Day Trip to Tequila

Tequila’s world-famous agave fields are only 90 minutes from Chapala, easily accessible by car, tour van, or bus.

Here are three ways to get to Tequila from Lake Chapala.

Take a Van Tour with a Licensed Jalisco State Tour Guide

La Victoria hotel runs tours a few times a month from Ajijic to Tequila. You’ll spend the day touring an agave field and a distillery with a professional guide who will lead you through the whole production procession, from the field to bottling. This includes visiting an agave field and the Tequila Selecto distillery in Amatitlán, just south of Tequila. You’ll taste a variety of tequilas at the distillery and then (at an additional charge of around $100-$200 pesos) everyone eats lunch at a local restaurant before heading into the town of Tequila to spend an hour on your own.

The total cost was $780 pesos per person in 2020 (expect to pay more now). Consult their website for more details and upcoming dates. Tours are limited to 13 people.

Drive There Yourself

If you’ve got your own wheels, this route via the macrolibramiento avoids potential traffic on the Ajijic-Jocotepec highway and gets you to Tequila in just under 90 minutes on a good day.

How to Get to Tequila by Bus

From Ajijic, you can get to Tequila in three hours, plus the time it takes to change buses at the “old” bus station in Guadalajara. Here’s how.

1. Buy your bus tickets online — or just wait till you get to Guadalajara

Tequila Plus is the main bus line that operates between Guadalajara and Tequila. You can purchase your tickets online ahead of time or wait until you get to the old bus station in Guadalajara. Since buses depart Guadalajara every half hour and are rarely full, you’re likely to be able to board the next departing bus.

Most people do not buy their tickets ahead of time but wait until they arrive at the station.

2. Take the Chapala Plus direct bus from Ajijic or Chapala.

There are a couple different classes and routes that the buses take to Guadalajara, so to ensure you’re on the right one it’s probably best to board at the station in Ajijic or Chapala, instead of one of the many stops along the highway.

From Ajijic, take the direct first-class bus which bypasses Chapala and heads to Guadalajara via the libramiento, taking about an hour to reach the “old” bus station there.

3. Change bus lines in Guadalajara

When you get to Guadalajara, you’ll be dropped off at the north wing of the old bus station, the antigua central camionera. All you need to do now is cross to the other side of the station to find the ticket counter for Tequila Plus. Round trip tickets are around $200 pesos per person depending on the class of bus.