Aguascalientes is one of Mexico's smallest and most industrialized states, a compact highland territory in the country's central Bajio region. Named for its thermal hot springs, it centers on the historic, walkable capital of the same name, famous for the exuberant Feria Nacional de San Marcos, Baroque colonial architecture, and the legacy of Day-of-the-Dead cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada. Beyond the capital, the state offers the Pueblos Magicos of Real de Asientos and Calvillo, an emerging wine region, and a strong charreria and rodeo tradition.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Aguascalientes through its food.
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Tour formats
Different ways to experience Aguascalientes's food scene.
Mercado Juarez Birria Walking Tour
A small-group walking tour through Mercado Juarez, the city's iconic birria market, tasting beef and goat birria, consome and machito at a handful of the market's best-regarded stalls while a local guide explains the dish's Aguascalientes-style origins.
Typical duration: 2-2.5 hours
Price range: $450-650 MXN per person (approx USD 26-38)
Feria de San Marcos Antojitos Food Crawl
During the annual Feria Nacional de San Marcos, this seasonal tasting crawl moves through the fairgrounds' food stalls sampling signature dishes such as pollo San Marcos and chile Aguascalientes, alongside classic Mexican street antojitos.
Typical duration: 3 hours
Price range: $500-750 MXN per person (approx USD 29-44)
Calvillo Guava Orchard Harvest Tour
Calvillo is known as the World Capital of the Guava, and this orchard tour in the El Chiquihuitero countryside lets visitors walk among the trees, learn the harvest process, and taste guava straight from the branch during the August-February season.
Typical duration: 2.5-3 hours
Price range: $250-400 MXN per person (approx USD 15-24)
Mercado Jesus Teran and Mercado Morelos Food Crawl
A market-hopping tour connecting Mercado Jesus Teran and Mercado Morelos, tasting comida corrida, tamales and fresh produce while learning how Aguascalientes' ranching and farming traditions shape everyday market cooking.
Typical duration: 2 hours
Price range: $400-550 MXN per person (approx USD 24-32)
Aguardiente de Guayaba and Mezcal Tasting, Calvillo
A seated tasting in Calvillo exploring the town's guava-based aguardiente and regional mezcal, paired with guava candies and local cheese, led by producers who explain how the fruit liqueurs are distilled.
Typical duration: 1.5-2 hours
Price range: $300-450 MXN per person (approx USD 18-26)
Ruta del Vino Aguascalientes Winery Tasting Tour
A guided visit to one or more of the ten wineries on the state wine route, most reliably Casa Leal and Hacienda de Letras, both of which run scheduled hour-long tours ending in a tasting. Booking ahead is essential, and a designated driver or hired car is needed since no bus serves the vineyards.
Typical duration: Half day, about 5 hours including transfer
Price range: MXN 300-600 per person for a single winery, MXN 1,200-2,000 (approx USD 71-118) for a guided multi-winery day with transport
Centro Historico Specialty Coffee and Pan Dulce Walk
A short self-guided circuit of four independent Centro cafes, all within about eight blocks of the Plaza de la Patria, covering specialty coffee, chai, artisanal bread and churros. No booking is needed at any stop and the whole loop is walkable in an easy morning.
Typical duration: 2-3 hours, self-guided
Price range: MXN 250-450 per person for drinks and pastries across all four stops (approx USD 15-26)
Mercado Morelos Breakfast and Menudo Crawl
Inaugurated in 1969, Mercado Morelos is the Centro's cooked-food market, and its counters serve menudo, mole con arroz, chiles rellenos, enchiladas and caldos from early morning. Arrive between 8AM and 11AM, bring cash, and expect to share a counter.
Typical duration: 1.5-2 hours, self-guided
Price range: MXN 120-250 per person for a full breakfast across two or three stalls (approx USD 7-15)
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Aguascalientes home with you.
Birria Estilo Aguascalientes Cooking Class
A hands-on class teaching the Aguascalientes style of birria, from building the red chile marinade to slow-cooking the beef and goat and hand-pressing tortillas, finishing with a shared meal of the class's own birria.
Guava Sweets and Ates Workshop, Calvillo
In the World Capital of the Guava, this workshop teaches visitors to prepare traditional ate (fruit paste) and jam from Calvillo guavas, with a tasting of finished sweets and liqueurs and a jar to take home.
Gorditas and Carne en su Jugo Home Cooking Class
A home-style cooking class covering two Aguascalientes staples: hand-patting and filling gorditas, and simmering carne en su jugo with bacon and beans, ending with a shared meal of everything prepared.
DIY self-guided food tour
Build your own food crawl through Aguascalientes.
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Self-Guided Centro Birria and Coffee Trail
A do-it-yourself walking route through the historic center linking a morning birria bowl at Mercado Juarez, a mid-day coffee stop at one of the centro's specialty cafes, and an evening gordita from a classic street stand.
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Self-Guided Calvillo Guava Route
A self-guided day route through Calvillo, Mexico's guava capital, combining an orchard visit, a meal built around guava dishes and a browse through the town market for ates, jams and guava liqueurs to take home.
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Birria in Aguascalientes is a breakfast and brunch dish as much as a dinner one - visit Mercado Juarez before noon for the best selection
During the Feria Nacional de San Marcos (late April-mid May), food stalls sell out of signature dishes like pollo San Marcos by evening, so eat early
Guava season in Calvillo runs roughly August through February; visiting outside this window means orchard tours focus more on processing than picking
Carry cash for market stalls and small birrierias, many of which do not accept cards
Steakhouse reservations are worth making for Friday and Saturday dinners, when local families fill the city's parrillas
Aguascalientes prices are generally lower than in Mexico City or major coastal resorts, making it a good-value destination for a food-focused trip