El Arenal is a small town in the Tequila Valley of Jalisco, Mexico. It is an important stop on the Tequila Trail itinerary for thirsty travelers because it is home to vast agave fields and several small artisanal distilleries.
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Understand
[edit]The town is small with a population of about 12,000 (2020), though with the surrounding ranches and agave growing plantations, that number grows to about 20,000. The agave fields and artisanal tequila distilleries are part of a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The town got its name from the large amount of sand in the valley.
Get in
[edit]
The closest major airport is in Guadalajara (GDL IATA), which receives direct flights from several major cities in the United States and Canada as well as frequent domestic flights from many Mexican cities (particularly Mexico City). From Guadalajara you can book a tequila tour from many travel providers or you can take a train, a bus or rent a car.
By bus
[edit]Many buses go from Guadalajara to El Arenal. Autotransportes Etzatlan (ATE) and Rojo de los Altos operate buses that leave Guadalajara's Central Vieja (old bus station) about every 15 minutes. The trip takes about an hour and costs as little as M20. Buses also leave from the Central de Autobuses Zapopan which cuts the travel time in half (and the neighborhood around the station is less sketchy than around Central Vieja).
- 1 Bus stop (Tequila Gold). Bus stop for tequila valley buses from/to Guadalajara. Buses also stop in Tequila and other towns. M20.
Get around
[edit]Although the town is small, several of its most interesting distilleries are outside town (some in historic Haciendas). Having a car will make it easy to get to the different distilleries (and easy to get pulled over for drunk driving if you do too many tastings). Taxis are usually available on Av. Lazaro Cardenas and are a safe and cheap way to get around.
See
[edit]- 1 Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero (La Calavera), Laura Elena Cortes 107. A former hacienda turned into a local history museum. Displays about agave growing, tequila production and lots of bottles. Also displays artworks by local artists.
Do
[edit]- 1 Santa Sofia Country Club, Autopista Guadalajara - Tepic Km 11, ☏ +52 333 559 7774. Tu-Su 07ː00 - 15ː00, closed M. Attractive golf course with rolling hills. Grass is not very lush and traps don't work, but fun course to play (and cheap). Club house is an historic hacienda. Large outdoor swimming pool. M700.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Mercado Municipal, Carranza 148. Daily 07ː00 - 15ː30. The town's traditional Mexican marketplace is full of fresh produce and meat vendors as well as great street food featuring the most authentic regional dishes you can buy.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Carnitas la Fuente, Lazaro Cardenas 73. Daily 07ː30 - 19ː00. Wildly popular local eatery specializing in carnitas (marinated lean chunks of pork cooked on a grill). They also serve chicharrones and an outstanding guacamole, full of fresh tomato chunks with chile and cilantro. If the food wasn't enough to make a name for itself, the owner comes around passing out free shots of tequila. If you're looking for cheap eats and local character, this is the place. M$200.
- 2 Los Jilgueros, Lázaro Cárdenas 52, ☏ +52 374 748 0650. Daily 07ː00 - 21ː30. Carne asada, carnitas, and several guisadas. Large portions at reasonable prices. Very large, spacious dining room, clean bathrooms, ample parking. M$200.
- 3 Jarritos La Puerta Del Agave, Carretera Libre Guadalajara-Tepic km 38.2 Mirador (where the free highway (Libre) and toll highway (cuota/autopista) cross), ☏ +52 332 961 7430. Daily 11ː00 - 21ː30. Big, tourist-oriented restaurant right on the edge of the agave fields. Clean, large, concrete parking lot. Large outdoor patio dining area. Traditional Mexican and regional dishes, large portions and reasonable prices. M$200.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Tequila Cascahuin, Ferrocarril 140, ☏ +52 374 748 0010. Daily 09ː30 - 18ː00. Family-run distillery uses traditional production methods. Offers in-depth tours.
- 2 El Castillo de Tequila, Carr. Guadalajara-Tepic KM 32.2, ☏ +52 374 744 4119. Daily 09ː00 - 17ː00 (first tour at 10ː00). One of the coolest distilleries to visit in the area, as much for its architecture and history as for the tasty intoxicating elixirs. The place looks like a medieval castle, and in fact, was built as a Spanish military fortification in the 16th century. Tequila aficionados will appreciate the artisanal approach to tequila with traditional processes like brick ovens, a stone tahona, and subterranean aging caves (which are open to visitors). M500 per adult, 250 for adolescents and senior citizens.
- 3 Tequila Don Valente, Lazaro Cardenas 270, ☏ +52 331 313 6178. Daily 09ː00 - 18ː00. Small artisanal distillery housed in a historic hacienda. Lots of historic relics of tequila history like tahona wheels, an old fire pit for roasting agave pinas and more.
- 4 Tequila Cava de Oro, Carr. Guadalajara-Tepic KM 32, ☏ +52 374 748 1095. Daily 10ː00 - 18ː00. Offers a very comprehensive distillery tour that lasts most of a day. It costs almost M3000, but for that, you get a horseback rides through the agave fields, an expert tour of the production facility and a professional tequila tasting (cata) conducted by a catador. Shorter, cheaper options are also available.
Sleep
[edit]El Arenal lacks the quaint, cozy inns that Tequila and some of the Highland towns have.
- 1 Hotel los Seis Agaves, Lazaro Cardenas 63, ☏ +52 374 748 1043. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Barebones hotel with small rooms. Rooms at front get a lot of road noise.