By Expedia Team, on July 19, 2019

Where to Take the Best Tequila Tours in Mexico

While you can certainly celebrate National Tequila Day on July 24 by mixing it up at your local bar, take it to the next level with a tequila tour in Mexico. Drink in the Jose Cuervo® Tequila Experience in Cozumel, tour the Tequila Museum in Puerto Vallarta, and taste the difference between tequila and mezcal in Mexico City. You can even go to the source of Mexico’s national drink by visiting the enchanting town of Tequila and its blue agave fields near Guadalajara. Here are some of the best tequila tours in Mexico to turn National Tequila Day into the perfect Mexican getaway.

1) Tequila, Jalisco

Tequila Tour from Guadalajara

Man harvesting blue agave to make tequila

Where better to spend National Tequila Day than in the charming town of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico? On a Tequila tour from Guadalajara, venture past fields of blue agave plants, see the tequila distillery process, and, of course, wet your whistle with a tequila tasting. While the region’s signature spirit is obviously the main draw, Tequila’s enchanting cobblestone streets, architecturally interesting church, and welcoming residents may just entice you to stay. If you fall in love with this magical town, spend a few nights at one of Tequila’s best hotels.

Where to Stay in Tequila


2) Puerto Vallarta

Some of the Best Tequila Tours in West Mexico

Bartender pouring a line of fruity mixed drinks in Mexico

Impress your friends at your next National Tequila Day fiesta by learning some new party tricks at the Viva Tequila Museum in Puerto Vallarta. In this fully immersive and interactive museum, learn how to sniff out high- and low-quality tequila with an aroma sensory game. Discover how to identify the 5 official classifications of tequila: blanco, joven, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo. Then, test your knowlege by inspecting barrels during a tequila tasting with a tequila expert. For an afternoon on the town, delve into Puerto Vallarta’s foodie scene on a tacos, tequila, and cocktail walking tour led by a master mixologist. From the jalapeno margarita to the handmade carne asada tacos, it’s sure to be a lively time of culinary delight.

Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta


3) Cozumel

Jose Cuervo Tour

Jose Cuervo tequila tasting tour in Cozumel for National Tequila Day

Supposedly, tequila has various health benefits, so drink up on the Jose Cuervo® Tequila Experience at Discover Mexico in Cozumel. With your professional tequilero guide, savor 3 types of Jose Cuervo, including blanco, reposado, and añejo. Learn about the history and cultural significance of tequila in Mexico and how to mix a party-ready margarita at home. Then, follow your premium tequila tasting with a delicious taco lunch and watch a performance of the spectacular indigenous ritual called the Papantla Flyers.

Where to Stay near Cozumel


4) Mazatlán

Tequila Distillery and Mezcal Tasting Tours

Bottle of mezcal in Mazatlan

Enliven your Mexico getaway with a heart-pumping zipline adventure at the Huana Coa Canopy Adventure ecological park. Afterward, relax by sipping Mexican tequila and mezcal at the Los Osuna distillery. See these spirits prepared in the traditional way as a donkey-powered stone wheel extracts precious liquid from agave hearts. For an even more serene tequila tour, explore the rustic village of La Noria and its gaucho (cowboy) culture on a tequila distillery tour from Mazatlán. On the best tequila tours in Mexico, you’re sure to encounter small-batch and local brands that you can’t buy anywhere else. So, be sure to stock up on souvenirs!

Where to Stay in Mazatlán


5) Mexico City

Tequila and Mezcal Museum Tour

The Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal in Mexico City

Pop quiz: What’s the difference between tequila and mezcal? Answer: Mezcal can be made from any species of agave, but tequila must be at least 51% blue agave. See if you can taste the difference while touring the Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal in Mexico City. Discover Mexico’s rich history of tequila and mezcal production as you admire the museum’s impressive tequila bottle collection. Then, head to the rooftop bar for a tasting. As you savor your fermented agave spirit, the festive tunes of mariachi music serenade you from the famous Plaza Garibaldi below.

Where to Stay in Mexico City


Fun Facts for National Tequila Day

  • While the US celebrates National Tequila Day on July 24, Mexico’s National Tequila Day is on the 3rd Saturday of March.
  • Like champagne in France, true tequila can only come from the Mexican state of Jalisco and a few other certified areas.
  • The town of Tequila and its surrounding agave fields are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Is the worm in tequila real? Contrary to pop culture, you shouldn’t find a worm in the bottom of your tequila bottle. The worm actually started as a marketing ploy for mezcal and is said to enhance the drink’s flavor. Also, the worm isn’t a worm—it’s the larva of a moth!