The José Cuervo Express train or a van from Guadalajara?
Only one of the six tequila day trips we compare puts you on the José Cuervo Express, and it costs about twice as much as most of the others. The other five go by road both ways. Below, what the train day includes and when a van makes more sense.
What the train day includes
Aventurate Por Jalisco runs the only train option on our list. Its Viator listing describes a day of about 11 hours, starting with a 9:00 am hotel pickup and built around the José Cuervo Express and the brand behind it.
Most of the stops carry the Cuervo name. You visit La Rojeña, José Cuervo's distillery in Tequila town, with Mundo Cuervo and entry to the Centro Cultural Juan Beckmann Gallardo museum on the same ticket.
- Hotel pickup at 9:00 am in central Guadalajara or Tlaquepaque
- A jima demonstration at an agave farm, where a jimador cuts the leaves off a piña
- La Rojeña and Mundo Cuervo
- Museum entry at the Centro Cultural Juan Beckmann Gallardo
- A one-glass tasting led by an expert taster
- The train wagon, with Mexican snacks and cocktails
- Lotería (Mexican bingo), mariachi and a folkloric show that ends with a toast
- Free time for lunch in Tequila, which you pay for yourself
The rating sits at 4.4 from 81 reviews on Viator. That is a fair score, though lower than the van trips at the top of our list, two of which hold 4.9 or better from 400+ reviews each.
One leg by rail, one by coach
The train does not carry you both ways. One direction runs on the José Cuervo Express and the other on an air-conditioned coach, so check which leg is on the train for your date before you plan anything around it.
That detail changes the feel of the day. With the train in the morning, the cocktails and music come early and the long ride home is by road. With the train last, the wagon party closes a day that has already included a tasting and a toast.
The rail leg is the part people remember, with its snacks and cocktails. The coach leg is plain transport. If you picture a whole day of rolling through agave fields by rail, adjust that picture now.
The price, and why you cannot change your mind
At ~$289 per person, this is the dearest of the six tours, almost double our pick at ~$149. Part of the gap pays for the train seat and the Cuervo entries; the tasting itself is a single glass.
The listing says the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed. If your flight moves or you wake up unwell, the money is gone. Book it once your dates are fixed, never as a placeholder.
Compare that with the road trips. The Agave Experience and KanKan Tours both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and the other main listings show free cancellation in search. Our price guide lines up what each fare covers.
For a day on the rails
Aventurate Por Jalisco pairs a seat on the José Cuervo Express with La Rojeña, the museum and a folkloric show. Read the no-refund terms and the leg on the train before you pay.
What the van tours do instead
The other five trips run by road both ways and cost from ~$42 to ~$150. None has a train, but several spend more time at the stills and in the tasting room than the rail day does.
| Tour | Transport | Length | Cancellation | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aventurate Por Jalisco | Train one way, coach the other | About 11 hours | Non-refundable, no changes | ~$289 |
| The Agave Experience | Van, hotel pickup | About 10 hours | Free up to 24 hours | ~$149 |
| Estación Turística GDL | Road, pickup available | 9 hours | Check the listing | ~$150 |
| KanKan Tours | Road, pickup or Minerva | 8–10 hours | Free up to 24 hours | ~$96 |
If the José Cuervo name is the draw, Estación Turística GDL also takes you through La Rojeña, by road and with a tasting. Our José Cuervo or craft distillery guide weighs that visit against the smaller houses.
Our pick, The Agave Experience from ~$149, gives you breakfast in El Arenal and 8 tastings of premium tequila and mezcal in a VIP cellar. It ends at Cantaritos El Güero, which our guide to the Amatitán bar describes.
For history instead of a party, KanKan Tours from ~$96 adds the round pyramids of the Guachimontones. The pyramids guide covers that day stop by stop.
Pickup and the length of the day
Aventurate Por Jalisco collects guests from hotels in central Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque, but only from listed hotels, not from Airbnb flats. Call 24–48 hours before to confirm the pickup time.
If you rent an apartment, that rule matters. Our pickup guide shows which tours meet near the Minerva roundabout and which collect from more places in the city.
Eleven hours from a 9:00 am start brings you back in the evening. Leave the next morning free, and plan the train for early in your stay so a lost day does not cost you the trip. The best time guide covers busy weekends and holidays.
Who should take the train, and who should not
- Take it if the ride on the José Cuervo Express is the reason you came
- Take it if you like a show, with lotería, mariachi and a folkloric act in one day
- Skip it if your plans might change, since there are no refunds
- Skip it if you have back problems or are pregnant; the listing advises against it
- Skip it if you want to compare several tequilas side by side
Cocktails on the wagon, a tasting and a toast add up over a long day. Eat a proper lunch in Tequila and drink water in between; our tips on pacing the day go further.