Oaxaca: Mezcal Distillery Tour, Agave Fields & Oaxacan Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration6h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk agave fields taste mezcal in Matatlán then share Oaxacan food

You’ll ride out from Oaxaca to walk real agave fields in Matatlán, watch artisans roast and distill mezcal step by step, taste as many varieties as you want, and sit down for a traditional Oaxacan lunch—all with stories from your local guide. You might even leave with a new favorite flavor or two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mezcal fields, distillery, and meal

Visit agave fields and learn
Tour artisan mezcal distillery
Enjoy unlimited mezcal tasting
Share traditional Oaxacan meal

The Experience

I didn’t realize how sharp the morning air in Oaxaca could feel until we squeezed into the van—still half awake, clutching bottled water. Our guide, Martín, had this calm way of talking about mezcal like it was a person he’d known forever. Driving out of the city toward Mitla and Matatlán, I kept catching glimpses of blue-green agaves lined up like soldiers on the hillsides. It’s funny how you can pass by something so many times and never really look at it until someone points out why it matters.

We stopped in the middle of these agave fields—thousands of plants, all spiky and stubborn under the sun. There was this earthy smell (kind of sweet but also like dry grass) that stuck to my clothes for hours. Martín showed us how to spot which agaves were ready for harvest—he let me try cutting a leaf with his machete (not gracefully). I got dirt under my nails and honestly, I liked it. We took awkward group photos; someone tried to lie down between the rows but immediately regretted it because those leaves are no joke.

The distillery was smaller than I expected—just a handful of people working quietly, smoke curling from an open pit where they roasted the hearts of the agave. The mezcal tasting started slow but got lively fast; there were at least six varieties lined up. Some burned going down, some tasted almost floral. Martín laughed when I made a face at one called “tobalá”—I still think about that flavor sometimes. Lunch came after—big clay bowls of mole and tortillas that tasted smoky from the wood fire. We sat around a long table with mezcal bottles between us like old friends.

I guess what surprised me most wasn’t just learning how mezcal is made—it was seeing how much pride everyone here takes in it. On the drive back to Oaxaca, I watched sunlight flicker through dusty windows and thought about how different mezcal will taste now that I know where it comes from.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle from Oaxaca city center, guided walks through Mitla’s and Matatlán’s agave fields, step-by-step visits inside an artisan distillery with unlimited mezcal tastings (yes—really unlimited), bottled water throughout, plus a hearty traditional Oaxacan meal before heading back together.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by The Mezcal Journey