The journey will take you through a diverse range of destinations, each with its unique attractions and experiences. Here’s a sample one-week itinerary to help you plan your road trip from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta.

Day 1: Guadalajara

Start your journey in Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most vibrant cities. Take a stroll through the historic center to admire the colonial architecture and visit iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral of Guadalajara and the Teatro Degollado.

Don’t miss the chance to try some of the local delicacies and tequila.

Day 2: Tequila

On your second day, head to the town of Tequila, located about an hour’s drive from Guadalajara.

As the name suggests, this is where tequila is produced, and you can take a tour of one of the many distilleries to learn about the process and sample some of the different varieties.

Also, visit the National Tequila Museum to discover more about the history and culture of this beloved drink.

Day 3: Chapala

Next, make your way to the picturesque town of Chapala, located on the shores of Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico.Chapa

Take a boat tour to admire the scenic views and visit the Malecon, a promenade that stretches along the lakeshore and is dotted with shops, restaurants, and street performers.

You can also visit the Ajijic Cultural Center to learn about the local arts and crafts.

Day 4: Sayulita

On day four, drive to the charming beach town of Sayulita, known for its laid-back vibe and world-class surfing.

Spend the day on local beaches soaking up the sun on the golden sands, sampling fresh seafood at the beachside restaurants, and browsing the colorful boutiques and art galleries.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sign up for a surf lesson or go on a jungle hike to explore the lush surroundings.

Day 5: San Francisco (San Pancho)

Continue your journey to San Francisco, also known as San Pancho, a quaint town located just a few kilometers from Sayulita.

This is a great place to relax and unwind, with a beautiful beach, cozy cafes, and a vibrant art scene. You can visit the Entreamigos Community Center to learn about the local initiatives supporting sustainable development and cultural preservation.

Day 6: Punta Mita

On your penultimate day, head to Punta Mita, a luxury resort area that boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the region.

Spend the day lounging on the white sand beach, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, and indulging in the SPA treatments and gourmet cuisine offered by the upscale hotels of Punta Mita.

You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby Marietas Islands, home to a diverse array of marine life and stunning rock formations.

Day 7: Puerto Vallarta

Finally, arrive in Puerto Vallarta, a bustling resort city that combines modern amenities with rich history and culture.

Visit the Malecon, a lively boardwalk lined with sculptures, street performers, and restaurants, and explore the old town to see the beautiful architecture and colorful street art.

Don’t miss the chance to visit the iconic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a symbol of the city’s strong Catholic heritage. You can also take a day trip to nearby attractions such as the Botanical Gardens, the El Eden Canopy Tour, or the hidden beaches of Yelapa.

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A road trip from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta is a fantastic way to discover the beauty and diversity of Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

From colonial cities to beach towns, from tequila distilleries to luxury resorts, from cultural landmarks to natural wonders, this route offers something for everyone. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to explore!

The best option is to take the José Cuervo Express, whose final destination is the magic town of Tequila, Jalisco. The José Cuervo Express is one of the only old-style trains in Mexico.

Even if tequila is not your thing, just traveling aboard this beautiful machinery will be worth the trip every minute. Jose Cuervo Express will take you to the Magical Town of Tequila, where a full day of activities is prepared for everyone.

• Travel on the Express Wagon of Jose Cuervo Express
• Visit the agave fields and agave harvesting demonstration
• Mexican snacks and cocktails prepared with tequila onboard Jose Cuervo Express
• Lottery
• Professional tasting guided by a Maestro Tequilero
• Tour of Jose Cuervo’s La Rojeña distillery
• Enjoy free time for lunch and a walk around the Tequila Pueblo Mágico
• Mexican show
• Classical toast with one of our premium tequilas

The train is divided into three sections, each designed for a specific type of passenger.

• Express wagons are perfect for family travelers and are designed to better serve visitors of all ages and offer admirable sophistication with wood finishes, ample seating, and a cocktail bar.
• Premium Plus section is for a more comfortable trip, where you will find a relaxing environment and can rest while enjoying food and cocktails made to tequila base served on your table.
• Diamond Wagon is for fans of luxury. Here, passengers can appreciate a glamorous vintage decoration reminiscent of the elegant trains of yesteryear with large tables, mirrors, and seats that combine wood and leather. In addition, during the trip, you can enjoy a tasting of the premium tequila from the Reserva de la Familia house.

Every Saturday of the year you can get on board the José Cuervo Express, one of the best tequila trains in the country that offers two different itineraries, one at sunrise and one at sunset in order to offer its passengers the option to enjoy onboard the sunrise or sunset

Both tours take you to Tequila, a magical town of Jalisco located not far from the City of Guadalajara famous for bewitching all its visitors with its cultural, natural, and, of course, tequila wealth.

The two itineraries of the José Cuervo Express have an approximate duration of 11 hours, so you better book your entire day to fully enjoy this experience.

Jose Cuervo Express Tequila Tour

Travelers who choose to leave the train on board in the morning will leave the Guadalajara Station at 9 in the morning to see how the breathtaking landscapes light up with the first rays of the sun while an educational tasting is conducted guided by an expert Tequilaro by José Cuervo.

Before noon, the visits will reach the town of Tequila, where you can visit the La Rojeña distillery, the oldest in America whose production of artisan tequilas dates back 250 years.

When you go through it, you will know all its elaborate production processes that range from agave cooking in masonry furnaces, to distillation in a special room with copper stills and its storage in thousands of barrels that are stored in the aging rooms.

In the afternoon you will have free time to tour Tequila and try its high gastronomic proposal in some of its best restaurants.

Before concluding your visit, you will visit the famous agave fields of the town to contemplate a demonstration of “jima” with which it will be clear to you why the “jimadores” are considered the artists within the tequila production process.

Visitors that opt ​​for the sunset itinerary will leave Expo Guadalajara in the morning and arrive first at the agave fields and then travel through the José Cuervo distillery.

At 18:00, the return aboard the Jose Cuervo Express will be taught, where the educational tasting will take place with the sunset in the landscapes of Jalisco as the background scenario.

To experience the magical world surrounding this emblematic drink, there is nothing better than spending at least one day visiting the “Tequila Route”, a tourism concept that embraces history, tradition, and culture.

By law, only 5 Mexican states can produce tequila:

• Jalisco
• Guanajuato
• Tamaulipas
• Michoacan
• Nayarit

Most tequila is produced in the Tequila Valley in Jalisco.

Jalisco is home to some of the world’s most recognized tequila distilleries. Distilleries are scattered throughout the region. There are a hundred factories of emblematic tequilas such as Herradura, Cuervo, and Sauza.

What is the Tequila Route?

The Tequila Route is a tourist destination that began in 2006.

The Tequila Route is a popular multi-thematic tourist destination that combines historical, cultural, and natural wealth, full of Mexican traditions linked to the historical development of this emblematic drink.

Tequila Valley is located 1,5 hours from the city of Guadalajara. The valley is known for its great fame due to the beauty of its landscapes during the rainy season or the blooming of the blue agave in early April.

The Tequila Valley has plenty of attractions that can be visited at other times of the year, such as the so-called Otoñada del Valle de Tequila, a celebration that takes place in the Tequila Valley in the fall.

Tequila Route consists of 8 municipalities surrounding the Tequila Volcano:

• El Arenal
• Amatitán
• Tequila
• Magdalena
• San Juanito de Escobedo
• Ahualulco de Mercado
• Etzatlán
• Teuchitlán

The first 4 municipalities of this region are part of the Agave Landscape: almost 35 thousand hectares of land with huge bluish plants planted with blue agave were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Flanked by mountains on both sides and a dormant volcano in the center, most of the distilleries are located in or near the valley towns of El Arenal, Tequila, and Amatitan. The small town of Tequila is the most popular.

Amatitan and Tequila dispute the honor of being the cradle of tequila.

Tequila Trains & Tequila Bus

The fastest and easiest way to explore the region is to take the Tequila Express train, which transports passengers through a desolate landscape of agave-filled countryside. There are two tequila trains from Guadalajara:

• José Cuervo Express: From Guadalajara to Tequila.
• Tequila Herradura Express: From Guadalajara to Amatitán.

There is also another similar tour with the Tequila Express, a regional bus service that runs from Guadalajara to the Sauza Tequila distillery in the municipality of Tequila. To travel on your own, rent a car in Guadalajara.

Staying here for a few days, you have a chance to visit a cultural city center, a country lake, and play local sports. No doubt, Guadalajara is one of the must-see places for visiting in Mexico.

Where to go around Guadalajara if you have just one free day?

Renting a good vehicle from Hertz Guadalajara, you can discover more worthy places around the city.

Surrounding regions are also rich in cultural and historical heritage as well. The marvelous countryside is covered with highland forests, mountains, and lakes.

There are a lot of the best trips around Guadalajara you can take.

Puerto Vallarta

If you are a beach lover, you have a chance to visit a beautiful beach place with a comfortable infrastructure.

Go to the Pacific coast to Puerto Vallarta. Actually, this is the name of a small Mexican city, full of street food spots, atmospheric bars, and happy tourists. Everyday life is very calm and quiet here.

Go to the beach and enjoy hidden bays and a shoreline.

Chapala Lake

If a shoreline is not enough for you, you should go to see a lake. It takes you half an hour to drive to the south from Guadalajara. Your stop is a small town Chapala.

The town is famous for its great climate conditions almost every day and its beautiful lakes. The views are amazing! The biggest lake you have ever seen is surrounded by green forests and mountains.

Do you want a book a boat tour?

Tlaquepaque

A small city Tlaquepaque is a popular place to visit not far from Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque is a famous cozy place where you can buy hand-made crafts, street musicians, and road-side treats.

This is that particular place where people used to go to buy souvenirs. You can see a curious mosaic shop, El Jardin Hidalgo garden. Nevertheless, the long streets and pretty buildings look nice!

Tequila

Come to try Tequila! This is, probably, the first drink you are offered to try in this region. Tequila is a legendary drink that has been produced in the region of Guadalajara for centuries.

The never-ending fields around the city are separated for tequila production. The suburbs are full of old distillery buildings. Many of them are open for tourists and you can watch the process of producing tequila.

The testing drink is not enough, visiting suburban hills, you have a chance to observe everything that attracts foreign photographers the most: cobblestone streets, flowered buildings, charming cafes.

Mazamitla

This region is often called Mexican Switzerland. You should go to the west of Guadalajara to reach Mazamitla. The charming place welcomes you with its wooden buildings, pine trees, and fresh air.

Here you can see the Parroquia de San Cristobal, the pearl of local architecture. Looking for the gorgeous sceneries, go to the mountain forests around the town, or visit the legendary waterfall of Cascada El Salto.

There are not many tourists in this quiet place so you have enough time for picturing and enjoying your vacation.

Tapalpa

Have you ever heard about the so-called “Magical Town” in Mexico? It’s all about Tapalpa!

The town names the most mysterious place in Guadalajara because of its impressive culture. Here you can see the brightest events and traditions. Also, this is a place where people come to get some rest and peace of mind.

The city is in the center of forest hills, built up with interesting buildings, and original traditions. This is the right place for all tourists to come and see the beauty and mystery of the local lands.

Ajijic

This small town is waiting for your visit just after the Lake of Chapala. This is a really dreamy place.

You will be amazed by the fresh gardens, warm water, and ancient colonial architecture, typical of this land. What is more, you will meet interesting people and learn about the latest local news in the atmospheric cafes and restaurants.

Bosque Primavera

Traditionally, Guadalajara is a popular place of deep nature and azure water. The main source of crystal-clear air and water around the city is the Bosque de la Primavera.

Why is it an interesting place to visit? It seems like you are getting into a new world! Take a tour and go back to the past! You have a chance to explore local plants and animals. If you want to know more, you can take a guide!

Don’t worry about the condition of the road. Of course, you can take a full-size car if you travel in a company to feel comfortable and have enough space for your luggage.

To be sure of a safe road, try to plan the route beforehand and mark all possible stops for walking and dining.

• The point of departure: Mexico City
• The point of return: Guadalajara

You will visit cozy colonial towns with history and small magic towns and villages.
You also will visit a majestic Teotihuacan and the place of the famous tequila drink birth.

Attention!

This tour contains 4 long-distance bus travel:

• Mexico City – Queretaro (3:20/4:10 hours)
• Queretaro – Acambaro (2:40/3:00 hours)
• Acambaro – Queretaro (2:40/3:00 hours)
• Leon – Guadalajara (4:15/4:45 hours)

You also could rent a car, but the time on the road will be almost the same.

Have a nice trip!

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Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, “tequila,” which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the plant contains sugars and has been used by native peoples here to make a fermented drink.

After the Spanish arrived, they took this fermented beverage and distilled it, producing the tequila known today.

The popularity of the drink and the history behind it has made the town and the area surrounding it a World Heritage Site. It was also named a “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town) in 2003 by the Mexican federal government.

Tequila has also been famous for being the prime setting in the successful Televisa telenovela “Destilando Amor”.

The coat of arms of the municipality was officially adopted on 31 December 1983 by the municipal council.

It contains the Latin phrase ALMA LAETA NOBILIS, meaning “cheerful and noble soul.” Its representative symbols include the tower of the main church in the town of Tequila, the chimneys of the distilleries, the agave plant, and Tequila Mountain.

Tequila is not only famous for its namesake drink but also for its scenic beauty, historic architecture, and cultural significance. The town attracts visitors from around the world who come to learn about the production of tequila.