REVIEW · PUERTO VALLARTA
Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta
Book on Viator →Operated by Vallarta Mexology Tours · Bookable on Viator
Agave night in Puerto Vallarta starts here. I love the way the crawl mixes multiple agave spirits with guided food tastings, and I also like the neighborhood context guides such as Edgar and Geo bring to each stop. The one thing to consider is that it is a four-hour walking bar route, so pace yourself if you plan to enjoy every shot.
You meet at El Tasting Room Bar & Liquor Store (Panamá 134, 5 de Diciembre) and start at 5:00 pm, with a small group size (up to 10) that keeps the vibe social instead of chaotic. I also like that you get a mobile ticket and end back at the meeting point, which makes it easier to plan the rest of your night.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll actually care about
- A secret-style agave bar crawl with a purpose
- Price and logistics: what $98 really buys at 5pm
- Start at El Tasting Room: where the guided night begins
- Barrio Bistro by Memo Wulff: racilleria energy and real atmosphere
- La Pulquería: pulque, history lessons, and blue corn tlacoyo
- El Tasting Room cocktails: a tequila moment you can actually ask about
- El Colibrí Cocktail Bar: patio vibes in the heart of it all
- Mezcal & Sal: a newer favorite and an Oaxaca-style bite
- About the guide: names, energy, and the storytelling part
- What you’ll taste (and how to enjoy it)
- How much walking is it, and who should book?
- Should you book the Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta?
- FAQ
- How long is the Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Puerto Vallarta?
- What time does the tour start?
- What is the price per person?
- Is the tour in English?
- Where do I meet the group?
- How many people are in the group?
- What’s included in the price?
- Do I need to worry about dietary restrictions?
- What if the weather is bad?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key highlights you’ll actually care about

- Five agave categories, including racilla, pulque, tequila, mezcal, and sotol
- 10 drink moments total: 5 agave shots plus 5 cocktails
- Food is built in with 5 tastings that keep the pace fun (not just booze)
- A guide-led route with local neighborhood stories, not random bar hopping
- Small group cap (10), so you get more attention when you ask questions
- English service with confirmation at booking
A secret-style agave bar crawl with a purpose
This isn’t the usual Puerto Vallarta bar hop where you just show up, order, and hope for a good time. The Secret Agave Bar Crawl is built like a guided tasting circuit, with a clear reason for each stop: you’re comparing different agave spirits and learning what makes each one different.
The value is strong because the price ($98 per person) bundles a lot of what you’d otherwise pay for separately. In about four hours, you’re getting transportation, an expert agave guide, 5 food tastings, and 10 guided drink servings (5 shots and 5 cocktails). Add a small group and you’ve got a night that feels designed, not improvised.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Puerto Vallarta.
Price and logistics: what $98 really buys at 5pm
At $98, the math works best if you plan to drink and eat a bit anyway. The tour is not just “one cocktail at each place.” It’s structured so each venue is paired with a specific agave spirit moment and a food tasting, which helps keep the experience from feeling repetitive.
Timing matters, too. Starting at 5:00 pm is a smart move in Puerto Vallarta—bars and patios are active, and you get that late-afternoon-to-evening stretch where people go out and the night hasn’t fully taken over. The crawl also ends back at the starting point, so you’re not stuck figuring out the last mile.
One practical note: since this is a walking route, bring shoes you can move in comfortably. Your pace will depend on the group and the weather, but the overall format is active.
Start at El Tasting Room: where the guided night begins
You begin at El Tasting Room Bar & Liquor Store at Panamá 134, in the 5 de Diciembre area. This is a fitting starting spot because it sets the tone: you’re not just going to bars, you’re learning how these spirits are made and why people in Mexico care about them.
From there, the tour flows into a string of venues with different styles—some more food-forward, others more cocktail-centric. If you like structure early in the night, this start is helpful. It’s also a good place to settle in before you’re hitting multiple tastings back-to-back.
Barrio Bistro by Memo Wulff: racilleria energy and real atmosphere
One of the most distinctive stops is Barrio Bistro by Memo Wulff, described as Vallarta’s only racilleria. If you’ve never had racilla before, this is exactly why this tour exists: you’re not expected to already know what it is. You get the chance to taste Memo Wulff’s racillas in a setting that feels like it has its own local gravity.
What I like about this kind of start is that it makes the whole night make more sense. Once you taste something unusual early, the later tastings feel like comparisons, not random samples. You also get a separate restaurant-side experience with food, so it doesn’t feel like you’re only chasing alcohol.
A small consideration: racilla isn’t the spirit everyone orders by default in most travel destinations. If you’re very picky about what you’ll try, you may need a little openness here—this stop is part of the “secret crawl” idea.
La Pulquería: pulque, history lessons, and blue corn tlacoyo
Next up is La Pulquería, where you sample Mexico’s oldest agave spirit: pulque. The setting is local-focused, and the stop isn’t just “drink and move on.” You’re also learning about pulque’s important history, then pairing it with a blue corn tlacoyo tasting.
This is one of those stops that’s more interesting than it sounds, because pulque has a cultural story you can’t fully get by reading a menu. And the pairing helps: the tlacoyo gives you something earthy and filling to balance what you’re tasting.
If you’re worried about the tour being too boozy, this is also where the food matters most. Pulque can be a strong flavor profile, so having the tlacoyo there helps you enjoy the moment instead of rushing through it.
El Tasting Room cocktails: a tequila moment you can actually ask about
Even though El Tasting Room is the meeting point, it’s also framed as a “must visit” spirits bar, and that spirit expertise shows in the way the tour handles your tastings. Here, you’re set up to enjoy a handcrafted tequila cocktail, and the tour format is meant to keep the conversation going.
The helpful part: the tour is designed to be educational even if you’re not new to tequila. The idea is that you should learn something, and you should see a bottle you haven’t heard of before. That makes it better for repeat visitors and people who don’t want a tour that feels like a script.
El Colibrí Cocktail Bar: patio vibes in the heart of it all
Then you move to El Colibrí Cocktail Bar, known for a cozy, jungle-inspired patio in the middle of Puerto Vallarta. This stop matters because it breaks up the intensity of back-to-back tastings. Instead of feeling like constant sipping, the patio setting helps the drinks feel more like part of the evening.
It’s also the kind of place where you can slow down just enough to enjoy the conversation—especially since the group size is capped at 10. If your ideal night includes good cocktails and a bit of ambiance, this is a strong mid-to-late stop.
Practical consideration: patio bars can be warm in humid weather, so if you’re sensitive to heat, wear lighter layers and drink water between tastings.
Mezcal & Sal: a newer favorite and an Oaxaca-style bite
The final two stops in the crawl lean into modern craft energy. At Mezcal & Sal, you get one of the newest (and now favorite) mezcal bars experience, including an instagram-worthy mezcal cocktail plus a delicious Oaxaca appetizer.
This stop is fun if you like the visual side of cocktails, but it also works as a flavor transition. By the time you reach mezcal, you’ve already tasted multiple agave spirits, so you can actually compare—what feels smoke-like, what tastes brighter, what’s more herbal or earthy.
It also gives you a food moment that’s more than just a snack. Oaxaca-style bites tend to be comforting, and they help keep you steady as the night moves toward the end of the crawl.
About the guide: names, energy, and the storytelling part
The guide experience is a big reason this crawl gets such high marks. In the info you’ll see, guides like Edgar, Gio, Geo, and others are praised for being fun and informative, and for balancing spirits education with neighborhood context.
What that means for you: you’re not stuck standing silently while people taste. You’re encouraged to ask questions about what you’re drinking and why it matters locally. And because groups are small, it’s easier to keep up, especially when the night starts moving quickly.
Some guides are also known for staying on top of the pace—keeping everyone comfortable and making sure the timing works, even when it’s hot outside. That’s not a small detail. It changes how the tour feels, from stressful to enjoyable.
What you’ll taste (and how to enjoy it)
Here’s the structure you should expect: 5 agave shots and 5 cocktails, with spirits including mezcal, racilla, tequila, pulque, and sotol. Add to that 5 food tastings, and you’ve got a full evening where food supports the drinks instead of competing with them.
To enjoy it, I suggest a simple strategy:
- Pay attention to the first taste of each spirit. That sets the baseline for your comparisons later.
- Take small sips on shots if you want to savor flavor rather than just speed through.
- Let the food tastings reset you between drink moments.
And yes—there are often fun surprises. One past group noted jello shots as a surprise moment, and another mentioned meeting Blackey the dog. You can treat these as “bonus fun” rather than guaranteed extras, but they match the overall tone: this is a playful, not-too-serious agave night.
How much walking is it, and who should book?
This is not a sit-in-a-van-and-sip kind of tour. It’s built as a moving route with multiple stops and short tasting windows. Most people can participate, but your comfort level matters if you get tired fast or you’re nursing sore feet.
This crawl is a great fit if:
- You want to try several agave spirits in one evening without planning each bar yourself
- You like learning as you taste, including neighborhood context
- You want a small-group night out in Puerto Vallarta (max 10)
- You’re planning to eat and drink anyway, and you want it organized
It may be less ideal if:
- You dislike walking or crowds even when the group is small
- You want a very quiet evening
- You only want one drink and you’re not interested in comparing flavors
Should you book the Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta?
If you’re excited by tequila and want to go beyond it, I’d book it. The biggest strength is the mix: multiple agave spirits plus actual food tastings within a guided route, with a small group and English support. At $98, you’re essentially buying a night that normally costs more in time and coordination—especially once you factor in the number of tastings and cocktails.
My call: book it if you want a fun, structured agave education with real stops and a night that stays lively from 5:00 pm onward. Skip it only if you know you won’t enjoy a walking bar crawl or you’re not up for tasting multiple spirits in one evening.
FAQ
How long is the Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Puerto Vallarta?
It runs for about 4 hours.
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 5:00 pm.
What is the price per person?
The price is $98.00 per person.
Is the tour in English?
Yes, it is offered in English.
Where do I meet the group?
You meet at El Tasting Room Bar & Liquor Store, Panamá 134, 5 de Diciembre, 48350 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico.
How many people are in the group?
The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.
What’s included in the price?
It includes an expert agave guide, transportation, dinner with 5 food tastings, and 5 agave shots plus 5 cocktails, including mezcal, racilla, tequila, pulque, and sotol.
Do I need to worry about dietary restrictions?
You should advise any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking.
What if the weather is bad?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellation closer than that is not refunded. Changes within 24 hours of the start time are not accepted.
























