All Aboard the Jose Cuervo Express: Is This Tequila Train Worth It?

Wondering whether the Jose Cuervo Express is worth it? Here’s an overview of our experience to help you decide!

I’ve been to Mexico half a dozen times now, but it wasn’t until a few months before our most recent trip that I heard about the Jose Cuervo Express – a iconic train that whisks you from Guadalajara to the town of Tequila for a day of tastings, culture and fun.

So, while researching for that trip, I decided to look into it – and ended up adding Guadalajara onto our itinerary just so we could take this iconic train. (Turns out, Guadalajara is also an awesome city that’s well worth the visit!)

But booking the train wasn’t an easy decision. It’s a pricey trip and had my doubts as to whether it would live up to the hype.

Spoiler alert: it was well worth it and such a fun day.

But if you’re still on the fence about shelling out for this experience, in this post, I’ll break down everything you need to know about riding the Jose Cuervo Express: what to expect on board, the difference between ticket classes, how to make the most of your time in Tequila and a few tips I wish I’d known before hopping on board.

What is the Jose Cuervo Express?

The Jose Cuervo Express is a tourist train that runs between Guadalajara and the town of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

Operated by the Jose Cuervo company – one of the oldest tequila producers in the world and a name I’m sure most people recognise! – it’s a full-day experience focused on the history, production, and tasting of tequila.

There are two types of journeys:

• Sunrise Experience: Travel to Tequila by train and return to Guadalajara by bus.
• Sunset Experience: Travel to Tequila by bus and return by train (this is the more popular option because of the scenic sunset views on the return trip – and because it’s far more fun to drink in the afternoon than the morning!). This is what we did and I’ll share more about this particular experience throughout this article.

The train is made up of several carriages with different service levels:

• Express
• Premium Plus
• Diamond
• Elite

Each has tequila tastings but the higher the class, the better the food and tequila, and the nicer the train carriage.

Ticket prices range from MXN$3,115 to MXN$4,620 per person (approximately US$160 to US$230), depending on the class and time of year. Tickets can be booked through the official Jose Cuervo Express website or through select tour operators (book online here).

The train only runs on Saturdays, and you need to book your tickets well in advance.

This isn’t a commuter train – it’s a curated day trip designed for visitors who want to experience Mexico’s most iconic spirit at the source, with a mix of guided tours, tastings, entertainment and beautiful scenery along the way.

Is it worth it?

Honestly, I had my doubts. The Jose Cuervo Express isn’t cheap, and it’s definitely marketed as a tourist experience. But having done it, I can confidently say: yes, it’s worth it. If you enjoy tequila, scenic train rides and learning about local culture in a fun and festive way, this is the trip for you.

Even if you don’t enjoy tequila, this is still a great day trip. If you’re in Guadalajara and want to experience where Jalisco’s most famous export comes from, this is a very memorable way to do it. It’s a great day trip to add to a Guadalajara itinerary.

And while it’s touristy, most of the tourists were Mexicans (I’d say around 85% of the people on our trip were from Mexico), which made it a whole lot more fun (Mexicans know how to party!).

The journey: What to expect on board (Sunset Experience)

Our day started in Guadalajara – and it didn’t start off great. I knew Guadalajara has crazy traffic, so I’d planned for us to leave with plenty of time to get to the bus depot. Unfortunately, the weekend we were in Guadalajara was a holiday weekend, so many streets were shut off, which meant our pre-booked taxi was late picking us up.

The information on our tickets was very clear that we had to arrive before 8.45am and that no one would be allowed to enter after 8.45am.

Luckily, we had Guadalajara’s best taxi driver and he whizzed us through back streets (and possibly ran a red light or two) like a rally car driver to get us there in time. Well, actually, we got there after 8.45am and it didn’t seem to be a problem!) Needless to say, I was quite stressed by the time we arrived.

When we arrived at the bus station, the staff were still serving the dregs of coffee and hot chocolate, and handing out giant sweet buns. So, if you do get there ahead of time (like you’re supposed to!), you’ll be caffeinated and fed. There are also toilets at the station.

We then boarded a comfortable, air-conditioned coach bound for Tequila. Buses were separated into English and Spanish speakers.

The bus took us to an agave farm on the outskirts of Tequila. Here, there was more food: plates of piping-hot tamales to line the stomach.

And it was time for our first tastings! Everyone was handed a reusable drink bottle filled with a Paloma cocktail (tequila with grapefruit soda). If we wanted more, the bar staff were more than happy to whip up another cocktail.

While we were sipping on our bottles, we wandered around the agave fields snapping photos, before a demonstration by a jimador (agave farmer) about how agave is grown and cut.

Then, it was back on the bus and onward to Tequila, we were split into small groups for a guided tour of the La Rojeña distillery, the oldest active distillery in Latin America.

We started with a tasting of blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas in a grand, chandelier-topped room, before we were led through the distillery to see the traditional ovens, fermentation tanks and barrel rooms, and learn how the spiky agave plants are transformed into tequila.

After the tour, we had some free time to explore Tequila and grab some lunch. On the bus earlier, the guides had arranged bookings for lunch for anyone who wanted it – but we decided to go our own way and ended up at Fonda La Martina for flautas and tacos. It was a super cheap meal and the women who worked at the restaurant were lovely.

Tequila is small enough to wander on foot, but packed with personality, especially on the weekends – colourful streets, mariachi music echoing through plazas and more tequila-themed shops than you thought could exist.

After lunch, we took a stroll through the main square, where there’s the Church of Santiago Apóstol, food vendors selling elotes and raspados, and souvenir stands with everything from agave syrup to branded shot glasses.

We then headed back to the distillery for a cultural show. To be honest, I thought about skipping this because I was expecting something incredibly touristy, but it turned out to be an absolute highlight of the day (probably aided by the many tequila tastings I’d had).

The show included dancers who did all sorts of crazy things with knives and high leg kicks followed by an incredible mariachi band. Every single Mexican in the audience was singing along to the classic songs and I was so jealous that I didn’t know the words and couldn’t join in. It really surprised me by being such a great experience.

As the sun began to dip, it was time to board the Jose Cuervo Express for the return to Guadalajara. Our Diamante carriage was stunning – comfortable leather seats, a pressed tin roof and bartenders mixing up drink after drink.

The only downside was that because it was just two of us, we were sat in a circular seat with some other travellers – but they turned out to be super lovely women from Houston (we discussed life in Texas, as we lived in Dallas for 2.5 years).

The train moved slowly through the countryside, with views of Jalisco’s agave-covered hills and distant volcanoes, all bathed in golden hour light.

Onboard, there was music, non-stop cocktails, some light bites and another guided tasting. By the time we were rolling into Guadalajara, everyone in our carriage was up dancing (with some far drunker than others). It felt more like a party than a train ride, and I loved every minute of it.

Jose Cuervo Express tips

If you decide the Jose Cuervo Express is for you, here are some handy tips.

• Book early. The Jose Cuervo Express often sells out weeks in advance, especially during holidays and high season (November to April). If you know your dates, lock in your tickets as soon as possible. The train only runs once a week, on Saturdays.
• Choose your experience wisely. The Sunrise version means better light for photography on the agave fields, while the Sunset version (which we did) ends with the train ride back – my favourite part of the day.
• Hydrate (with water too!). With unlimited tequila on offer, it’s easy to overdo it. Pace yourself and bring a refillable water bottle. There’s a lot of tequila on this trip.
• Bring a portable charger. Between the distillery, the town and the train itself, it’s a long day. You don’t want your phone to die!
• Wear nice clothes. You don’t need to dress up, but almost everyone on the trip was looking their best!
• Don’t bring too much. You won’t have access to lockers or secure storage for bags. A small daypack with your essentials is all you need.
• Prepare for a wait for transport when you get back. With hundreds of people arriving at the Estación de Ferrocarriles Mexicanos when you get back to Guadalajara, plan to wait a bit for an Uber. There are taxi drivers there, but they charge exorbitant rates.
• Don’t drive. Where the day trip starts and ends are two different locations.

Other ways to visit Tequila

If the Jose Cuervo Express doesn’t suit your schedule or budget, there are other great ways to visit Tequila from Guadalajara.

• Day tours by van or private car – Many companies offer day trips that include tastings, lunch and a stop at the agave fields.

• Rent a car and self-drive – Tequila is about 1.5 hours from Guadalajara by car, and the drive is scenic and straightforward. Just make sure someone is the designated driver! You can rent a car in Guadalajara through DiscoverCars.

Jose Cuervo Express: Final thoughts

Riding the Jose Cuervo Express is one of those Mexican travel experiences that delivers far more than you expect. It’s festive, educational, beautiful and – yes – very boozy. Whether you’re a tequila aficionado or just curious to learn more about one of Mexico’s most famous exports, the Jose Cuervo Express is a fun way to do it.

It’s not the cheapest day trip around, but if you’re in Guadalajara and have the time (and money), I’d say: book the train.

Is the Jose Cuervo Express on your Mexico bucket list??

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• The Best 3-Day Guadalajara Itinerary: Markets, Mariachi & Tequila!
• 3 Days in Mexico City: What to See, Do and Eat
• 4 Days in Oaxaca Itinerary: 25+ Best Things To Do
• The Perfect 2-Week Yucatan Itinerary: Ruins, Cenotes and Colourful Towns
• How to Spend 3 Days in Magical Mérida

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