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No trip to Mexico would be complete without sampling the country’s famous spirits. You’ve got a few options for Puerto Vallarta tequila tours, where you’ll also get to try mezcal and racilla.
Not sure what the difference is between the three? No worries; at the end of this post, you can read more about this. But the best way to learn is in person on one of these Tequila tours in Puerto Vallarta.
Best Tequila Tour in Puerto Vallarta
Don’t have time to read this? This 5-star rated tour is the best option for tequila tasting in Puerto Vallarta.
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Top Tequila Tours in Puerto Vallarta
While choosing your own adventure is possible (check our post about the best bars in Puerto Vallarta), it’s more fun with a group and a knowledgeable local guide.
We’ve done plenty of, let’s call it “research,” and these are the best options for Puerto Vallarta tequila tours.
1. Connoisseur Tequila Tasting
Life is better with options, and you’ve got three of them on this tour. You can choose between the introduction, connoisseur, or mezcal option. My personal recommendation is the latter, as it’s fun to try both of the agave spirits.
What a cool experience. The tasting room is in an up-and-coming neighborhood, Versailles, tucked among a bunch of great restaurants, but the true highlight here is the tequila and the instruction about it. Tequila has a fascinating story, more akin to wine than many spirits and it was absolutely worth learning about (and enjoying)!
– Review by Justin (read more reviews)
This tour takes place in Versalles, which is one of the top neighborhoods in PV.
It’s a foodie haven as well, so you might as well grab a bite to eat while you’re there. Some of my favorite spots include Lamara for ceviche, Budaixi for dumplings and noodles, and El Tío Toño for birria.
2. Vallarta Botanical Garden and Tequila Tasting
This highly-rated tour takes you to the lovely Vallarta Botanical Garden first. It recently won the American Public Gardens Association’s 2022 Garden of Excellence Award, and deservedly so. This is one of our favorite places to visit in PV, and it should definitely be on your itinerary.
After touring the garden, you’ll get to head to Rancho Los Veranos to learn all about the process of making tequila as you sample the famous spirit. It’s also possible to order lunch here, but just be aware that it is not included in the tour. Either way, I’d advise eating a big breakfast before going on this tour.
We had a wonderful experience on this tour! The tour guide was authentic and professional. The history shared was so informative and full of pride. The Garden was magical and mystical. The tequila tasting was so fun and the prices for the bottles to buy were half the price of some of the local liquor stores down town!! My husband and I are tequila enthusiasts so we really appreciated the quality of the tequila!! Highly recommended!!
– Kenneth (see more reviews here).
3. Noble Corazon
Of all the Puerto Vallarta tastings out there, this has to be my fave. And it’s not just because my picture is all over their website. We were not just hamming it up for the camera when we were there – it really was an awesome experience.
You can book their classic tequila tasting at Casa Agavera Vallarta in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. Their experts will teach you about the distilling process as you sip on their excellent tequila, mezcal, and racilla.
It’s also possible to book a private tour at your place. If you have an Airbnb with a group, this should definitely be added to your PV itinerary.
4. City Tour with Tequila and Coffee Tasting
This tour checks a lot of the boxes for top things to do in Puerto Vallarta. You’ll get to stroll the famous Malecon, see the iconic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit a Tequila distillery, and check out a local coffee factory.
There’s also an option to add lunch for this tour. It seems like the food is more expensive if you order it while on the tour, so you may want to add it in advance.
The tour was really fun. Went with my wife and we really enjoyed ourselves. Especially at the tequila tasting. The guide was really nice, knowledgeable and really helped in making sure the entire group had a good time. Doesn’t matter what age you are, because by the end of the tequila tasting you’ll be having a good time. I highly recommend that people book this activity when coming to Puerto Vallarta.
– GetYourGuide (read more reviews here).
Tours that visit Tequila (the town)
Most of these tours happen in and around PV, but it’s also possible to travel to the town of Tequila itself. That’s right – there’s an actual town called Tequila! It’s in the state of Jalisco, and it’s the birthplace of the famous spirit.
Need more help planning your trip to Puerto Vallarta? Get a custom-made itinerary or book a consultation call with me here.
5. Toriles and Tequila Day Trip
Make sure you rest up before this Tequila tour, as it’s a big one. This 12-hour excursion takes you to Aztec ruins in the town of Toriles as well as the birthplace of tequila itself.
Walk through the agave fields and visit a distillery as you learn all about the process of making tequila. The tour also includes a hearty breakfast, so you’ll be nice and full before the tequila tasting.
It’s a long drive, but the town of Tequila was all I expected. Wish we could have stayed longer, but soaked in all we could. Thank you Thomas!
– Thomas (read more reviews here)
Tequila is about a four-hour drive from Puerto Vallarta, so it does make for a long day if you’re doing it round-trip. If you want to visit Tequila and have the time, I recommend planning a weekend trip to Guadalajara and visiting Tequila from there, as it’s much closer.
Different Types of Mexican Liquor
Tequila and mezcal both come from the agave plant. The difference is that tequila can only be made from blue agave, while mezcal can be made from many types of agave.
Basically, tequila is a type of mezcal, just like bourbon is a type of whiskey. While they are both made from agave, they taste quite different. Many describe mezcal as having a smokey taste. Since it can be made from many agave types, the taste can vary quite a bit.
There are different types of tequila and mezcal based on how long they are aged. For tequila, these are blanco (0-2 months), reposado (2-12 months), and añejo (1-3 years).
Meanwhile, for mezcal, you have joven (0-2 months), reposado (2-12 months), and añejo (at least one year).
They all have different colors and tastes, so you may want to try them all to find out which type you prefer. That’s where these awesome Puerto Vallarta tequila tours come in handy!
But how about that other Mexican spirit? You might have never heard of racilla, but it’s an important part of the local culture here in Puerto Vallarta. That’s because it is only made right here in the state of Jalisco.
Racilla is also made from the agave plant, but the process differs. This results in a unique taste that’s nothing like tequila or mezcal. It’s still somewhat of an underground phenomenon, and it’s possible to buy bootleg racilla from unmarked plastic bottles.
If you’re not into that, never fear – you can sample it on some of these tequila tours.
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That does it for this rundown of the best Puerto Vallarta tequila tours.
Whatever option you choose, remember to pace yourself. Do you know that saying “one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor?” It exists for a reason. Be sure to stay hydrated and don’t drink on an empty stomach.
We learned that lesson the hard way and always order some food when we imbibe in tequila, so learn from our past mistakes and eat some tacos!
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