A Taste Of Mexico

Today is our first full day of this gastronomic adventure and Mexico City  has it all! We will first visit the downtown area including the Zocalo and the Cathedral, built on top of Tenochtitlan - the old Aztec capital. Throughout this tour we will experience one of Mexico's most famous exports - the taco! We will sample some of the best and most authentic basket tacos, known as 'tacos de canasta' visiting some of the best local taquerias. These soft-shelled tacos are normally filled with marinated pork, beef or chicken as well as more unusual ingredients such as cactus leaves and flower petals. There are vegetarian options abound as well as the more carnivorous dishes!

In the afternoon, we will head to Coyoacan in the south of Mexico City, famous for its coffee and churros culture.  This town retains its colonial charm with cobbled streets, colonial churches and colourful and aromatic markets. 

As we head out of the capital, we will drive north to the magnificent pyramids of Teotihuacan. Although this site was abandoned over thirteen centuries ago, they are still in an incredible state of repair and a spectacular sight on the horizon.  Many centuries after it was abandoned, the Aztecs discovered and revered Teotihuacan as 'the Place of the Gods'.  

We will then continue on a short journey to the city of Puebla passing three of Mexico's most notable volcanos, of Ixtaccihuatl, Popocatepetl and La Malinche. 

We will head out early to visit the markets of Benito Juarez and 20 de Noviembre, some of the best markets to sample the traditional food of Oaxaca. As well as tasting the different  food in the markets, it is an amazing place to purchase the many ingredients central to Mexican cooking like avocados, tomatoes, moles and chillies. 

We will then visit the Casa del Mezcal to try a little “aperitif” of the local delicacy, Mezcal. Mezcal means 'oven-baked agave cactus' and you will have the opportunity to learn about the whole process of mexcal production. We will have lunch at the 'Caldo de Piedra' restaurant, so-named after an ancient cooking technique, where raw fish, shrimp and vegetables are cooked on a red hot stone and is added to a delicious soup. You also have the opportunity to visit the Mixtec-Zapotec site of Mitla, which is a short bus ride away. 

Today we will visit the temples, pyramids and rock carvings of Monte Alban, set on the hillsides that overlook the green lush valley. The Zapotec Indians built this impressive site, thousands of years ago and remains in an excellent state of preservation. 

Today is the final day of this tasty culinary tour and we will take you to the Oaxaca Airport, for your onward flight back home or on to your next exciting destination.