Tequila Volcano
Tequila Volcano
4
About
This 9,000-foot volcano looms over the town of Tequila and has a 10-mile drive to its summit.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Tequila Volcano and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
3 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
9 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
John P
Guadalajara, Mexico334 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
At the southwestern edge of the town of Tequila, alongside the railway station, a cobblestone road begins and then winds its way uphill for 18 kilometers to two sets of microwave antennas which rise from opposite ends of the crater rim.
The old road is not in the best shape, but any high clearance vehicle can get up the volcano without a problem.
We made our first stop at altitude 1500 meters where oak trees and black cedars abounded and a playful squirrel cuckoo frolicked overhead.
From this point onwards, bunchgrass becomes more and more prevalent. At a distance of 10.5 kilometers from the train station—altitude 2000 meters—the trees are much taller as they compete for light. Among them is Pinus devoniana, which produces extraordinarily long pine cones. On the roadside, biologist Julio Álvarez spotted a number of butterworts or mountain violets (Pinguicula), a very curious little carnivorous plant whose leaves grow flat on the ground and are covered with a sticky substance which traps and then digests small insects.
Further on, among the leaves, lay bright yellow Amanita mushrooms, which, our biologist informed us, could be edible, poisonous or hallucinogenic. These in particular, we learned later, were Caesar's Mushrooms (Amanita caesarea), so called because they were a favorite of the Roman Emperor Claudius, but in Spanish they are known as Yema de Huevo, Egg Yolks.
At a distance of 15.7 kilometers from the Tequila Railway Station, your car ride comes to an end in front of a locked gate with signs warning “private property.” Authorities in Tequila, however, state that the gate is “only meant to stop cars,” due to past problems of vandalism of the antennas. Hikers are allowed to proceed.
If you are a birdwatcher, keep your eyes open for the spotted towhee, slate-throated redstart and the unusually large magnificent hummingbird.
At this altitude (2700 meters) the road may suddenly be shrouded in fog as a cloud passes by. After a walk of 1.5 kilometers, a trail appears on the left (at N20.78951 W103.84820). Follow it uphill and you will find yourself perched on the crater rim, with the tall volcanic plug, popularly called La Tetilla, looming above you. The trail—hard to spot when covered with leaves—heads east and then southeast for 694 meters, plunging you into a phantasmagorical landscape quite unlike what you would expect to see inside a crater. The bunchgrass now dominates and all the trees are “natural bonsais,” some barely two meters tall. Here you'll find St. Benedict's Thistle (cardo santo), large Guadalajarana agaves, and a cypress tree which grows only on this volcano...and if you are lucky you may come across a rare govenia purpusii orchid growing on the ground.
The trail ends at the base of the plug which was pushed up from the center of the crater about 200,000 years ago when it stopped erupting. Tequila Volcano was probably the source of several of Jalisco's important obsidian flows.
Belayed by a good mountain climber, most people can scale the tetilla to enjoy the reward of a 360-degree view of western Mexico from altitude 2920 meters above sea level. On a clear day, the agave fields, stretching off into the distance, look a lot like blue-green lakes.
How to get there
Take libre highway 15 west from Guadalajara. As you approach the town of Tequila, turn south onto a street called Filosofos (at N20.88048 W103.82908). From here use Google Maps to guide you to the start of the cobblestone road (at N20.87231 W103.84263). Drive uphill 15.7 kilometers to the locked gate (N20.79208 W103.85348) and park. After hiking up the road 1.2 kilometers, you'll come to a crossroads. Take the right fork and after 400 meters, at N20.78951 W103.84820, you'll see the trail head on your left. You'll find this trail, which takes you across the crater, on Wikiloc.com under “Magic Circle 001.” Driving time from Guadalajara to the parking spot: about 90 minutes.
The old road is not in the best shape, but any high clearance vehicle can get up the volcano without a problem.
We made our first stop at altitude 1500 meters where oak trees and black cedars abounded and a playful squirrel cuckoo frolicked overhead.
From this point onwards, bunchgrass becomes more and more prevalent. At a distance of 10.5 kilometers from the train station—altitude 2000 meters—the trees are much taller as they compete for light. Among them is Pinus devoniana, which produces extraordinarily long pine cones. On the roadside, biologist Julio Álvarez spotted a number of butterworts or mountain violets (Pinguicula), a very curious little carnivorous plant whose leaves grow flat on the ground and are covered with a sticky substance which traps and then digests small insects.
Further on, among the leaves, lay bright yellow Amanita mushrooms, which, our biologist informed us, could be edible, poisonous or hallucinogenic. These in particular, we learned later, were Caesar's Mushrooms (Amanita caesarea), so called because they were a favorite of the Roman Emperor Claudius, but in Spanish they are known as Yema de Huevo, Egg Yolks.
At a distance of 15.7 kilometers from the Tequila Railway Station, your car ride comes to an end in front of a locked gate with signs warning “private property.” Authorities in Tequila, however, state that the gate is “only meant to stop cars,” due to past problems of vandalism of the antennas. Hikers are allowed to proceed.
If you are a birdwatcher, keep your eyes open for the spotted towhee, slate-throated redstart and the unusually large magnificent hummingbird.
At this altitude (2700 meters) the road may suddenly be shrouded in fog as a cloud passes by. After a walk of 1.5 kilometers, a trail appears on the left (at N20.78951 W103.84820). Follow it uphill and you will find yourself perched on the crater rim, with the tall volcanic plug, popularly called La Tetilla, looming above you. The trail—hard to spot when covered with leaves—heads east and then southeast for 694 meters, plunging you into a phantasmagorical landscape quite unlike what you would expect to see inside a crater. The bunchgrass now dominates and all the trees are “natural bonsais,” some barely two meters tall. Here you'll find St. Benedict's Thistle (cardo santo), large Guadalajarana agaves, and a cypress tree which grows only on this volcano...and if you are lucky you may come across a rare govenia purpusii orchid growing on the ground.
The trail ends at the base of the plug which was pushed up from the center of the crater about 200,000 years ago when it stopped erupting. Tequila Volcano was probably the source of several of Jalisco's important obsidian flows.
Belayed by a good mountain climber, most people can scale the tetilla to enjoy the reward of a 360-degree view of western Mexico from altitude 2920 meters above sea level. On a clear day, the agave fields, stretching off into the distance, look a lot like blue-green lakes.
How to get there
Take libre highway 15 west from Guadalajara. As you approach the town of Tequila, turn south onto a street called Filosofos (at N20.88048 W103.82908). From here use Google Maps to guide you to the start of the cobblestone road (at N20.87231 W103.84263). Drive uphill 15.7 kilometers to the locked gate (N20.79208 W103.85348) and park. After hiking up the road 1.2 kilometers, you'll come to a crossroads. Take the right fork and after 400 meters, at N20.78951 W103.84820, you'll see the trail head on your left. You'll find this trail, which takes you across the crater, on Wikiloc.com under “Magic Circle 001.” Driving time from Guadalajara to the parking spot: about 90 minutes.
Written July 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lksjones
Minnetonka, MN115 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
I would suggest getting a local person to guide you to the volcano. It's about a mile out of town. You will also want to drive some of the distance up unless you are planning to spend the entire day hiking. The Road is all inlaid rocks with many potholes, so if you can use a jeep or truck that would be best
Now for the fun part, once you get up there it's absolutely breathtaking! The views of the area are amazing. Our guide was able to get us all the way up and I got the crater. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me.
The hike is a little challenging. Wear good hiking boots. I wouldn't suggest tennis shoes, that's what I wore and it was a little tough on the feet because of the rockey climb.
Now for the fun part, once you get up there it's absolutely breathtaking! The views of the area are amazing. Our guide was able to get us all the way up and I got the crater. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me.
The hike is a little challenging. Wear good hiking boots. I wouldn't suggest tennis shoes, that's what I wore and it was a little tough on the feet because of the rockey climb.
Written January 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lfj56
Cronulla, Australia87 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Nice volcano to spy as you leave the town of Tequila, no need to make a special stop to visit this attraction
Written December 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DKPATEL
Pune, India5 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Please do not visit this place. It has a board private property written once you reach near to summit. You will not able to visit the place.
Written November 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig G
Maumee, OH613 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
We drove most of the way around this large dormant cone to get from Guachimontones to Tequila for late lunch. This is a beautiful, scenic area to drive. We didn't have time to wander any trails or to closely look at the "Crater".
Written February 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing