Quick answer
From Guadalajara to Tequila by car is about 60 kilometers, a little over an hour via the 15D toll road; and to Lake Chapala, about 48 kilometers, around 45 minutes south. These are Jalisco's two flagship getaways, on opposite sides of the city. With your own car you do each at your own pace: you tour the Agave Landscape —a UNESCO World Heritage Site— with a designated driver if there's tasting, and another day head down to Mexico's largest lake. These are the outings that pair best with a rented vehicle.
Why do Tequila and Chapala by car and not on a tour?
Tequila and Chapala are in opposite directions from Guadalajara: Tequila to the west, Chapala to the south. A tour forces you to choose one, with a fixed schedule and no room to linger at a distillery or on the boardwalk. With your own car, instead, you decide the order, the time at each stop, and you can even split the two getaways across a weekend. The only golden rule is simple: if you're going to taste tequila, bring a designated driver. That combination —autonomy and responsibility— is exactly what a rented vehicle allows and a tour doesn't.
The Tequila Route: the Agave Landscape via the 15D
Tequila, about 60 km west of Guadalajara, has been a Magic Town since 2003 (Sectur) and is the heart of a unique region: the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2006, the first cultural landscape Mexico took to that list. Via the 15D toll road you arrive in a little over an hour, with tolls; the free 15 road is slower but passes through El Arenal and Amatitán, among fields of blue agave. In the town you can visit historic distilleries like La Rojeña (Mundo Cuervo) or Casa Sauza and learn the whole process, from agave to bottle.
Lake Chapala and Ajijic: water and town to the south
South of Guadalajara, about 48 km away, is Lake Chapala: Mexico's largest lake, with 1,112 km² of surface, and the main source of drinking water for the metro area. On its shores, the town of Chapala and, a few minutes away, Ajijic —a Magic Town and a haven for artists and retirees from several countries— offer a boardwalk, galleries, cobblestone streets, and relaxed dining by the water. It's a more laid-back getaway than Tequila: you get there in about 45 minutes, ideal for a lakeside lunch and an unhurried afternoon, and with a car you can visit several points along the shore in the same day.
Tip
For Chapala, leave early and eat by the lake in the mid-afternoon, when the boardwalk is liveliest. Carry some cash in pesos for parking and markets, and a light sweater: because of the altitude, afternoons by the water cool down.
“Tequila and Chapala are the two faces of Jalisco: agave and water. The car is what lets you live both at your own pace, without choosing just one and without a bus's rush.”
— KORU RENT
A weekend? How to plan both getaways
Each getaway fits in a day, but together they work better over a weekend from Guadalajara. A comfortable formula: Saturday to Tequila —with a designated driver or by train if you'll be tasting— for the Agave Landscape and the distilleries; Sunday to Lake Chapala and Ajijic, more relaxed, for lunch by the water. With your own car the decision is yours and you can change it on the fly; with a tour, you can't. That's why these two outings are among those that make the most of a rented vehicle: a base in the city, getaways on opposite sides, and your own schedule.
Renting a car in Guadalajara: the complete guide
How to get around the city and the getaways with your own car
Car rental in Guadalajara with airport delivery
Leave the airport driving and start your getaways
KORU in Guadalajara: destination and waitlist
Follow the launch in the city
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Your Jalisco getaways, whenever you want
Tequila and Chapala are the best argument for driving yourself in Jalisco: agave and water, World Heritage landscapes, and an immense lake, each at its own pace and on your schedule. When KORU RENT arrives in Guadalajara, we want these getaways to be as simple as picking up the keys —and always with the golden rule of a designated driver if there's tasting. Join the waitlist and we'll notify you as soon as we launch.
KORU Team · Guadalajara to Tequila and Chapala getaways guide · 2026