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.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
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
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
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
palenque for a step-by-step explanation of mezcal production and a guided tasting of several small-batch mezcals, with no obligation to buy.
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.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 534 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Oaxaca Mezcal & Pulque Tour by Barrel Bus lasts about 7 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
Prices start at $79 per person for this Oaxaca City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Sundays.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup points include Posada Villa Maria, Casa Hidalgo Hotel Boutique.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 16 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Enjoy Oaxaca.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A promising experience, but the quality of the guide leaves much to be desired... Throughout the entire trip, the strident music does not let you interact, much less appreciate the ride, so the ride becomes monotonous and boring.
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.
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!!!
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
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!
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.
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!
Excellent guide!! At all times, as a good gentleman, he was attentive to us, an excellent and pleasant attitude of Service 100%
¡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!
Very informative. Gave a real appreciation on how mezcal is made. Friendly guides. Sebastian was very helpful and accommodating.
Had an amazing time! More Mezcal than I could count. Fun people and the hosts (Sebastian and Eddie) were super
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!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca Mezcal & Pulque Tour by Barrel Bus | 7 hours | 4.5 (16) | $79 | |
 Hierve el Agua 2.5 hours, Mitla, Tule, Rugs and Mezcal for a Day | 11 hours | 4.9 (1,536) | $72 | View |
 Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour | 12 hours | 4.7 (1,175) | $60 | View |
 The Mezcal Journey | 6 hours | 4.9 (303) | $102 | View |
 Mole & Tortilla class, Market Tour, mezcal tasting | Quinta Brava | 4h 30min | 4.8 (273) | $88 | View |
 Private Tour: Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, Teotitlán and Mezcal | 8 hours | 4.9 (214) | $293 | View |
 Hierve el Agua,Mitla,Tule ,Mezcal and more | 11–12 hours | 4.3 (124) | $43 | View |