Horseback Riding Tour in The Agave Field with Lunch

The best part of this six-hour outing is the change of pace. You leave Guadalajara by air-conditioned vehicle, then trade city streets for horseback travel through the blue agave country around Amatitán, one of the key areas in the Tequila cultural zone. At Cofradía, you’ll also see how tequila is made before sitting down to a meal underground.

I like the small-group format, which keeps the day more personal than a large bus excursion. I also like the mix of outdoor scenery, local production, and food. Guide Delfino has earned praise for explaining the agave plant and tequila-making process clearly.

The main consideration is that this is not only a horseback ride. About two hours are set aside for the agave setting, followed by a factory visit and lunch, so book it for a full cultural day rather than a long riding session. Alcoholic drinks are not listed as included, and breakfast should be eaten before pickup.

Key points to know before booking

• Horseback travel through Amatitán: The ride takes place in the UNESCO-listed Agave Landscape of Tequila, surrounded by fields of blue agave.
• Cofradía factory visit: You’ll learn how tequila is produced in an artisan facility rather than only seeing bottles in a shop.
• Underground lunch setting: The meal takes place at La Taberna del Cofrade, a memorable stop beneath the ground.
• Pickup from Guadalajara: Wait in your hotel lobby at the 9:00 a.m. start time.
• Personal guiding: Delfino is one guide associated with the route and is praised for explaining the agave and tequila process in detail.
• Weather and minimum numbers matter: Poor weather or too few bookings can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why the Amatitán agave country matters

Amatitán is not simply a scenic place to ride a horse. It lies within the 35,019-hectare Agave Landscape of Tequila, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site shaped by centuries of agave farming and production.

Blue agave has been used in this region for at least two thousand years. Long before modern tequila factories, people used the plant to make fermented drinks such as pulque and to produce cloth. From the 16th century onward, agave became closely tied to the spirit now known around the world as tequila.

That background gives the horseback portion more meaning. You are not passing through anonymous farmland. You are seeing a working agricultural setting connected to Mexican identity, local industry, music, film, and art.

The ride itself is scheduled for about two hours. That is enough time to appreciate the open setting and the tall agave plants without making the day entirely about riding. If you want an all-day equestrian outing, this may feel brief. If you want a gentle introduction to the area with tequila and lunch added, the timing makes sense.

You should wear comfortable clothes and plan for outdoor conditions. The supplied information does not specify helmet rules, riding ability, or the type of horse, so ask the operator about those points if they matter to you. Most people can participate, but the activity still requires you to be comfortable on horseback.

What the horseback portion feels like

The riding section gives you a closer look at the countryside than a drive through the region. From the saddle, the agave plants become the focus rather than scenery flashing past a vehicle window.

You can expect the guide to connect the plants around you with the process you will see later at the factory. That link is useful. The day is not just a ride followed by a separate tasting. It follows the plant from field to finished drink.

The two-hour timing also leaves room for questions and photos without turning the excursion into a long endurance test. You will want comfortable clothing, and you should eat breakfast before pickup because the morning begins at 9:00 a.m. The included meal comes later in the schedule.

The tour’s size is advertised as intimate, though the information gives two different limits: the highlights say a maximum of eight people, while the additional details state a maximum of 10. If group size is important to you, confirm the current limit before booking. Either way, this is intended to be a small outing rather than a large coach tour.

Inside Cofradía’s artisan tequila factory

After Amatitán, the route continues to Cofradía Tequila Factory. Here you learn how tequila is produced in an artisan facility, giving you a practical look at the work behind the drink.

The factory visit is valuable because it adds context to the tasting. You can ask how agave becomes tequila, see the production setting, and better understand the difference between a commercial bottle and the work that goes into making it. The exact demonstrations are not specified, so do not expect a guaranteed list of machinery, aging rooms, or production stages.

Guide Delfino is particularly worth noting. His explanations about the agave plant, its origins, and extraction history have been a strong part of this experience. A good guide makes the technical side easier to follow, especially if tequila is new to you.

A tasting is described as part of the broader visit, including a sample referred to as 100% non-diluted tequila in the experience details. However, alcoholic beverages are not listed among the included items. That means you should confirm exactly what is offered and what, if anything, costs extra.

This point matters for two reasons. First, the word tasting can mean anything from a small educational sample to several pours. Second, you may prefer to limit alcohol while riding or traveling by vehicle. Ask before departure if you want a clear picture of the tasting arrangement.

Lunch below ground at La Taberna del Cofrade

The meal takes place at La Taberna del Cofrade, an underground restaurant at the Cofradía site. That setting gives the lunch stop a sense of place and makes it more memorable than an ordinary roadside meal.

The included food is described as brunch in one section and lunch in the schedule. Practically speaking, plan on a substantial meal during the middle of the outing rather than a morning snack. You should still eat breakfast before leaving, as instructed.

Food has been one of the strongest parts of the experience. The meal is described as outstanding, but the menu is not provided, so you should not book expecting a particular dish. If you have dietary needs, ask the provider in advance.

The restaurant stop also gives you a chance to slow down after the horseback portion. The day combines riding, transportation, explanations, factory viewing, tasting, and food, so the meal is not just a refueling stop. It helps break up the schedule.

Pickup from Guadalajara and the six-hour schedule

Pickup is offered from your Guadalajara accommodation. You should wait in the hotel lobby at 9:00 a.m., which removes the need to find a separate meeting point in the city.

The air-conditioned vehicle is included. That matters in Guadalajara’s warmer months and makes the journey to the agave country more comfortable. The exact driving time is not provided, so the six-hour estimate should be treated as the total activity window, not six hours in the saddle.

The schedule has three main sections:

• About two hours in the Amatitán agave setting
• About one hour at the Cofradía factory
• About one hour for lunch at La Taberna del Cofrade

The remaining time allows for transportation and transitions. Pickup from Guadalajara makes the day easy to arrange, but it also means you are tied to the group’s departure and return schedule. If you are staying in Tequila rather than Guadalajara, pickup may be possible by arrangement. One booking was adjusted for a Tequila hotel, so ask the operator before assuming it is included.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation is sent at booking, and the experience is mobile-ticket friendly, so you do not need to print a voucher.

How much value does this tour offer?

No tour price is supplied here, so I cannot judge the exact cost. I can judge what you receive for the fee: hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, horseback access to the agave country, a factory visit, and an included meal.

That combination can be good value if you want several elements in one day. Booking each part separately would require arranging transportation beyond Guadalajara, finding a riding experience, locating a tequila producer, and choosing somewhere for lunch. This tour puts those pieces together with an English-speaking guide.

The value is weaker if you only want horseback riding. The ride lasts about two hours, and the rest of the day centers on tequila production and food. Likewise, a serious tequila enthusiast who wants a long technical factory tour may find the visit too short at roughly one hour.

The small group improves the value for many people. With a maximum stated between eight and 10 participants, you have a better chance to ask questions and hear the guide than on a large coach outing. The exact group cap should be confirmed because the supplied details differ.

Who will enjoy this outing most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a first look at the Tequila region without arranging several separate bookings. It suits couples, friends, and families with adults who are comfortable riding a horse and interested in Mexican food and tequila production.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Guadalajara and do not want to rent a car. Pickup from your hotel makes the morning simple, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the transfer.

You should think twice if you dislike horseback riding, want a full day in the town of Tequila, or prefer to spend several hours inside a distillery. The route focuses on Amatitán, Cofradía, countryside views, and the underground restaurant. A walk through Tequila town is mentioned in one account of the experience, but it is not part of the stated itinerary, so do not count on extended free time there.

The outing also may not suit you if you want to skip alcohol entirely, though you can ask how the tasting is handled. Since the activity depends on good weather and a minimum number of bookings, keep some flexibility in your schedule.

Practical details that can affect your day

Bring comfortable clothes suitable for horseback riding and outdoor conditions. Eat breakfast before pickup, since the included brunch or lunch comes later.

The start time is 9:00 a.m. You should be in your hotel lobby and ready for the guide. The activity is conducted in English, and most people can participate, but the operator does not provide specific accessibility or riding-skill details.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If bad weather cancels the activity, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Should you book the Amatitán horseback and tequila tour?

Book this if you want a well-rounded day built around the agave country, not just a horseback ride. The strongest reasons are the small group, hotel pickup, clear guiding from people such as Delfino, the artisan factory visit, and lunch in an underground restaurant.

Skip it if you want long hours on horseback, a detailed specialist distillery course, or a full town tour in Tequila. Before paying, confirm the current group limit, what the tequila tasting includes, and whether pickup is available from your exact accommodation.

For most first-time visitors based in Guadalajara, this is a practical way to connect the fields, the production process, and the finished drink in one outing.

FAQ

Where does the horseback riding take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The experience 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 pickup available from Guadalajara accommodations?

Yes. Pickup from Guadalajara accommodations is offered.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The experience includes brunch, and the schedule lists lunch at La Taberna del Cofrade, an underground restaurant.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are listed as not included. A tequila tasting is described as part of the experience, so confirm the exact tasting arrangements before booking.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity may be canceled because it requires good weather. You will then be offered another date or a full refund.