I’m really excited to interview Juan Pablo Carvajal of Los Magos Sotol about Chihuahua, Mexico. Juan Pablo’s tips for the best things to do in Chihuahua are awesome because he was born here, then traveled the world for 15 years. JP returned to spend time with family and launched his Los Magos brand of sotol.
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CUUlinaria Food Festival Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Mexico
We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out Chihuahua, Mexico – Tourist Guide, the local visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.
If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.
Cattle Drive in front of the Governor’s Office.
Getting around Chihuahua
The local airport is General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport (CUU), which is about a 25-minute drive from the city. Use our Expedia tool below to find flight, hotel, and rental car options.
Juan Pablo says that it’s a good idea to rent a car, whether you’re staying downtown or exploring local attractions. For the best rental car offers, visit Avis, Budget, or Hertz.
Uber and Lyft are excellent ways to get around because JP says that public transportation is not a very viable option.
Juan Pablo Carvajal with sotol plants overlooking a field.
Places we talked about on the podcast
Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Juan Pablo Carvajal about Chihuahua, Mexico. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.
- Red dots = best places to eat in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Green dots = best things to do in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Yellow dots = best places to stay in Chihuahua, Mexico
Who is Juan Pablo Carvajal?
A native of Chihuahua, Los Magos‘ Founder, Chief Production Officer, and Steward of the Brand, Juan Pablo Carvajal (JP), discovered his passion for exploring and appreciating different cultures by traveling throughout his youth. JP had the opportunity to live around the world, from St. Louis, Missouri, to Lüchtringen, Germany, to Iwaki, Japan, to Hangzhou and Kunming, China. Through his travels, JP developed a brilliant ability to share the beauty of nature and culture.
JP eventually found his way back to Mexico in 2004, working for the Mexican Senate while receiving his law degree at Mexico City’s Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. Disenchanted by the work demanded of lawyers, JP sought to pursue a path where he could use his two hands to create something beautiful. In turn, JP became a carpenter apprentice and found his way home to Chihuahua in 2011. He became heavily involved in non-profit initiatives, beginning the Chihuahua chapter of ProEmpleo – an NGO that focuses on training people to start or better their small businesses.
It was during this time that JP and his now business partner, Eduardo Almanza, brainstormed the idea for Los Magos. The two began working on it as a side project, launching Los Magos in Mexico in 2016. By 2017, they committed full-time to the brand. What started with JP bottling, labeling, and waxing the bottles in his house quickly evolved into the creation of Sociedad del Sotol, which spurred the expansion and official launch of Los Magos in America in 2020.
JP strives to share his passion for sotol, allowing others to taste and experience the magic of his home, the Chihuahuan Desert. Acknowledging that he wouldn’t be where he is today without his team and community, JP launched The Los Magos Foundation Inc., a Texas not-for-profit corporation that provides Chihuahuan communities access to healthcare, quality education, and technology. JP is also an advisor for three additional NGOs in Mexico: Mejor México (focused on reducing corruption in Mexico), Emprendiendo Por Chihuahua, A.C (hosts the ProEmpleo program), and Centro de Capacitación Desarrollo Humano y Género, A.C (helps those in poverty through entrepreneurship programs).
Juan Pablo Carvajal with Los Magos Sotol.
Here are a few articles about his company:
- On Cinco De Mayo Go Beyond Tequila With Another Magical Mexican Spirit
- Inside Sotol: Los Magos Brings The Hidden Desert Gem To The Masses
- Los Magos Sotol Launches in the U.S., Bringing New Life to Indigenous Mexican Spirit
You can connect with Juan on his website and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to download our 1-page guide of Juan Pablo’s tips for Chihuahua.
Big thanks to today’s podcast partner – Bluffworks
This episode is brought to you, in part, by Bluffworks. Whether I’m traveling for business or pleasure, it’s important to have clothes that make me look good AND feel great. I wear Bluffworks jeans, slacks, dress shirts, and blazers because they’re wrinkle-free and are designed for the modern traveler. And if they get dirty, a quick spin in the washing machine and they’re good as new.
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Go to WeTravelThere.com/bluffworks and use the promo code from the image below to save 10% off your order. There are many styles to fit your needs so you can stay wrinkle-free when you travel.
Tres Presas Park and Reservoir Chihuahua
Stay tuned for our next episode
Spencer in Etihad First Class
Listen to the next episode when Spencer Howard of Straight to the Points shares how to save money on flights. In this episode, Spencer and I talk about how to find discounted flights, why being flexible is key, and why you should avoid one common strategy that could backfire on you. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.
What’s your favorite part of Chihuahua? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!
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To see which cities we’ve interviewed and scheduled, please visit WeTravelThere.com/map. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please submit an application at WeTravelThere.com/guest.
Related episodes
To learn more about Mexico check out our other episodes below:
- Sandy Beaches, Tasty Shrimp & Pulmonia Rides in Mazatlan, Mexico with Carlos Berdegue
- Famous Blue Chairs of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Mike
- Mummy Museum, Boca del Infierno & Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico with Tim Leffel
- Atotonilco Springs, Arcangel Spires & Fabrica Aurora in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- Winterlude Festival, Canal Cruises & Beaver Tails in Ottawa, Canada with Megan
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