However, Guanajuato has three other routes that every visitor must experience while touring the state, whether touring or visiting cultural events, festivals, business meetings, and more: the Mezcal Route, the Tequila Route, and the Cheese Route. .
The tequila route
Traditionally, Tequila is recognized worldwide for coming from various regions of Mexico. Guanajuato also appears as one of the states that hold the "denomination of origin" of Tequila; from there, several cities in the southwest of the state, such as Abasolo, Cueramaro, Huanimaro, Manuel Doblado, Pénjamo, Romita and San Francisco del Rincón. — are home to several Tequila companies that produce well-known brands such as Corralejo and Huani, to name two.
In the operational Tequila factory in Pénjamo and the Casa del Tequila in Corralejo, visitors can live, from start to finish, the artisan production process and the distillate tasting. (Interestingly, the region is located in the archaeological zone of Peralta, which dates back to 950 AD).
The Mezcal Route
In the northwest of Guanajuato are the cities of San Luis de la Paz and San Felipe, where mezcal-producing haciendas with more than two centuries of production are preserved.
The "Salmiana" agave plant is endemic to the region, but there is a wide variety of other agave species cultivated in this area that give life to this drink, which is increasingly appreciated by Mexicans and foreigners.
The Cheese Route
In terms of gastrotourism, Guanajuato is emerging as a destination rich in a variety of not only wines and spirits such as tequila and mezcal, but also food such as strawberries, nopales and other ingredients that converge to create a succulent feast. Not least are the many local cheeses from the region.
Cheese is undoubtedly an essential food for gastronomic culture around the world, and Guanajuato is no exception. In the city of Apaseo, visitors can interact and learn about the production of more than 10 types of sheep, cow and goat cheeses, some smoked, others aged and, of course, fresh cheese. Another must for travelers doing this route is to try the exquisite local cheese ice cream.