Whether group tours make you balk or you know you’ll need a designated driver but don’t want to pay tourist prices, taking the bus from Guadalajara to Tequila is an excellent option.
Better yet, by hopping on a bus you’ll have more departures to choose from than group tours, and you can save money by buying a round-trip ticket.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I’ll give you the low-down on taking the bus to Tequila from Guadalajara based on my trip in February 2022.
Accessibility Note: Unfortunately, the bus from Guadalajara to Tequila isn’t wheelchair accesible.
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Choosing a Bus Station in Guadalajara
Guadalajara has a few bus stations, but the following two are the best options for getting to Tequila:
- Central Vieja
- Zapopan
I’ll save you the work of looking at a map; if you’re staying around the historic center of Guadalajara (such as at Selina Guadalajara), taking a bus to Tequila from the Central Vieja station is the best choice.
Otherwise, if you happen to be staying on the west side of Guadalajara, hopping on a bus from Zapopan will save you from battling traffic to get to Central Vieja, only to fight through that same traffic to arrive in Zapopan where the buses stop to pick up passengers.
If you’re curious about safety in Guadalajara, check out my article, Is Guadalajara safe?
Tequila Bus Company
Identifying a bus to Tequila at the Central Vieja station is easy.
One of the most popular bus companies is called Tequila, and its logo is the agave plant (the plant they make Tequila from). Tequila offers three bus lines with the following characteristics:
Tequila Bus: A standard bus that uses the Avenida Vallarta route. This is the most economical option and their seats only have a small recline.
Tequila Plus: A Mercedes Benz bus that runs the Periférico – Colón route and has 44 cm reclining seats.
Tequila Platino: A Volvo 9700 bus that also runs the Periférico – Colón route. It has two bathrooms onboard and the fastest arrival due to fewer stops.
That said, there’s a caveat: It’s unlikely you’ll want to get picky about the bus you take, given that only one of these three bus types runs at each departure time.
Of the three, you’ll likely end up boarding the Tequila Plus or Tequila Bus.
Other Bus Companies That Run the Guadalajara to Tequila Route
If you love choices, you’ll be happy to know that Tequila isn’t the only company running the Guadalajara to Tequila bus route.
Instead, the bus company Quick also offers services to Tequila.
Quick is a fine bus option as well. So, if you’re not picky about bus quality, I recommend choosing whatever company is offering the next bus departure. For this reason, I took a Tequila Plus bus.
Bus Schedule From Guadalajara – Tequila
If you take a bus from Guadalajara with the Tequila company, the buses run as follows (as of February 2022):
| Day of the Week | First Bus Departure From Guadalajara | Last Bus Departure From Guadalajara | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 6:00 am | 8:30 pm | Every 30 minutes |
| Weekends | 6:30 am | 8:00 pm | Every 30 minutes |
Buses with Quick run less frequently. Their schedule from Guadalajara to Tequila is:
- First departure is at 6:40 am
- Second departure is at 7:20 am
- Every departure after that runs on the hour from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
When taking the bus from Tequila to Guadalajara, the bus schedule is similar. I managed to only get the bus schedule for the Tequila company, which goes as follows:
| Day of the Week | First Bus Departure From Tequila | Last Bus Departure From Tequila | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 6:30 am | 10:30 pm | Every hour |
| Weekends | 11:00 am | 8:00 pm | Every hour |
Cost of the Bus from Guadalajara to Tequila
If you travel on a Tequila Plus bus, the cost is 120 pesos for a one-way ticket from Guadalajara to Tequila.
However, if you purchase a round-trip ticket, it’ll only cost 220 pesos. That’s a 20 peso difference (about $1 USD).
Although the difference isn’t significant enough for most people to jump on the deal, as long as you trust yourself with holding onto your ticket after drinking tequila in Tequila, you might as well go for it—they’ll give you an open ticket, meaning you can return on any day at any time.
If you happen to take a Tequila Bus instead of the Plus line, it’ll cost 100 pesos per way. These buses only run a couple of times per day. The Tequila Platino line is a bit of a mystery—I can’t tell you how much it costs or when (if?) it’s currently running.
Should you travel to Tequila with Quick, the bus ticket costs 119 pesos for a one-way ticket. That’s right, you’ll save a whole peso by traveling with them!
Understanding Your Bus Ticket
Whether you book a round trip or one-way ticket, the ticket agent will give you paper tickets. Half of the ticket is for your driver, the other half is for you.
The Tequila bus tickets are in Spanish, but there are only two things you need to know about them:
- The time, which doesn’t need translating.
- Your seat number (labeled as “Asiento” followed by a number in the upper left hand corner of your ticket).
If you’ll be returning to Guadalajara from Tequila by bus, the seat doesn’t matter. In fact, if you purchased a round-trip ticket it won’t even indicate a seat number. Make sure to save the ticket that says “ABIERTO“—that’s the one that’ll get you back to Guadalajara.
However, for the sake of simplicity and not upsetting people unfamiliar with how the bus to Tequila works, I recommend sitting in your assigned seat when departing Guadalajara.
Then, once the bus gets moving, feel free to change seats. I recommend a window seat so you can gawk at the hilly agave countryside as you approach Tequila.
Amenities
I took a Tequila Plus bus for my round-trip journey from Guadalajara to Tequila.
Since this is the most common bus of the Tequila line to run this route, there’s a good chance you’ll end up taking it too. If so, you can expect to have the following amenities:
- Air conditioning
- TV (shared for the entire bus)
- 17+ inch reclining seats
The Journey from Guadalajara to Tequila
Now that you’ve got your ticket in hand, let’s talk about what you can expect during your trip to Tequila.
The bus ride from Guadalajara to Tequila takes about two hours.
Unless you happen to snag a Tequila Platino bus, expect a painstaking number of stops. The bus drivers stopped for anyone, anywhere during my trip.
The silver lining is that most of that stopping happened on the way out of Guadalajara. Once we hit the open highway after passing through Zapopan, the views changed from concrete buildings to countryside.
And then, it changed from standard countryside to countryside filled with agave plants.
The views are equally beautiful on either side of the bus, so don’t worry about which window seat you have.
As you approach Tequila, evidence of small-scale tourism emerges. Take, for instance, this cute little tourist stand on the side of the road.
Of course, a downside of taking the bus to Tequila is that you don’t have the opportunity to stop at such street stands.
However, once you arrive in Tequila, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to purchase souvenirs—including tequila, of course!
Arriving in Tequila
Unless you’re tracking your location with an app map, you’ll feel like you’re on the brink of arriving in Tequila multiple times during your bus trip.
That’s because once you drive deep into the agave countryside, you’ll start passing through small towns with tequila-related tourism.
Luckily, it’s easy to know once you’re in Tequila—stay on the bus until the last stop.
Alternatively, you can get off as the bus winds through some of Tequila’s cobblestone roads, giving you the first glimpses of its colorful Spanish-style buildings.
In either case, Tequila is small and walkable.
So, if you do get off at the bus station (which is a good idea to orient yourself, given that you’ll need to return there to take the bus back to Guadalajara), you’ll only need to walk a few blocks to arrive at the main square.
FAQs About Taking the Bus to Tequila
Do you still have questions about taking the bus from Guadalajara to Tequila? I’ve answered some popular questions below.
If I missed any, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help.
How long is the bus ride from Guadalajara to Tequila?
The bus from Guadalajara to Tequila takes two hours. However, traffic, accidents, and the number of stops your bus makes can have a huge impact on how long it takes.
Can I join a Tequila tour on the spot after getting off the bus?
I strongly recommend that you book any tour you want to take of Tequila before arriving. I had anticipated being able to sign up for a tour of the agave fields upon my arrival, but they were sold out. That may have had to do with it being a Sunday and there being an extra influx of local visitors, but it’s still something to consider.
How long should I spend in Tequila?
Most people spend a half to full day in Tequila. Remember to factor in time for the bus ride when planning your trip, as you’ll spend at least four hours getting there and back to Guadalajara.
Is Tequila worth visiting if I don’t drink?
Absolutely! As a non-drinker, I had a blast exploring Tequila—it’s a colorful town with stunning architecture and landscapes. In fact, I hope to return someday to tour the agave fields.
Does the Tequila bus company accept credit cards?
Yes, you can pay for your round-trip Guadalajara to Tequila bus ticket with a credit card. I’m not sure whether Quick accepts credit cards.
Is it better to drive or take the bus to Tequila?
If you’re like most people, you’ll be drinking a lot while in Tequila. Therefore, if you fall into this category, it’s best to take the bus or sign up for a tour. There’s little need to drive a car, other than the increased flexibility to see surrounding parts of Tequila, given that the touristy part of Tequila can be explored entirely by foot.
Is there a bathroom at the bus stations?
Yes, both the bus stations in Guadalajara and Tequila have restrooms. You’ll have to pay a small fee to use the bathrooms in Guadalajara; in Tequila, there’s no charge.
Ready to Visit Tequila?
Visiting Tequila is a dream come true for tequila and countryside lovers alike.
Best of all, taking a day trip from Guadalajara to Tequila by bus is a breeze thanks to frequent departures. Not only will you have the luxury of letting someone else do the driving, but you’ll get to save your pesos for splurging on more tequila bottles and souvenirs during your visit.
Bus schedules and routes are ever-changing. So, if you travel to Tequila and have a different experience than what I described here, please come back to leave a comment and update the community.
Do you still have questions about taking the bus to Tequila from Guadalajara? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help.
P.S.—Are you interested in taking other day trips from Guadalajara by bus? If so, check out my posts on how to take the bus to Ajijic, Chapala, and Los Guachimontones.
