequila Country, and there are plenty of restaurants in the town of Tequila where you can indulge your taste buds with some of the finest Mexican cuisines in the region.

For lunch, consider stopping by Amor de Mis Amores in downtown Tequila for a family-style dining experience complete with authentic enchiladas and birria, a spicy stew originating in the state of Jalisco made with goat meat and a variety of legumes. For dinner, stop by La Antiqua Casona, which features great cocktails in a cozy, casual setting, or check out the Hotel Villa Tequila, which features a tequila-themed bar right beside the outdoor pool.

When it comes to enjoying tequila, there's no better place to sample this western Mexico brew than a local bar in the town of Tequila. However, before you head out to the bar, you should know that Mexicans don't typically take shots of the 100-percent agave tequila. Instead, most patrons of bars in Tequila sip and savor the drink from a snifter—much like you would a good scotch or a fine whiskey. There are a number of great bars in Tequila to choose from—including La Capilla, a cash-only, cozy cocktail bar in the heart of the city just south of the Plaza Principal, and La Cata, a casual, open spot with an extensive cocktail selection.

As one of the largest towns in the region, Tequila offers plenty of options for places to stay overnight—both in and out of the city. For a longer stay in town, a good option is the boutique Hotel Solar de las Animas, which is located adjacent to the church of Santiago Apostol in the heart of Tequila and features luxurious rooms, a gorgeous outdoor pool, and stunning views of the city and Tequila volcano. Other great haciendas worth checking out in and around Tequila include Hotel Villa Tequila, Matices Hotel de Barricas, and Hotel Boutique Quinta Tequillan.

Those looking for an event space need look no further than the Hacienda El Centenario, a lovely spot for a wedding or any other large event. The hacienda has meeting spaces as well as lovely grounds that can accommodate a few hundred guests. Stroll through the gardens, relax by one of many fountains, or tour the estate itself.