A Taste of Mexico - Markets and Maya Sites

14 days
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Small Group Tour
A 2-week adventure to discover one of the world's finest cuisines! You'll start in the Capital City trying some of the best street food that Mexico has to offer. Moving across the country, you'll sample some of the regional specialities, such as 'mole poblano' and 'nopal'. Discover the many ways that food plays a huge part in the local traditions, as well as ...
$3,567
From$3,650
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • A 2-week Mexico adventure to discover one of the world's finest cuisines
    • Discover the traditional produce and cuisine of Mexico
    • Sample the best of Mexico City's street food on a full day tour

What's this trip about?

    A 2-week adventure to discover one of the world's finest cuisines! You'll start in the Capital City trying some of the best street food that Mexico has to offer. Moving across the country, you'll sample some of the regional specialities, such as 'mole poblano' and 'nopal'. Discover the many ways that food plays a huge part in the local traditions, as well as the history behind this fascinating country. Mexican cooking class - Prepare a classic dish with a mother and son team, using a selection of fresh ingredients that you'll purchase from one the many local food markets. Street Food Tour - Sample the best of Mexico City's street food on a full day tour The Yucatan Peninsula - See how ceviche is prepared in Campeche, - the best place in Mexico to try this marinated fish dish

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CityMexico City
End CityMerida

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Attractions

  • Mexico City
  • Palenque
  • San Cristobal

Activities

  • Hiking

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in Mexico City

Arrive in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and truly the heart and soul of the country. With so much rich history to discover, the city is filled with historic buildings, landmarks and the largest number of museums in the world. Due to the number of evening flig...

Day 2 Explore Mexico City on a street food tour

We have a big day planned for our first full day in Mexico City, starting with the ultimate street food tour. During our culinary exploration of the city, your tour leader will introduce you to some of Mexico's most famous exports-think Barbacoa Tacos and Tamales. We'...

Day 3 Visit the pyramids of Teotihuacan, visit a Nopal workshop. Continue to Puebla

Departing from the city, we will journey north to the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Abandoned thirteen centuries ago and once the largest city in the Americas, Teotihuacan's influence permeated throughout Middle America. Maya craftsmen adopted its decorative motifs and arc...

Day 4 Visit Puebla's sweet street, try mole poblano, afternoon drive to Oaxaca

We start our day with a visit to Puebla's Sweet Street - the 'Calle de los Dulces'. Puebla is a great stop for those with a sweet tooth and the city has an entire road dedicated to producing and selling sweets and biscuits. This will then be followed by a visit to...

Day 5 Free morning on Oaxaca. Mezcal factory visit and Caldo de Piedra lunch

We have a free morning today, during which you may like to visit the nearby Zapotec site of Monte Alban, which flourished over 1,500 years ago. This impressive complex of temples, pyramids and enigmatic rock carvings was built literally on top of a hill, which means t...

Day 6 Morning cooking class of classic Mexican dishes, free afternoon in Oaxaca

Today we have our first-hand experience in a Mexican kitchen when we join a mother and son team for a cooking class. We start the day by going to the Centro de Abastos - one of the biggest food markets in the city, where we will see the enormous selections of fresh in...

Day 7 Drive to Chiapa del Corzo

Today is a full day's journey that will lead us up through the winding roads of the Sierra Madre Mountain range and we'll make several stops along the way. Our first port of call is a 2,000-year-old swamp cypress tree in Santa Maria del Tule, close to Oaxaca. The...

Day 8 Sumidero Canyon boat trip and journey to San Cristobal

Today, we visit the spectacular Sumidero Canyon, a unique 41-kilometer-long rift carved by the Rio Grijalva, with depths reaching up to 1,000 meters. This historically significant site is where, in the 16th century, 1,000 Chiapa indigenous people chose suicide over ...

Day 9 Visit San Cristobal local markets; afternoon free for optional chocolate making workshop. Dinner at traditional restaurant.

We will start our day with a visit to the food market. In contrast to the markets of Oaxaca, the ingredients differ here in San Cristobal as do the traditional meals. You will see a range of produce such as coffee and cacao and our Tour Leader will explain their use i...

Day 10 Drive from highlands to rainforests of Palenque. Visit Cacao ranch en route & enjoy included seafood lunch.

Today, we leave the highlands and journey to the jungles of Palenque. Along the way, we'll stop at a traditional cacao ranch to learn about the cultivation and processing of cacao into chocolate. After exploring the ranch, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch of deep-fried m...

Day 11 Visit Palenque archeological site; try ceviche en route to Campeche in the Yucatan

This morning we will start early with a guided visit to the famous jungle ruins of Palenque, a fascinating and important Mayan site. Once the choking forest was cleared, the ruins revealed the tomb of the high priest Pakal, his body adorned with a marvellous jade deat...

Day 12 Drive into the Yucatan to Merida via the temples of Uxmal. Enjoy a traditional pibil lunch with locals

Before departing today your tour leader will take you on a short orientation walk around the historic fortified town of Campeche. We then take a short drive to Uxmal. Encircled by hills, Uxmal is expansive in its design, with majestic palaces, temples, pyramids and ...

Day 13 Visit Izamal with visit to local reastaurant; afternoon visit to famous ice cream and cake parlour

After a later start we drive to the colonial backwater of Izamal. Here we will have lunch at restaurant Kinich - situated in one of the great houses of Izamal this is reputed to be one of the best restaurants on the Peninsula to enjoy the Yucatecan specialities such a...

Day 14 Trip ends in Merida

The trip ends in the morning at our hotel in Merida. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Merida at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an a...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,650
Price per day$261
Last Updated: 3/14/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
29 Mar 2025
11 Apr 2025
$3,650
$770
11 Oct 2025
24 Oct 2025
$4,060
$760
08 Nov 2025
21 Nov 2025
$4,060
$760

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
10,321
Great
3,322
Average
522
Disappointing
158
Terrible
79
H

Hazel

Nov 2024

Written on

A Taste of Mexico - Markets and Mayan Sites

Mexico exceeded all my expectations. The diversity of the people and culture held a surprise every day. The local people are so pleased to be welcoming tourists to t...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2024

Written on

A Taste of Mexico - Markets and Mayan Sites

I’m not a big ‘foodie’ but my partner is, so I was expecting to just tag along for the ride. However, I absolutely loved this trip. It had the perfect mix of relaxat...

B

Beverley

Jun 2024

Written on

A Taste of Mexico - Markets and Mayan Sites

Thoroughly enjoyable ,relaxing and educational. Moderate pace, itinerary well balanced ; historical sites, bustling markets, colonial buildings ,meeting local folk i...

J

Jeanne

Apr 2024

Written on

Tastes of Mexico

Great itinerary, food and cooking, and cultural experiences. Our guide Tacho shared his in depth knowledge of the history and the cultures, which vary across Mexi...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus,

Transportation & flights

Bus
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Mexico: Citizens from UK, New Zealand, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada require a Mexican Tourist Card to enter. This is obtained on arrival if flying into Mexico City Benito Juarez Airport or Cancun International. Some airlines may give this to you at the check-in desk. Once you receive the tourist card you must keep this on you until you exit Mexico. If entering by another port - you will have to apply for this in advance online - website - https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure. USA: If your flights pass through the USA, even if only in transit, you will require either a visa or an ESTA (an e-visa). Please read on for more information. Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can apply for an ESTA under certain conditions. This applies if you enter the country by sea or by air, and this must be done online via https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. You must have a biometric passport to apply for an ESTA. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover. If you have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen since 2011 or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel with an ESTA and instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel. You should also be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Cuba since the 12th of January 2021, you will not be eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need. Your ESTA application will ask for Point of Contact information. Please note that if you're only transiting through the USA then this is not required. If you're visiting or staying in the USA on an Explore trip, then our USA contact information will be listed on your final documentation which you will receive approximately 3-4 weeks before departure. Entry requirements for the USA can change regularly, therefore, please ensure you have the most up to date information before you travel by checking the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html Canada: An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is required by British citizens transiting via Canada. For more information see the official Canadian government website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary. Please note many countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean require a yellow fever vaccination certificates if travelling from infected areas. A detailed list of these countries can be found on the NaTHNaC website - http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. Also on the NaTHNaC site there is a list of Countries (and specific areas within a country) which are at risk of infection and a vaccination is therefore recommended. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 13
  • Dinner : 2
  • Lunch : 8
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-MXF

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