Puerto Escondido: Mezcal Distillery Tour & Tasting with Transport

Summary

Family-run mezcal tasting tour from Puerto Escondido with snacks

You’ll ride out from Puerto Escondido for a guided mezcal tour at a real family distillery—see roasting pits up close and taste five or six small-batch mezcals paired with Oaxacan snacks like guacamole and chapulines. With your local guide translating stories and private transport included, you’ll get an inside look at mezcal culture that sticks with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

Hands sticky from the agave, I watched as Don Javier sliced open a roasted piña and motioned for us to come closer. The smoke from the earth oven drifted up—sweet, a little sharp—and you could smell it clinging to his shirt. Our group shuffled in, Antoine translating with this easy patience while the family’s dogs circled our ankles. I tried to remember what he’d said about wild vs. cultivated agave but mostly just stared at the rough hands working the fibers apart. You don’t see that in bars back home.

The drive out from Puerto Escondido was longer than I thought (maybe 40 minutes?), but watching the countryside change—dusty roads, flashes of bougainvillea—made it feel like part of the ritual. When we got there, everyone seemed to know each other; one of the women handed me a tiny cup before I’d even put my bag down. The mezcal tasting itself was almost ceremonial. Six little glasses lined up, each one sharper or smokier than the last. Someone joked about “liquid fire,” and Li laughed when I tried to say “salud” in Spanish—probably butchered it.

I kept thinking how different mezcal feels here—less like a drink, more like something alive. The tasting sheet helped (though my notes turned into doodles after glass three), but honestly, it was the stories that stuck with me: how they learned from their grandparents, why they roast underground, which plants grow best after rain. Even the snacks—guacamole scooped up with salty chapulines—felt like part of the lesson. By the end I’d stopped pretending to be an expert and just listened.

On the way back, windows down, mezcal warmth still humming in my chest, I realized I’d never look at those bottles on restaurant shelves quite the same way again. There’s something about seeing where it all starts—the land, the hands—that lingers longer than any flavor.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Mezcal distillery tour and tasting

• Attend didactic mezcal presentation
• Explore family-run distillery
• Taste six artisanal mezcals
• Enjoy local snacks with mezcal

Top questions

How far is the mezcal distillery from Puerto Escondido?

The distillery is about 40 minutes by private transport from Puerto Escondido.

Is transportation included in this mezcal tour?

Yes, private round-trip transportation is included in your booking.

How many types of mezcal do we taste during this tour?

You’ll taste five or six artisanal mezcals produced on-site at the distillery.

Are snacks provided during the mezcal tasting?

Yes, local snacks such as guacamole, peanuts, and chapulines are served during tasting.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Can service animals join this mezcal distillery tour?

Service animals are allowed on this tour.

Who leads the guided tour at the distillery?

The tour is led by Antoine and his team alongside members of the distillery’s family.

Does this experience include a didactic presentation on mezcal?

Yes, you’ll start with an overview of mezcal’s origins and production process before touring and tasting.

What’s included

Your day includes private pickup and transport from Puerto Escondido to a family-run distillery; an introduction to mezcal’s history and production; a guided walk through traditional roasting pits; tastings of five or six house-made mezcals; plus Oaxacan snacks like guacamole and chapulines before heading back together in comfort.