If you’re looking for an exciting hiking destination near Guadalajara, look no further than Tequila—specifically, Tequila Volcano!
Tequila Volcano is an imposing figure, covering an area of about 34,660 hectares (134 square miles) and reaching a height of 2,920 meters (9,580 feet) above sea level. It dominates the horizon from nearly any vantage point, and at its summit stands a distinctive 50-meter-tall formation known as “La Tetilla” (The Nipple).
Luckily, a cobblestone road was built some time ago, connecting the town of Tequila at the base of the volcano to two sets of antennas located along the crater rim. The road to the top is 18 kilometers long—rough, winding, and steep—but a high-clearance vehicle can take you up to a locked gate just two kilometers away from the antennas.
Here, you’ll park and, following the time-honored Mexican tradition, climb over the fence to begin your adventure. As you walk up the cobblestone road, keep an eye out for the pinguícula, a bizarre little carnivorous plant. Unlike other carnivorous plants, the pinguícula’s leaves are sticky, trapping insects on the surface.
If you visit in the fall, you may come across Caesar’s mushrooms, and you might also experience shifting fog clouds that add to the mystical atmosphere.
A kilometer from the locked gate, the road splits, offering access to both antenna sets. About 150 meters beyond the right fork, you’ll find a small cold spring, known as an ojo de agua, just south of the road. This spring, which flows year-round, emerges from the volcano at 2,790 meters above sea level.
Long ago, someone thought they could find water by digging deeper into the spring, which led to the legend of the Bottomless Pit of Tequila Volcano. I once had the task of rappelling down this pit, only to discover it wasn’t bottomless after all, and only 18 meters deep—though there were no bones or treasures to be found.
At the bottom of this pit starts a rustic trail that skirts the rim of the crater. Along this path, you may spot a thistle called cardo santo, believed to have curative properties, as well as the rare Tequila Govenia, a beautiful white ground orchid. Recently, an international group of Mexicans, Canadians, and a South African trekked this trail with plans to climb to the very top of the Nipple.
Here’s how Jonathan Heys, the South African member of the expedition, describes their ascent:
“We were fortunate enough to spot two deer as we reached the trailhead, and soon began walking. Tall bunch grasses rippled in the breeze on all sides. Ahead of us, the leader of our expedition, Canadian geologist Chris Lloyd, stirred a cloud of grasshoppers that jumped out of his way in all directions—there were so many of them!
We then came across what looked like tennis balls scattered everywhere. Our naturalist explained that these were oak apples, or galls, created by oak trees to protect gall wasps that grow inside them.
The trail soon grew steeper, and we reached the base of the massive spine that rises almost straight up from the crater side. Chris explained that this was the volcano’s last eruption, around 200,000 years ago. The lava hardened, and over time, softer material around it was eroded, leaving the Nipple standing 50 meters above the crater rim.
With the help of an anchor and rope, we began climbing. At one point, we reached a steep, narrow crack that Chris climbed first. He anchored himself and then lowered a rope to belay the rest of us. As we ascended, the wind picked up.
Finally, we reached the top of the volcanic plug. The views were breathtaking, with mountains and mesas stretching in every direction and the agave fields below appearing like blue wetlands. We enjoyed the views and had lunch on the peak. It was sunny, but the wind and altitude made the temperature perfect.
At the peak, we found a treasure hunter’s hole—someone had brought a shovel and possibly a metal detector in hopes of finding something valuable.
The descent was even more thrilling than the climb. It was less secure, requiring a lot of rappelling. This was my first non-practice rappel, and though I wasn’t very good at it, I made it down safely. What an adventure!”