Full Day in Tequila with Tasting and party in Cantaritos

Tequila is best enjoyed as a full day out. This trip combines a working tequila stop, seven pours, an agave-view swing, a visit to Tequila town, and a loud finish at Cantaritos el Güero #1. I especially like the seven-tequila tasting and the way the guides keep the day social and easy to follow. The main drawback is the long schedule, plus extra spending for lunch and the giant cantaritos.

The tour leaves from an OXXO at Av. Ignacio L. Vallarta and Fernando de Celada in Guadalajara, then returns to the same place after roughly 10 to 11 hours. Guides such as Arturo, Jorge, Benji, Don Benji, and Julio have earned praise for friendly care, clear explanations, safe driving, and good food advice. Bring breakfast, pace yourself, and do not wear white shoes.

Key points at a glance

• Seven pours at Tequila Selecto de Amatitán: Taste blanco, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and two tequila-based liqueurs while learning how tequila is made.
• A dramatic swing above the agave fields: Columpio Extremo offers striking views and a 90-minute stop, with drinks and snacks available for an extra charge.
• Two hours in Tequila town: See the church, kiosk, mural, José Cuervo walkway, and possibly the Papantla flyers show.
• A giant-cantarito finale: Cantaritos el Güero #1 is a music-and-dancing stop known for vessels holding up to 21 liters.
• English support is available: The experience is offered in English, and Arturo has been praised for explaining the process fluently in both English and Spanish.
• A full day with very little empty time: Transport is included, but the total schedule can stretch to 11 hours, with a one to two-hour ride back to Guadalajara.

Why this Guadalajara day trip works

I like this outing because it treats tequila as both a drink and a place. You are not simply driven to a tasting room, handed a few samples, and sent home. The day moves from production to countryside views, then into the town that gives tequila its name, and finally into a big local party.

That variety helps justify the long day. The factory gives you useful background, the swing breaks up the history lesson, Tequila town adds a cultural stop, and Cantaritos supplies the noisy fun. You get a little education, a little sightseeing, and a lot of social energy.

The group can include up to 20 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large coach outing, though it is not a private tour for just you and your companions. The private transportation is a real advantage, especially after tasting tequila. You do not need to find your own way back from Amatitán.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Arturo is praised for detailed English explanations and careful driving, including slowing down on rough roads during the return. Benji and his father, called Papa Benji or Don Benji, are repeatedly described as warm, funny, and welcoming. That family feel seems to be one reason the tour earns a 4.9 rating from 356 reviews and is recommended by 97 percent of customers.

Still, you should know what kind of day this is. It is not a quiet, slow visit to one elegant hacienda. The final stop can be loud, boozy, and crowded. The tour also depends on the group staying on schedule. One account describes less time in central Tequila after the distillery visit ran long, so punctuality matters.

Tequila Selecto de Amatitán: seven tastes and a useful lesson

After about 40 minutes of driving from the meeting point, you arrive at Tequila Selecto de Amatitán. The factory visit lasts about an hour and admission is included.

The central feature is the tasting of seven drinks. You sample white tequila, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and two liqueurs. This gives you a basic tour through tequila styles, from the lighter, clearer pour to darker versions with more time in wood. The point is not simply to count drinks. It is to notice how color, age, and flavor change from one glass to the next.

Your guide explains the tequila-making process along the way. That context makes the tasting more useful, since you can connect what you see at the factory with what is in your glass. Guides Arturo and the Benji family are especially praised for answering questions and making the subject easy to follow.

The factory also has some show-business connections. The video for Cristian Nodal’s Adiós Amor was filmed there, and tequila for Adam Levine, the Maroon 5 vocalist, is made at the facility. Those details add a fun bit of modern celebrity interest, though the production lesson is the real reason to pay attention.

This is also the point where pacing becomes important. Seven samples can catch up with you, especially before lunch. Eat breakfast before pickup, drink water when you can, and treat each pour as a tasting rather than a challenge. The experience provider does not allow alcohol in the van, partly to avoid extra cleaning charges. A cleaning fee equal to one day’s vehicle rental may apply if that rule is broken.

Columpio Extremo: a 90-minute view stop

A 20-minute ride brings you to Columpio Extremo, where you have about 90 minutes. Admission to the swing is included.

The attraction is simple but effective. You sit on the swing and look over the agave fields from a high viewpoint. It is a good change of pace after the indoor factory visit, and it gives you one of the day’s best photo opportunities.

Drinks and snacks are sold on site, but they are not part of the tour price. Keep some pesos or another payment option ready if you want something during the stop. The supplied details do not state the exact prices, so plan on this being an extra rather than an included refreshment break.

One fair warning: one lower-rated account found the hacienda and swing area smaller than expected. That is useful to know. The swing is a scenic stop, not a full adventure park or a day-long attraction. If you expect a large property with many activities, you may find the visit modest. If you want a short photo stop with an agave view, the 90-minute allowance should feel generous.

Tequila town: two hours for food, photos, and wandering

From the swing, it is about 10 minutes to Tequila town. You have roughly two hours here, making this the most flexible sightseeing section of the day.

The historic church and central square are natural places to begin. You can also look for the town mural, the José Cuervo walkway, and the historic kiosk. A Papantla flyers performance may be taking place, adding a traditional spectacle to the visit, though the schedule does not guarantee it.

Lunch is not included. The suggested market meal costs about 6 to 10 US dollars, and quesabirrias are one of the regional specialties to try. You may also find meat dishes prepared with tequila. Eating at the market keeps the stop casual and local rather than turning lunch into another formal tour component.

The timing here deserves attention. Two hours sounds comfortable, but it includes eating, sightseeing, shopping, and finding your way around the center. If the factory stop runs late, this is the part most likely to feel shortened. One account specifically noted a late lunch and not enough time to shop after the group fell behind earlier in the day.

You can help avoid that problem by arriving on time at the meeting point and keeping the factory tasting moving. The tour may allow extra time at Cantaritos if the group is having a good time, but that flexibility can come at the expense of time in town. I would prioritize lunch and the main sights first, then browse if the clock allows.

Cantaritos el Güero #1: a loud final two hours

The final scheduled stop is Cantaritos el Güero #1 in Amatitán, about 20 minutes from Tequila. The planned stay is two hours, followed by a one to two-hour return drive to Guadalajara.

This is not a quiet farewell drink. Cantaritos is known for dancing, regional music, and huge clay cups filled with tequila, juice, salt, and lemon. The largest vessels can hold up to 21 liters, or about 5.5 gallons. You do not need to order the biggest size, but the giant cups are part of the spectacle.

Cantaritos are not included in the tour cost. You may have a reserved table and your own waiter, a detail that can save time compared with standing in a long line. The exact ordering arrangement can vary, so confirm with your guide when you arrive.

This stop is where the outing shifts from tour to party. Music, drinks, and the shared table make it easy to talk with people who were strangers at pickup. Several accounts describe the group becoming friendly by the end, even across language barriers.

You should also keep your limits in mind. You have already tasted seven drinks earlier, and the return journey is long. The driver is responsible for getting everyone safely back, so listen to instructions and avoid confrontations. One lower-rated experience described a disagreement after a guest had been drinking, which spoiled the evening. That is not the typical tone of the feedback, but it is a sensible reminder that a party works best when everyone respects the group.

What the price really covers

The tour price is not provided here, so I cannot judge it against a specific dollar amount. I can tell you what value is built in: round-trip transportation, the tequila factory entrance, seven alcoholic samples, and admission to the swing.

You pay separately for lunch, which should cost around 6 to 10 US dollars at the market, as well as any drinks or snacks at the swing and the cantaritos at the final stop. Those extras are easy to overlook when comparing tour prices. The day can become more expensive if you order a large cantarito or add several paid drinks.

Even so, the package has good practical value for someone based in Guadalajara. You avoid arranging transport to Amatitán and Tequila, the factory entrance is covered, and you have a guide for the production explanation and town visit. The van also removes the problem of driving after alcohol tastings.

The value is strongest if you want all four elements in one day. If your main goal is a long, detailed look at one distillery, this schedule may feel spread out. If you want a social day with sightseeing and a party, the mix makes more sense.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to adults who want tequila education without giving up fun. It also suits solo visitors, couples, and groups of friends because the shared van and table make conversation easy. Several accounts describe the guides as friendly enough to feel like part of the group, while still keeping an eye on safety and timing.

Families can take part, too. One account included a 12-year-old and found the Wednesday visit suitable, though the main focus remains alcohol tasting and nightlife. Parents should decide if the Cantaritos atmosphere fits their child.

This is a good choice for visitors who do not speak much Spanish, since English is offered and Arturo has been praised for clear bilingual explanations. It also helps if you want a guide to recommend tequila styles and food instead of making every decision alone.

I would hesitate if you dislike loud music, drinking culture, or long days in a van. I would also think twice if you want a polished, luxury-style hacienda visit. The swing stop may be smaller than expected, and the day can feel rushed if the group loses time early on.

The meeting point is the OXXO at Av. Ignacio L. Vallarta and Fernando de Celada, and the tour ends there. Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The experience needs good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Simple ways to enjoy the day more

• Eat breakfast before pickup. Lunch may not happen until around 3 p.m. if the schedule slips.
• Wear dark, washable clothes. The operator specifically advises against white shoes.
• Pace the seven samples. You have a party stop still ahead.
• Keep money aside for market food, swing refreshments, and cantaritos.
• Arrive early at the OXXO meeting point. A late start can cut into your time in Tequila town.
• Ask your guide about the tequila styles as you taste. The differences are easier to understand when you compare them side by side.
• Follow the van’s alcohol rule. Drinks are not allowed during transport, and cleaning violations can be costly.

Should you book the Tequila day trip?

Book it if you want a lively, all-in-one day that covers tequila production, countryside views, Tequila town, and a famous drinking party. The strongest reasons are the seven-sample tasting, the warm guide service, the included transport, and the memorable Cantaritos finale.

Skip it if you want a quiet distillery visit, precise control over your schedule, or a full afternoon for shopping in town. Keep your expectations realistic about the swing, bring money for extras, and pace yourself from the first tasting.

For most adults visiting Guadalajara, this is a strong day trip at the right price, especially with Arturo or the Benji family guiding. Just remember that the biggest pleasure of the day, the party, also demands the most good judgment.

FAQ

How long does the Tequila tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 to 11 hours, including travel between stops and the return to Guadalajara.

Where does the tour meet and end?

It meets at the OXXO at Av. Ignacio L. Vallarta and Fernando de Celada 2912 in Guadalajara. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Are the seven tequila tastings included?

Yes. The tour includes seven alcoholic tastings at Tequila Selecto de Amatitán, including blanco, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and two liqueurs.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is purchased separately in the Tequila town market. The expected cost for a market dish is about 6 to 10 US dollars.

Are the cantaritos included?

No. Cantaritos at Cantaritos el Güero #1 must be purchased separately. The venue serves giant drinks of up to 21 liters.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English, and English explanations are available during the tour.