Get an authentic taste of Mexico on this journey through some of the country’s most famous culinary regions. Meander through Oaxaca’s aromatic markets; take to the streets of Puebla to sample some the city’s local specialties; indulge in fresh seafood on the beach; and take to the streets of Mexico City on a taco crawl to experience a delightful culinary heritage that goes back thousands of years. If you’re after cultural richness, authentic experiences and flavorsome food that’s tinged with fiesta, then this Real Food Adventure is for you.

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

• Mexico’s climate is hot and humid. Wear loose clothing and make sure you stay hydrated, especially while out on walking tours.
• You will be covering a fair amount of ground on this trip, so be prepared for some driving. Mexico is a big country. However, there’s only one very long bus trip (approximately 9 hours), from Oaxaca to Huatulco.

• Hotel accommodation
• Transportation (Private vehicle, local bus, Boat, Metro, Taxi)
• Meals ( 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners)

• Mexico City – Leader-led Taco Crawl
• Mexico City – Leader-led City Tour of Historic Center
• Mexico City – Tasting Trail
• Puebla – City food tour
• Oaxaca – Mercado Tlacolula visit with Barbocoa Tasting
• Oaxaca – Mezcaleria visit
• Oaxaca – Mitla archeological site
• Huatulco – Boat Trip
• Huatulco – Cooking Class

• International airfare
• Meals not specified in the itinerary
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal equipment
• Gratuities for drivers, guides, and local staff
• Extras at hotel

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico City. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm where you’ll meet your tour leader and travel group. Please check with the hotel reception where and when it will take place. This evening your leader will take you on a ‘taco crawl’ around town. You’ll taste Mexico City’s delicious street-food staple, tacos al pastor, among others. You may like to accompany your tacos with a refreshing local beer or even horchata, a milky cinnamon rice drink.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities:
Mexico City – Leader-led Taco Crawl

Meals Included:
Dinner

Special Information:
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Indulge in a sweet morning with a visit to a local chuerreria making Mexico’s signature cinnamon dusted churros. Then enjoy a visit to a Mexico City institution: a two-storey bakery brimming with cakes, breads and biscuits, followed by a walking tour of Mexico City’s Centro Historico. Take in the beautiful Bellas Artes Palace, travel down the Paseo de la Reforma (the city’s main thoroughfare) and marvel at the impressive Zocalo (Latin America’s largest main square). Along the way you’ll visit Mercado San Juan, the city’s main food market, then roam the surrounding streets and watch local vendors at work. If you come across tortillas being freshly pressed, be sure to try them warm with a sprinkle of salt. Pull up a chair at one of the best seafood stands in the city for a late lunch. The rest of your day is free for your own exploration. Perhaps relax in Chapultepec Park or take in some of the city’s notable museums, including the renowned Museo Nacional de Antropologia (anthropological museum), which is considered one of the finest in the world. Alternatively, head to the leafy district of Coyoacan – a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Mexico City. There you can enjoy the Sunday markets or perhaps check out the home of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. This evening, if you wish, you will again be able to explore more of Mexico City’s vibrant dining scene.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities:
Mexico City – Leader-led City Tour of Historic Center
Mexico City- Tasting Trail

Optional Activities:
Mexico City – Bosque de Chapultepec & Natural History Museum – MXN100
Mexico City – Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) – MXN270
Mexico City – Diego Rivera Murals in the National Palace (entrance fee) – Free

Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch

Special Information:
If you are interested in visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum, we recommend booking tickets online no later than two weeks prior to your visit. 

Catch a local bus to Puebla, Mexico’s culinary capital. The city is renowned for dishes which combine Spanish and pre-hispanic influences, such as chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies covered in creamy walnut sauce). Venture out on a culinary city tour – start with some Pueblan street food before making a beeline for Calle de los Dulces (Sweet Street) to sample tortitas de Santa Clara (shortbread biscuits) and camotes (sweet potato lollies). This evening you also have the option to check out a much-loved and very colourful lucha libre wrestling match, a unique combination of sport and theatre!

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities:
Puebla- City food tour

Optional Activities:
Puebla- Lunch Libre Show (Mondays only) from -MXN205

Meals Included:
Lunch

This morning you may like to grab a tamale to take on the bus with you to Oaxaca. The journey by local bus takes approximately 4-6 hours, depending on traffic. Oaxaca is a beautiful colonial city nicknamed the ‘land of the seven moles’. Visit the fabulous Mercado Benito Juarez, a bountiful market taking up a full city block and brimming with produce, mole spices and pastes, and towers of Oaxacan cheese. Maybe try local specialties like chapulines (grasshoppers). Chocoholics won’t want to miss a trip down to the shops on Calle Mina for a taste of real Oaxaca chocolate – it’s no wonder it’s seen as the food of the gods! Dinner this evening will be a plant-based spread at a local restaurant specialising in dishes from the Isthmus region of Oaxaca. Tuck into tasty gorditas, tamales with huitlacoche, vegan tlayuda and seasonal fresh fruit.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included:
Breakfast
Dinner

With a free morning, you may like to visit the archaeological site of Monte Alban, an outstanding example of a pre-Columbian ceremonial centre. The terraces, dams, canals, pyramids and artificial mounds of Monte Alban were carved out of the mountain. Join the group for lunch, heading to the busy Mercado 20 de Noviembre. Any carnivores will relish the pasillo de carnes asadas (grilled meats hall), where freshly purchased meat is barbecued right in front of you. For a little balance, perhaps try a quesadilla made with vegetables and oozing Oaxacan cheese. The afternoon is free for you to explore. Those with a sweet tooth can find several shops on Calle Mina (just south of Mercado 20 de Noviembre) at which to learn about the production of real Oaxacan chocolate – and of course taste this regional specialty.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities: 
Oaxaca – Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) – MXN70

Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch

Today you will venture out of Oaxaca for an insight into regional life. Visit Mercado Tlacolula, one of the oldest markets in Mesoamerica. This is a unique opportunity to witness the ancient Zapotec cultural traditions of dress, cuisine and language, as the community gathers together from neighbouring villages. Pay a visit to Teotitlan del Valle to watch traditional Zapotec rug weaving done by local families. Indulge in a meal of Oaxacan barbacoa, then head to the ancient ruins of Mitla. Mitla (the Nahuatl word for ‘underworld’) is an important Zapotec archaeological site and was the main religious centre for the Zapotec people. On the way back to Oaxaca, stop into a mezcaleria (mezcal distillery). Although this tequila-like drop is experiencing a resurgence in popularity all over Mexico, it is largely produced in Oaxaca. It’s generally enjoyed straight-up, so it’s not for the faint-hearted!

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities: 
Oaxaca – Mercado Tlacolula visit with Barbocoa Tasting
Oaxaca – Mezcaleria visit
Oaxaca – Mitla archeological site

Meals Included:
Breakfast
Lunch

Board a morning bus for the long but scenic drive to Huatulco (approx. 9 hours). We will stop at a local village for lunch along the way. This is your chance to relax and unwind, as this town belongs to one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on Mexico’s Pacific coast and we stay minutes away from the water. It’s also quieter and less touristy than some of the bigger beachside spots, although these are accessibly by taxi. Pull up a chair at one of the restaurants or perhaps pay a visit to the local food markets.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Enjoy a cooking class and feast on your creations in a traditional meal celebrating the bounty of the coastal region of Oaxaca. After savoring these traditional coastal dishes, head out on a boating expedition. If you’re lucky you might spot turtles, stingrays or even dolphins. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or simply relax by the water. Perhaps make a toast to the end of your adventure with a glass of mezcal by the ocean.

Accommodation:
Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities:
Huatulco – Boat Trip
Huatulco – Cooking Class

Meals Included:
Lunch
Dinner

Special Information:
In the event that sea conditions are too rough to allow a safe and comfortable boating expedition, this activity will be replaced with an alternative.

Your adventure ends today. There are no activities planned for the final day.

Meals Included:
There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information:
You may wish to plan some additional days in Huatulco or on the coast in Mazunte to enjoy the beach. Flights to Mexico City depart regularly from both Huatulco (HUX) and Puerto Escondido (PXM) airports.