Tours/Oaxaca City/Oaxaca Mezcal & Pulque Tour by Barrel Bus
Viator · group up to 8 pax

Oaxaca Mezcal & Pulque Tour by Barrel Bus

4.7(15)Oaxaca City1 hour
VIATOR4.9(7)TRIPADVISOR4.6(8)

Description

This tour offers a complete experience in the world capital of mezcal. In addition to air-conditioned transportation from Oaxaca, travelers explore Matatlán in a mobile barrel, a local vehicle that allows them to visit agave fields and a traditional pulquería (pulque bar). During the tour, a local host explains the pulque and mezcal production process in clear and accessible English. Two family-run palenques (distilleries) are visited, with guided tastings and a mezcal cocktail—no purchases required. The tour includes pickup, organized logistics, and a safe approach to enjoying mezcal without having to drive.

Tour Options

Oaxaca Mezcal & Pulque Tour by Barrel Bus
  • Pickup included

Itinerary

15 min

Meet a local mezcal-making family, get a first introduction to the production process, and prepare to board the barrel-shaped bus that will take you around town

Admission included90 min

Ride the barrel bus out to the agave fields. Learn in English how the plants are grown and harvested and take photos surrounded by rows of agave

30 min

Continue by barrel bus to a local pulquería. See how pulque is made, hear the story behind this ancient drink, and taste a fresh serving

30 min

palenque for a step-by-step explanation of mezcal production and a guided tasting of several small-batch mezcals, with no obligation to buy.

60 min

second family distillery for another tasting and a mezcal cocktail. Here you can also purchase a simple Oaxacan lunch before heading back to the city.

Highlights

Barrel-bus ride in Santiago Matatlán
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel and Airbnb pick-up and drop-off in Oaxaca
Visit to traditional pulquería with pulque tasting, mezcal tasting and 1 Mezcal cocktail at second palenque
Visit to agave fields

What's included

Included
Barrel-bus ride in Santiago Matatlán
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel and Airbnb pick-up and drop-off in Oaxaca
Visit to traditional pulquería with pulque tasting, mezcal tasting and 1 Mezcal cocktail at second palenque
Visit to agave fields
Not included
Gratuities
Lunch

Traveller Ratings

4.7
15 reviews
5
13
4
1
3
0
2
1
1
0

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(15)

M
Micah_A
May 25, 2026
10/10 highly recommend....

10/10 highly recommend. The cocktail they gave us at the Mezcal place was one of the best I’ve had. Make sure to bring sunglasses and where sunscreen.

I
IvannaFSC
December 5, 2025
You can't miss it!!!

You should definitely take this tour so that you know more about the Mezcal, plus you have fun and sing at full lungs, Ariana was attentive to us and kept in constant communication. It is our second visit to Oaxaca and we loved it!!!

F
FarAway63964785134
December 5, 2025
Good service

It was very fun and entertaining, they also provided a good service and I would recommend this service to everyone and they won’t regret it

E
edsG9654AJ
December 5, 2025
Absolutely Exceptional Mezcal Tour with Enjoy Oaxaca!

I had an absolutely fantastic experience on the Oaxacan Mezcal Tour. I traveled solo and felt completely welcomed and engaged throughout the entire day. First off, I highly recommend the agency, Enjoy Oaxaca. Their service was great from start to finish. Everything was handled very professionally and, most importantly, perfectly on time. Punctuality makes a huge difference, and they nailed it. I recommend this tour 100% to anyone visiting Oaxaca. Thank you, Enjoy Oaxaca, for a great and memorable day!

K
K7637GRbillp
September 18, 2025
Great Tour but don't drink from unmarked bottles

I had been on the Ilegal Mezcal tour of the distillery and agave fields previously. It is a great introduction to mezcal and a lot of fun. After a very good viewing and explanation of the process of producing mezcal, we boarded the barrel shaped bus and headed to the fields. There many types of agave and the guide provided a good overview. There are many camera opportunities such as folks holding a pointed agave blade as mezcal is poured from the other end to their mouth. The only negative comment is that we stopped by a home in the town on the return where they sold drinks and snacks. DO NOT try any drink which is not sealed with a cap or top or without the name of the company. Two of our group tried the aguamiel (honey water) which was fermented in sealed plastic bottles and they were out the next two days with stomach problems.

Operator response

Thank you for the 4 stars! We are glad you enjoyed the Mezcal explanation and the fields. We appreciate your warning to other travelers; we always recommend caution when buying unsealed drinks/snacks from third-party vendors on the road. Hope you are feeling better!

J
juanitar394
August 31, 2025
The best experience without a doubt, Oaxaca is a beauty and its people do not even say.

Excellent guide!! At all times, as a good gentleman, he was attentive to us, an excellent and pleasant attitude of Service 100%

Operator response

¡Gracias de nuevo por tus lindas palabras! Nos llena de orgullo saber que se sintieron tan bien cuidadas con la caballerosidad y servicio de nuestro equipo. ¡Esperamos verlas pronto!

P
Patricia_A
June 6, 2025
Very informative. Gave a...

Very informative. Gave a real appreciation on how mezcal is made. Friendly guides. Sebastian was very helpful and accommodating.

1 people found this helpful
G
Gavin_A
March 9, 2025
Didn’t Mezcal-ulate. Perfect day

Had an amazing time! More Mezcal than I could count. Fun people and the hosts (Sebastian and Eddie) were super

A
AnaAPC11
November 22, 2023
Very complete tour, well worth it!

The experience was very complete, we tried all the mezcal we wanted, great quality and above all variety. You do touristy things but you also see the traditional process of mezcal and how it is cared for and valued. Javier was our driver for two days in a row and apart from being super punctual and friendly, he shared the Oaxacan culture with us and gave us a lot of advice!

L
Lissette_O
November 20, 2021
Excellent

Tour with enough time to get to enjoy Hierve el Agua. Marcos was an excellent tour guide who not only explained the history of the place visited but gave us a gastronomic tour where we got to learn about the typical food of Oaxaca.

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