Our first trip to Tequila was an unplanned side stop on a tour of Guadalajara and the Altos de Jalisco. Ever since, I’ve been yammering on-and-on about this Mexican “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Village). My yammer paid off, because less than a year later, we persuaded a small group of family and friends to join us for a return trip – a five night tasting tour of Tequila – through Tijuana and Tlaquepaque.

Transportation Tips

We flew from Tijuana to Guadalajara via the Cross Border Express bridge, spanning the US-Mexico border. It makes the border crossing easy, and dare I say, maybe even a little… magical! Aside from being affordable, clean, safe, and AIR CONDITIONED, the bridge opens up flight options and cost savings for San Diego travelers. Leaving from Tijuana also means a direct flight to most major cities within Mexico – and that means no vacay downtime lost on connecting flights!

In Guadalajara, we rented a car to fit our small group for the drive to Tequila. Alternatively, shuttles and taxis are available and regularly make the one hour trip between the two towns. Once there, Tequila is easily walk-able (blazing hot afternoons being the exception) and some distilleries offer their own transportation. If walking isn’t your thing, look for the barrel on wheels in the center of town, and climb in for a group tour!

Luxurious Lodging

Hotel Solar de las Animas is one of the main reasons I wanted to return to the town of Tequila – it is a lovely property near the center of town, and has all the right amenities to hold your attention. They welcome you with fresh herb infused water when you walk through the door. They set slippers by your bed during the turn down service. There are indulgent L’occitane products in the palatial bathroom. The pools, the restaurants, the library, the design and the decor, all magically draw you in like an oasis. But most importantly, it is priced reasonably for the level of comfort and luxury. Alas, we did not go to Tequila to hideout in the hotel (even though I could!), we went to enjoy the regions favorites.

Here is how we spent our time:

DAY 1

Weary from the day of travel to the town of Tequila, we started with a pre-dinner cocktail at the hotel Sky Bar where you can enjoy the town view and the cool afternoon breeze carrying the scent of roasting agave.

Dinner was an accidental roving tour – our first stop, the food stands outside of the Church of Santiago Apostol – we snacked on hot dogs & cheeseburgers, and fresh homemade tamales. Next stop, Tacos el Chino, a “pop-up” taco cart parked in front of a main street house. Mexicans made pop-up restaurants a mainstay of their economy looooooong before they were cool, and Tacos el Chino is no exception. We wrangled together enough seats for everyone at two plastic patio tables, our server sourced a fancy beverage tower filled with much-needed ice-cold beer, and we grazed on roasted onions, carne asada and adobada tacos.

Our nightcap was an after dinner cocktail at La Cappilla, the oldest bar in town. It shows its age, but is worth a stop for their signature drink, the Batanga – tequila, Coca-Cola, and lime juice – stirred with a steak knife that is probably as old as the building. You know what “they” say, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger!

DAY 2

What do you do when it is 90 degrees at 9:00 am? You go for a refreshing dip in the hotel pool of course – and you enjoy a light poolside breakfast of yogurt and granola, pastries, coffee and fresh lime juice (trust me on the lime juice, it’s magically sweet!).

Lunch and a tequila tasting tour were up next, at Cofradia. It is a large production facility, with equally large grounds, and of course a super-sized restaurant with meals to match. That seems to be the shtick in this entire region – bigger is better. We wrapped the afternoon wandering around town, shopping, and enjoying a beer and a taster at La Rojeña, which is the areas oldest operating distillery, producing Jose Cuervo.

Dinner was a regal affair in the private dining room of the hotels La Antigua Casona restaurant. We indulged, sampling and sharing plates big and small, family style – from salad to soup, squid ink pasta to a gourmet torta ahogada sandwich, plus delectable desserts. It was great… but what was most notable for everyone around the table was the wine from Baja. Don’t tell the locals, but we needed a serious break from (the albeit delicious!) tequila.

DAY 3

With our tequila taste buds refreshed, we headed to Fortaleza (also known as Los Abuelos) for a private group tasting tour. A small batch producer, they do virtually everything by hand (with one small exception, they source their glass bottles). We toured the grounds and saw it all, from the stomping of the agave, to the glass etching, and the painting and polishing of the hand-crafted and keepsake bottle tops. The tour ended with samples of tequila and fresh chips & guacamole in the cool (literally and figuratively) candlelit tasting room cave.

From Tequila, we headed to the town of Tlaquepaque – for the final nights of our stay. We walked the streets, bargaining like tourists, and snacking on chocolates, churros, and ice cream. We ultimately ended up at the legendary El Parían for dinner and a show. The plaza is encircled by no fewer than eight different restaurants, and is made famous by the competing mariachi bands that rotate through the restaurants. But these mariachis are just the warm up for the main act that takes center stage later in the evening. The night we went, there were dancers, musicians, and a powerful lead FEMALE mariachi! Aye Aye Aye!!!!

DAY 4

The last day of our trip was spent shopping in Tonala, not far from Tlaquepaque. This is where lovers of Mexican art who are “in-the-know” go to stock up. You’ll find everything – paintings, ceramics, furniture, household and kitchen items, serveware and barware, and much more. I have a soft spot for Ken Edwards ceramics, and heard there was an outlet store selling “imperfect” pieces, (which in my opinion adds to their artistic quality) so we scored some great deals.

The evening was spent leisurely strolling through the art galleries and high-end furniture boutiques back in Tlaquepaque, dreaming about the kind of home that would be filled with the oversized, over-the-top, gorgeous pieces. There are chandeliers the size of small swimming pools, decoratively framed mirrors meant to cover an ENTIRE wall, and elaborate dining room and bedroom sets that would make anyone feel like royalty.

Our final, and favorite, dinner was at Casa Azul. The restaurant is magical, romantic and enchanting, with artfully crafted trees, each decorated with unique lighting that fills the open-air courtyard. The service was fantastic, dinner and drinks were delightful, but the dessert, Pay de Limón, a layered lime treat served in a mini mason jar, was a sweet treat that perfectly capped a sweet trip!

Who wants to go back with us next time, and search for more hidden, magical, gems?