What to Bring on a Tequila Tour: Times and Recommendations
Hola Tequila Tour •
A Tequila tour is a long day outdoors, with sun, walking among agaves and several tastings. Coming prepared changes the experience quite a bit, and it comes down to four simple things.
This guide answers what people ask us most before departure.
What time it leaves and when you get back
Our departures are at 11:30 in the morning and we get back to Guadalajara between seven and eight in the evening. About eight and a half hours in total.
This is not a half-morning tour: plan on the whole day. If you have a flight that night, leave yourself a margin. Getting back at eight and flying at ten is tight.
Where we pick you up
We have two meeting points in Guadalajara: Alfredo R. Plascencia 78, in Colonia Americana, and C. Mexicaltzingo 1182, in the Zona Centro. You choose whichever suits you when booking.
Arrive ten minutes early. The van leaves on time because the itinerary has fixed slots at the distilleries, and waiting for one person throws off the day for twenty.
What to bring
- Sunscreen. The agave fields have no shade and the valley sun is strong, even in winter.
- A cap or hat, for the same reason.
- Closed shoes. This is the thing we most often forget to mention and the one people thank us for most: agave leaves end in a spine and the ground in the fields is uneven. Sandals are a bad idea.
- Cash. Food, cantaritos and shopping are not included, and not every stall in town takes cards.
- A bottle of water. Between the sun and the tastings, dehydration arrives sooner than you would think.
- Official ID, in case a distillery asks for it.
What you do not need
Do not bring a suitcase or a large backpack: there is room in the van, but you will be carrying it all day walking around town.
You do not need smart clothes either. This is fields and factories, not an event.
How to dress
Comfortable, light clothing, in layers. The valley is hot, but the underground cellar is considerably cooler and the drive back at dusk cools down.
In the rainy season, June to October, it usually rains in the afternoon. A light raincoat or a sweatshirt takes up little room and saves the end of the day.
Should you eat beforehand?
Yes, properly. The tour does not include food and the first tasting is at 12:30. Drinking tequila on an empty stomach at midday is the fastest way to ruin the rest of your day.
Eat something solid before leaving. There is free time to eat in the Magical Town, around four in the afternoon.
Can you bring children?
Our tour is designed for adults, and the atmosphere at the tastings and the cantaritos stop is not a children's one. There is no formal ban, but it is a long day with stops that will not interest them.
If you are travelling with minors, tell us when booking and we will give you an honest steer on whether they will enjoy it.
How much cash to bring
Between $400 and $800 pesos per person gives you room for lunch, a couple of cantaritos and a souvenir. If you plan to buy a good bottle, add what it costs.
There are ATMs in the centre of Tequila, but do not count on them: they frequently run out of cash at weekends.
What if it rains?
The tour runs anyway. The distillery visits and the cellar are indoors, and time in the agave fields is adjusted to conditions. The only part that suffers is the time outdoors in town.
Can I take tequila on a plane?
Yes, but in checked luggage. Bottles are well over the 100 millilitre carry-on limit, so if you are flying the same day or the next, plan for it.
Wrap it in clothing. If you buy at the factory shop, ask them to protect it for you.
The exception is anything bought at the airport past security, which can travel in the cabin with you.
What language is the tour in?
Spanish. For now we do not offer guided tours in English, and we would rather say so clearly before you book.
Quick summary
Closed shoes, sunscreen, a cap, cash, and having had breakfast. That covers it.
Departure 11:30, return between 19:00 and 20:00, from Colonia Americana or Zona Centro. Eight and a half hours, departures every day.