Get to know Amatitlán

The first thing that you may think when hearing the word tequila is in Mexico, since this drink is one of the most important contributions of the country to bars and parties all around the world.

 

Jalisco is the state that has stood out for preserving the tradition and the land where blue agave, a plant from which tequila is obtained, grows. Despite the Pueblo Mágico de Tequila having all the attention of this drink lovers, Amatitán is one of the pioneers in this trade.

 

Amatitán is in Jalisco state center, 13 minutes roadtrip away from Tequila, 55 from Guadalajara (Jalisco capital city) and three hours 45 minutes from León, Guanajuato. You can get there by plane by taking a flight to Guadalajara.

 

Weather is warm and semi-dry—26º C average and a short rainy season from June to July. So it doesn't hurt to wear a cap or hat and sunscreen when you decide to walk along the paths of the blue agave fields. Of course, these tend to have a lot of loose soil.

 

Amatitán name comes from three Nahuatl words meaning “next to the amates”. The Franciscans' efforts to evangelize the natives who lived in this area were useless; they faced them to keep their culture intact in what is known as the 1541 Great Rebellion.

 

Finally, Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza settled in what is now Tequila to subdue the natives and destroy all those figures and images that represented their deities.

 

In addition to producing tequila, in Amatitán you can also find mezcal and artisanal wine. Among the many charms of this quiet town is the Hacienda de San José del Refugio, two of the most important brands’ distillery.

 

The Amatitán history feels in its streets and in the old buildings that are still standing and that, through its small-cobbled streets, have seen all kinds of personalities. Besides, it has many anecdotes that make up its history.