A tequila tasting experience in Tepatitlán, Mexico

Looking for an authentic tequila experience? Let me take you to a hidden corner of Jalisco that few travelers know about. Have you ever landed at the same airport multiple times and still discovered something completely different with every visit? That happened to me at Guadalajara International Airport. In less than a month, I flew through it six different times, and not once did I regret it. Every trip revealed a new side of Jalisco—sometimes through its incredible food, other times through breathtaking nature, rural adventures, wellness experiences, or cultural traditions. Each visit made me fall in love with the state a little more. This time, my journey took me to Los Altos de Jalisco, a region famous for its tequila, ranching heritage, and warm hospitality. While tequila may be Mexico's most iconic spirit, it's far from the only one. Mezcal, pulque, raicilla, pox, sotol, and many other traditional beverages each tell the story of the region where they're made. On this trip, however, tequila took center stage as I explored Tepatitlán de Morelos—better known simply as Tepa by the locals. If you're planning a day trip from Guadalajara or searching for the best things to do in Tepatitlán, let me take you through one unforgettable itinerary filled with authentic tequila, incredible regional food, colonial architecture, and local traditions.

Start your day in Zapotlanejo: Breakfast and local traditions

Before heading to Tepa, I highly recommend making a stop in Zapotlanejo for breakfast. Trust me—it's worth setting your alarm early. We arrived at Birriería Don Pedro just before 8:00 a.m., expecting the place to still be closed, but to our surprise, it was already welcoming hungry customers. After catching a 6:00 a.m. flight to Guadalajara, a steaming bowl of birria was exactly what we needed. The spicy consommé, fresh lime juice, pickled onions, chiles, and incredibly tender meat brought us back to life with every spoonful. After breakfast, we explored some of Zapotlanejo's most iconic landmarks, including the Casa de la Cultura and the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, home to a statue honoring Mother Naty, the first Mexican woman to be canonized as a saint. The town is also known as one of the pillars of the textile industry in Los Altos de Jalisco. Beginning in the 1990s, local families started selling a wide variety of products, but textiles—especially shawls—quickly became the town's specialty. At one point, seven out of every ten homes operated as small workshops. Today, around 60% of the population works in the textile industry, and the city is home to more than 1,500 clothing stores. Many garments sold by well-known retailers are produced here, yet prices remain surprisingly affordable. I found a long-sleeve thermal shirt for just 50 pesos—one of the best bargains of the trip. Speaking of clothing, don't underestimate the weather in Los Altos de Jalisco. Temperatures can be quite chilly, so pack warm layers. Fortunately, a comforting bowl of barbacoa—or birria—can warm you up in no time. Before leaving town, don't miss the famous tostadas raspadas at Tostadería Los Cueritos. Unlike a regular tostada, the dough is stretched with a traditional metate until it becomes an oversized, crispy tortilla with a texture similar to a thin pork rind. Don Rigoberto Loza Briseño, who has been making them for more than fifty years, proudly explained the process to us. It's one of those local specialties you simply can't leave without trying.

Visit Tequilería Trujillo: A boutique tequila experience

About 45 minutes from Zapotlanejo lies Tepatitlán de Morelos, and our first stop was exactly where we wanted to raise a toast: Tequilería Trujillo. Although the family has spent more than fifty years cultivating agave and supplying it to other tequila brands, they only launched their own label in 2022, making this one of the newest boutique tequila experiences in the region. We joined the guided distillery tour, which takes visitors through the three key stages of tequila production: cooking the agave, fermentation, and distillation. Every day, the distillery produces around 16,500 liters of tequila. The experience ended in their contemporary tasting room, where adobe walls blend beautifully with modern design. There, we sampled three expressions: Trujillo Crystal, Trujillo Cuarenta, and Trujillo Tahona, their artisanal tequila. But what impressed me most was that Tequilería Trujillo offers much more than a factory tour and tequila tasting. Visitors can stay overnight in colorful cottages surrounded by endless agave fields, creating a truly immersive tequila experience. Each cabin includes a bedroom, private bathroom, living room, terrace, fire pit, and two bicycles for exploring the property. Prices vary depending on the season, but accommodations typically start at around 3,600 pesos per night. The property has also become a romantic destination, featuring a charming wedding chapel and event spaces for couples looking to celebrate surrounded by agave fields. After our tasting—and after spending time with Casa Trujillo's adorable little mascot, an energetic dog that happily followed us throughout the tour—I couldn't resist buying a delicious chocolate milk popsicle from the gift shop. If you're interested in booking the guided tour or spending the night at the distillery, let me know and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Things to do in downtown Tepatitlán

By late afternoon, and feeling happier than ever after our tequila tasting, we arrived in downtown Tepatitlán ready for another culinary adventure. Our first stop was Carnitas y Fritangas El Che, where we devoured delicious tortas ahogadas filled with carnitas, followed by a creamy jericalla, one of Jalisco's most beloved traditional desserts.

Torta ahogada, mexican food

As night fell, we discovered that our walk through Tepa was only just beginning. The historic center is home to more than fifteen churches, many of them illuminated at night with glowing neon crosses that create an unexpected contrast between history and modernity. We visited both the Santuario del Señor de la Misericordia, with its striking Neo-Gothic façade, and the Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís.

Iglesia en Tepatitlán

As we wandered the streets, we learned more about Tepatitlán's important role during the Cristero War and its most famous annual celebration, Tepabril, a festival held every spring between April and May. Naturally, all that walking made us hungry again. Our evening ended with two local specialties I never expected to find: the famous bagged chocomilk, which turned out to be more like a frozen milkshake available in several flavors rather than simply chocolate milk, and a tamazole—a comforting combination of white pozole served alongside a red tamal. It may sound unusual at first, but it was one of the most memorable meals of the trip.

Where to stay in Tepatitlán

Just when I thought the day couldn't surprise me any further, we arrived at Hotel Grand Naranjos. The hotel proudly describes itself as an "Alteño lodging experience," and it truly lives up to that promise. Behind its walls lies more than a century of history. From the moment you step into the colonial-style lobby and central courtyard, it feels as though you've traveled back in time. The guestrooms continue that atmosphere with antique telephones, vintage lamps, and early twentieth-century sewing machines that make the entire stay feel wonderfully nostalgic. Despite its historic character, the hotel offers all the comforts modern travelers expect, including complimentary breakfast, an on-site restaurant, air-conditioned rooms, private balconies, and free Wi-Fi. The following morning, we continued our journey through Los Altos de Jalisco, heading to Yahualica, where we visited chile plantations, a local hot sauce factory, and the town's historic center. Later, we made our way to Mexticacán, a town famous for being the birthplace of the Mexican ice pop. But that's a story for another article.