Mexico Travel Update: The ‘Tequila Train’ From Guadalajara Is Back

After more than nine years, the Tequila Express train between Guadalajara and the town of Tequila is back up and running.

Officially relaunched last month, the reboot was the result of a $9 million collaboration between various government, tourism, and railroad companies in order to transport both locals and tourists in Guadalajara west to Tequila, a Pueblo Magico and the hub of tequila production in Jalisco.

There are currently other train options that run between the two cities, but the return of the Tequila Express fills a void in service. The other options that currently exist are associated with specific tequila brands and are more like branded tours than general transportation.

For example, both Jose Cuervo and Herradura offer luxurious, multi-cabin train experiences that transport folks from Guadalajara to Tequila. However, a specific itinerary is pre-arranged for the day, including stops at the brand’s facilities, and the train is only utilized in one direction (a bus is used for the other leg of the journey).

Though the Tequila Express train will serve food and of course tequila on board, it is not associated with any brand and is more focused on serving as transportation between Guadalajara and Tequila.

When it arrives in Tequila, an included shuttle will take passengers from the train station to downtown Tequila, where they can explore on their own or meet up with local tour operators.

The original Tequila Express began in 1997 but stopped running in 2015, partially due to competition from the aforementioned branded tours. Jose Cuervo began its train tours in 2012.

The town of Tequila serves as the hub for the greater agricultural and growing region. A ride through this area is akin to a trip through wine country in California—out the window of the train, as far as the eye can see, are pristine fields of agave, with tasting rooms and production facilities sitting idyllically amongst the farmland.

In the town of Tequila itself, lodging, bars, restaurants, and branded tasting rooms surround a quaint town square, with other interesting attractions, such as the National Tequila Museum, offering the chance for further education.

Available every weekend from Friday through Sunday, tickets for the Tequila Express can be purchased online. There are currently two classes to choose from, Executive and First. The former costs about $87 for a roundtrip ticket, while the later about $108. The schedule is set up so that visitors have the option to check out Tequila on a day trip from Guadalajara, or make a weekend out of it.

The Jalisco countryside is protected as a UNESCO site, honoring both its historic relevance and natural beauty. Cultivation of the blue agave plant began there in the 16th century.