The 2026 FIFA World Cup brings the tournament back to Mexico for a historic third time, with matches unfolding across Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. But the most memorable part of your trip may happen far from the stands. A well-planned tequila tour in Mexico turns the days between matches into something unforgettable: agave landscapes, centuries-old distilleries, and tasting rooms where the country’s most iconic spirit comes to life.
This guide is for travelers who want to explore tequila beyond the stadiums. Below you’ll find curated tequila tours, attractions, day trips and tasting experiences that slot naturally into a World Cup itinerary — whichever host city you’re calling home base.
Why Add a Tequila Experience to Your World Cup Trip?
Football and tequila share the same heartbeat in Mexico: celebration, heritage and a sense of belonging. Between fixtures, a tequila trip lets you trade the roar of the crowd for the quiet beauty of the agave fields, a landscape so distinctive it’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Adding a tequila experience to your trip means you get to:
- Taste the spirit at its source, from crisp blancos to complex añejos.
- Walk through working distilleries where tequila has been crafted for generations.
- Discover regional cuisine, mixology and live mariachi between match days.
- Bring home stories and bottles that no stadium can offer.
It’s the perfect counterpoint to tournament intensity: slower, sensory and deeply Mexican.
Read more: Best Tequila Events in the US
Best Tequila Tours and Trips to Consider
If you’d rather not plan every detail yourself, an organized tequila tour is the easiest way to experience agave country. These curated trips handle transport, tastings and timing, which is ideal when your schedule is built around kickoff.
[IMAGE GALLERY: Jose Cuervo Express train interior, agave jima demonstration, La Rojeña Distillery, guided tasting flight]
The Jose Cuervo Express: A Day Trip Through Agave Country
One of the most beloved ways to reach the town of Tequila from Guadalajara is aboard the Jose Cuervo Express, a vintage-style train that glides through the blue agave fields.
The full-day experience pairs onboard tastings, cocktails and live music with a visit to La Rojeña, the oldest active distillery in Latin America. It’s comfortable, festive and genuinely scenic, which is why it tops so many travelers’ lists.
Guided Distillery Tours Along the Tequila Route
Beyond the train, the wider Ruta del Tequila links the towns of Tequila, Amatitán and El Arenal, where both grand haciendas and small family distilleries open their doors. Established names like Cascahuín and Orendain offer accessible, well-run tours, while operators across Jalisco bundle distillery visits with agave-field stops and lunch in town.
Boutique & Artisanal Tasting Experiences
For travelers who want to go deeper, small-batch and private tours led by a maestro tequilero reveal the craft behind additive-free, single-estate bottles. These intimate experiences, often capped at a handful of guests, are where you’ll taste rarities you won’t find on any shelf.
[TABLE: Quick comparison of tour types — keep inline near this section]
| Experience | Best for | Vibe |
| Jose Cuervo Express | First-timers & groups | Festive, scenic, full-day |
| Classic distillery tour | Curious travelers | Educational, easy to book |
| Boutique / private tasting | Agave enthusiasts | Intimate, insider, in-depth |
Tequila Experiences Near World Cup Host Cities
Where you’re based during the tournament shapes which tequila experiences are within easy reach. Here’s how each Mexican host city stacks up.
Guadalajara — The Gateway to Tequila Country
Guadalajara is the undisputed heart of any tequila tour in Mexico. The town of Tequila sits roughly 90 minutes away, putting day trips, the Jose Cuervo Express and the entire Ruta del Tequila on your doorstep. Back in the city, agaverías like El Gallo Altanero, the epicenter of Guadalajara’s indie agave scene, pour artisan spirits and inventive cocktails late into the night. If you’re staying here for match days, you’re perfectly placed.
Read more: Things to Do in Tequila, Mexico
Mexico City — Tastings & Agave Bars Without Leaving Town
No time for a day trip? Mexico City’s agave scene delivers. Roma Norte and Polanco are home to standout spots like Licorería Limantour and Ticuchi, while small-group tequila and mezcal tastings — several spotlighting additive-free labels — offer a guided crash course paired with Mexican bites. It’s tequila education in the middle of the metropolis.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide To Find the Best Tequila Guide In Mexico
Monterrey — Craft Cocktails in the North
Monterrey leans modern and mixology-forward. The cobblestone streets of Barrio Antiguo and the Centrito Valle neighborhood hide bars devoted to tequila and mezcal, where bartenders blend traditional agave spirits with global technique. It’s a polished, contemporary way to keep the tequila theme alive between games at Estadio BBVA.
Tips for Planning a Tequila Trip During the World Cup
- Book ahead: The World Cup draws huge crowds. Reserve popular experiences like the Jose Cuervo Express well in advance, since these sell out fast during peak travel periods.
- Time it around matches: Full-day tours can run 10–12 hours. Slot them on non-match days or choose a shorter city tasting when kickoff is the same evening.
- Sort out transport: Many tours include hotel pickup. Otherwise, Uber and DiDi operate in all three host cities. Never plan to drive after a tasting.
- Pace yourself and go in a group: Tastings are generous. Eat well, hydrate, and savor slowly. Also, remember the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. Shared tours are also more fun and easier to coordinate with friends.
[CTA: Read more about tequila experiences]
