Horseback Riding Tour in The Agave Field with Lunch

Blue agave country is best seen from horseback. This six-hour outing from Guadalajara combines a ride through the UNESCO-listed Agave Landscape of Tequila with a local factory visit and lunch underground at La Taberna del Cofrade. I especially like the small-group format and the chance to connect tequila with the fields where its story begins. The main consideration is that the tour requires good weather, and alcohol is not included.

I also like the easy hotel pickup at 9:00 a.m. and the clear mix of scenery, culture, food, and transport. Guides such as Delfino have earned warm praise for explaining the agave plant and tequila-making process well. You should eat breakfast first, though, since the included meal comes later in the morning.

Key points at a glance

• Horseback through blue agave country: See the UNESCO-recognized Tequila area at ground level, not just through a car window.
• A working artisan factory: Cofradía offers a look at how tequila is produced in a local setting.
• An underground lunch stop: La Taberna del Cofrade adds a memorable meal setting to the cultural visit.
• Pickup from your hotel: Meet your guide in the lobby at 9:00 a.m. and let the air-conditioned vehicle handle the road travel.
• A small group feel: The tour is promoted for up to eight people, while the additional booking information lists a maximum of 10, so confirm the exact group limit when booking.
• Good weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a date change or full refund.

Why this Guadalajara day trip works

Guadalajara gives you a fine base for exploring Jalisco, but the city cannot show you the full story of tequila. For that, you need to reach the fields around Tequila and Amatitán, where blue agave grows and distilleries connect farming with one of Mexico’s best-known drinks.

This tour makes that connection in a sensible order. You begin with the plants and countryside, then visit a tequila maker, then sit down for food. That sequence matters. Instead of treating tequila as a quick tasting at the end of a standard sightseeing day, the experience gives you a clearer sense of where the drink starts and how it reaches the bottle.

The cultural setting is significant. The Agave Landscape of Tequila covers 35,019 hectares and is recognized by UNESCO as a cultural World Heritage Site. Agave has been used in the area for at least two thousand years for fermented drinks such as pulque and for cloth. Since the 16th century, it has also been central to tequila production.

You will not see every part of that long story in six hours, but the ride and factory visit give it a physical setting. The blue agave fields are not merely a pretty backdrop. They are the working source of a product tied to Mexican national identity, music, film, dance, and local industry.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. with hotel pickup

The morning begins with pickup from your Guadalajara accommodation. You are asked to wait in the hotel lobby at 9:00 a.m., which is simple, but worth taking seriously. Be ready before the stated time so the group is not held up by a late arrival.

The ride to the Tequila area takes place in an air-conditioned vehicle. That is a useful inclusion in Jalisco, especially when you are spending part of the day outside and on horseback. You can leave the driving to the guide and save your energy for the ride and walking portions.

The supplied information describes this as a six-hour experience, approximately. It is long enough to feel like a proper day outing without taking up an entire day. Since the pickup time is fixed and the tour includes several stops, avoid scheduling an important activity immediately afterward.

Wear comfortable clothes. You should also have breakfast before pickup. The included food is described as brunch, but the practical advice is still to eat first, particularly if you are not used to riding or expect a long morning before the main meal.

Riding through Amatitán’s agave fields

The first major stop is Amatitán, within the UNESCO-recognized Agave Landscape of Tequila. This is the part of the tour that gives the day its strongest sense of place. From horseback, you see the agave-growing country at a slower pace than you would from a vehicle.

The ride is not only about taking pictures. It places you close to the plant that gives tequila its identity. The agave culture here reaches back thousands of years, first through fermented drinks and useful fiber, then through the tequila industry that grew from the 16th century onward.

The area also includes working distilleries tied to the rise in tequila consumption during the 19th and 20th centuries. That helps explain why the surrounding countryside and the factories belong to the same story. The field is the beginning, the factory is the transformation, and the meal gives you time to enjoy the result of the day’s cultural visit.

The horseback portion lasts about two hours, according to the schedule. That is enough time to make the ride a central part of the outing rather than a short photo stop. If you are comfortable on horseback, you will likely appreciate the slower view. If you have never ridden before, keep in mind that two hours can feel substantial, so comfortable clothing is especially important.

The experience is described as suitable for most people, but the available information does not give a detailed riding skill requirement. If you have concerns about horseback riding, ask the provider before booking. That is more useful than assuming the ride will be either a gentle beginner outing or a demanding equestrian session.

Seeing tequila made at Cofradía

After the agave fields, the group visits the Cofradía tequila factory. The focus is the production process in an artisan factory, which gives you a practical bridge between the plant and the spirit.

This stop lasts about one hour. You can expect an explanation of how agave becomes tequila and a closer look at the work carried out at the factory. One especially useful part of the experience, based on the details shared by past participants, is the explanation of the agave plant, the origins of extraction, and the development of tequila.

Guide quality matters here. Delfino is specifically praised for explaining the tour clearly, including the parts connected with agave and tequila production. A good guide can turn machinery and production steps into a story you can follow. Without that explanation, a factory visit can become a quick walk past equipment.

The tasting component also appears to be a strong feature. The experience includes tequila tasting, but the listed inclusions specifically mention brunch rather than alcoholic beverages. That distinction is important. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so you should expect to pay separately for any tasting or drinks that are not covered by the tour arrangement.

The tasting details may vary. One account describes a tasting of 100 percent non-diluted tequila, which suggests the opportunity to compare or sample a less commercial style of spirit. Do not assume every alcoholic sample is included in the booking price. Confirm what is offered and what costs extra before you begin tasting.

Lunch underground at La Taberna del Cofrade

The meal takes place at La Taberna del Cofrade, an underground restaurant connected with the Cofradía visit. This gives the middle of the day a setting you would not get from a standard roadside lunch stop.

The meal is listed as brunch and is included. The food received particularly strong praise, with one participant describing it as outstanding. That is useful information because lunch can make or break a six-hour outing. Here, it is not an afterthought squeezed between attractions. It has its own stop and a distinctive setting.

You should still eat breakfast before leaving Guadalajara. The instructions specifically say to have breakfast previously, and that advice makes sense with a 9:00 a.m. departure. Think of the included brunch as the main meal later in the morning, not as a replacement for breakfast.

The underground restaurant also adds variety. After open fields and a factory setting, you get a cooler, enclosed place to sit, eat, and talk with the group. The supplied details do not specify the exact menu, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish. I would book it for the included meal and unusual dining environment.

Small group, guide quality, and the human side

The tour is presented as a small-group experience, with a maximum of eight guests in the highlights. Elsewhere, the additional information says the activity allows a maximum of 10 people. Since those figures differ, ask Aventurate Por Jalisco to confirm the current limit before booking.

Either way, this is intended to be more personal than a large coach excursion. A smaller group can make it easier to hear the guide, ask questions about tequila, and keep the horseback portion manageable. It also suits you if you prefer a day with less waiting and less crowd management.

The strongest personal praise centers on the staff. Delfino is singled out for giving clear explanations, while another account describes the team as welcoming and kind. Those details matter because the experience moves through several different activities. Friendly, attentive staff can make the switch from vehicle to horse to factory and restaurant feel comfortable.

The guide may also adjust pickup arrangements when practical. One participant stayed in Tequila rather than Guadalajara, and the experience was modified to collect them there. This does not guarantee that every alternate pickup can be arranged, but it is worth asking if your accommodation is outside the usual route.

What the tour includes, and what it does not

The included elements are straightforward:

• Air-conditioned transportation
• Hotel pickup
• Horseback riding through the agave area
• Visit to the Cofradía tequila factory
• Brunch at La Taberna del Cofrade

Alcoholic beverages are not included. This is the most important cost detail because tequila tastings can change the final amount you spend. The tour price itself is not provided in the information available here, so I cannot judge it against a specific dollar figure.

I would judge the value by what is bundled together. You are paying for transport from Guadalajara, a horseback outing, a cultural visit, a factory explanation, and a meal. If you arranged those pieces separately, you would also need to handle transport and timing yourself. The value is strongest for you if you want a full half-day with the main logistics handled in advance.

The value is weaker if you only want a tequila tasting. In that case, the horseback ride and countryside travel take up much of the experience. This is not a quick tasting-room visit. It is an outing about the place, the plant, the production, and the food.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to you if you want more than a city tour and like the idea of seeing Jalisco through its most famous agricultural product. It suits couples, small friend groups, and independent-minded visitors who want a planned day without joining a huge bus group.

It is also a good choice if you care about local food and cultural context. The underground restaurant and artisan factory give the outing more character than a simple ride through the countryside followed by a commercial tasting.

You should think twice if you dislike horseback riding, want a very short activity, or need a firm schedule later in the day. The tour lasts about six hours, requires good weather, and includes a two-hour ride. The information says most people can participate, but it does not give detailed guidance about riding ability or physical limitations.

The experience also requires a minimum number of participants. If that number is not reached, the provider may offer another date or experience, or provide a full refund. Weather can lead to the same result. That flexibility is helpful, but do not build a tightly packed itinerary around the tour until it is confirmed.

Practical booking advice for Guadalajara

Book with the weather in mind. The horseback portion is outdoors, and poor conditions can cause cancellation or rescheduling. If the provider cancels because of weather or because the minimum group size is not met, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

For your own cancellation, the cutoff is 24 hours before the local start time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

The confirmation arrives at booking, and the ticket is mobile, so keep the booking available on your phone. Wear comfortable clothes, eat breakfast, and wait in the hotel lobby at 9:00 a.m. Those small steps will make the morning easier.

Should you book the agave horseback tour?

Book it if you want the full Jalisco picture: blue agave fields, a horse ride, an artisan tequila factory, an unusual lunch setting, and a guide who can explain what you are seeing. The combination gives the day more substance than a tasting alone.

Skip it if you are looking only for tequila samples or if two hours on horseback sounds unpleasant. Also confirm the group limit, the exact tasting arrangements, and pickup details before paying. For the right visitor, this is a well-shaped half-day that connects Mexico’s national drink with the soil, plants, workers, and traditions behind it.

FAQ

Where does the horseback riding take place?

The ride takes place in Amatitán, within the UNESCO-recognized Agave Landscape of Tequila.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins at 9:00 a.m. You should wait for the guide in your hotel lobby.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The experience includes an air-conditioned vehicle and pickup from your Guadalajara accommodation.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Brunch is included, and it takes place at La Taberna del Cofrade, an underground restaurant.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.