This is a fun and fast trip with a focus on foods. We can arrange a hotel for you to arrive one or two days earlier than this tour so you'll have time to acclimatise and visit any of the many amazing Archaeoogical sites and other places that are not covered by this program. Mexico City is at high elevation and sometimes takes a little time to adjust.
Day 1: Mexico City
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico City. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 7 pm 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. Along the way you'll stop in for a sip of mezcal at one of the many venues that continue to pop up all around Mexico City.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl
Meals Included
Dinner
Special Information It can take some time to adjust to the altitude, heat and humidity in Mexico City, and it's normal to experience some lethargy and loss of appetite. Be sure to drink plenty of water and try not to do too much in one day.
Day 2: Mexico City Indulge in a sweet morning with a visit to a local Chuerreria making Mexico's signature cinnamon dusted fried dough 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, you will again be able to explore more of Mexico City’s vibrant dining scene. Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Mexico City - Centro Historico food tour and lunch
Optional Activities
Mexico City - Bosque de Chapultepec & Natural History Museum - MXN100 Mexico City - Coyoacan visit - Free Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (Entrance Fee) - MXN270 Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the National Palace (Entrance Fee) - Free
Meals Included
Breakfast Lunch
Day 3: Puebla 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). Check out the much-loved and very colourful Lucha Libre wrestling this evening, a unique combination of sport and theatre! Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Puebla - City food tour
Optional Activities
Puebla - Lucha Libre Show (Mondays only) from - MXN205
Meals Included
Lunch
Day 4: Puebla/Oaxaca This morning you have free time to explore Puebla and perhaps enjoy a few more chalupas, before catching a local bus to Oaxaca (approximately 4-6 hours depending on traffic) - 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! For dinner, you'll have the option to dine at a traditional local restaurant featuring regional specialties. Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
Breakfast Dinner
Day 5: Oaxaca Partake in a traditional breakfast of chocolate, tamales and pan y yemas. Your afternoon is free to explore Oaxaca’s many other culinary delights. Any carnivores will relish the pasillo de carnes asadas (grilled meats hall) at Mercado 20 de Noviembre, where freshly purchased meat is barbecued right in front of you. 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. Alternatively you can 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.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
Monte Alban - Archaeological Site (Entrance Fee) - MXN70
Meals Included
Breakfast Lunch
Day 6: Oaxaca 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. Perhaps also 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
Day 7: Huatulco Board a morning bus for the long but scenic drive to Huatulco (appx. 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. We spend the night in Huatulco (approximately 1 hour). Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 8: Huatulco Enjoy a cooking class and feast on your creations in a traditional meal celebrating the bounty of the Costa region of Oaxaca. After savouring 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
Boating Expedition 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.
Day 9: Huatulco 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 Please note that this tour ends in Huatulco. You may wish to plan some additional days here or on the coast in Mazunte to enjoy the beach following your trip. Flights to Mexico City depart regularly from both Huatulco (HUX) and Puerto Escondido (PXM) airports, each approximately an hour drive from the center. For ease of travel and the best rates we strongly suggest booking round trip flights in and out of Mexico City and purchasing your flight from Huatulco or Mazunte to Mexico City in advance.
Inclusions Meals 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners Transport Private vehicle, local bus, Boat, Metro, Taxi Accommodation Hotel (8 nights) Included activities
Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl Mexico City - Centro Historico food tour and lunch Puebla - City food tour Oaxaca - Mercado Tlacolula visit with Barbocoa Tasting Oaxaca - Mezcaleria visit Oaxaca - Mitla Ruins (Entrance) Boating Expedition Huatulco - Cooking Class
This tour is operated by Intrepid Travel. Prices start at about $1800 CAD for this trip pp. Group size is maximum of 12. Departures are guaranteed to operate.
Ask how you can qualify for complimentary pre night hotel.
Interested in something a bit more upgraded? We have similar options with other operators or even private tours. Please ask
Contact below.
Name:
George Duffy
Location:
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Contact Number: 1 888 543 6450
Alternate Number:
778 383 6369
Email:
george.duffy@fcitravel.ca
About George:
I specialise in helping solo travellers, small groups, families and friends with advice to get the very best travel experiences suited to their interests at the best possible value.