Mexico Real Food Adventure

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico City. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you'll meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe go and see the Templo Mayor (a 13th-century Aztec temple) or the baroque Catedral Metropolitana de Mexico. If you’re a fan of art, you could go to the Frida Kahlo Museum or check out the Palacio Nacional, which houses murals by Diego Rivera. After the meeting, head out for a local food tasting around town so you can sample an array of different Mexican dishes. You may like to enjoy a local beer or horchata (a milky cinnamon rice drink) as you toast to the start of an epic week-long adventure exploring Mexico's unique cuisine and culture.

With your leader, you’ll visit a Mexico City institution – a two-storey bakery brimming with cakes, breads and biscuits, followed by a walking tour of the Centro Historico. Take in the beautiful Bellas Artes Palace, travel down the Paseo de la Reforma thoroughfare and see the enormous Zocalo Square. Along the way, call into Mercado San Juan – the city’s main food market – then roam the surrounding streets and watch local vendors at work. Pull up a chair at one of the best seafood stands in the city for a late lunch. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Maybe relax in Chapultepec Park, take in some of the city's notable museums or check out the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Start the day with a visit to the community of San Pedro Tlahuac where a local family will share their way of life through traditions, food and farming practices. Enjoy a trajinera (flat-bottomed boat) ride and learn about chinampa agriculture directly from a Nahuatl farmer. Then sit down to a delicious local meal of tortillas with vegetables, maize and beans accompanied by a freshly made salad and hibiscus tea, prepared with fresh ingredients from the chinampas. This authentic cultural exchange offers a unique opportunity to connect with Nahuatl descendants who are proudly keeping their heritage alive. Arrive in Puebla in the afternoon – a city known for its long culinary history – and spend the rest of the day however you like. Perhaps pop down Alley of the Frogs – a colourful street perfect for souvenir shopping.

Venture out today on a culinary city street food tour for lunch. Puebla is renowned for dishes that combine Spanish and pre-hispanic influences, such as chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies covered in creamy walnut sauce - seasonal). Start with some Pueblan street food like tacos Arabes (a style of taco created by Puebla’s Middle Eastern immigrants) or chalupas (fried tortillas with a spicy filling). Then, make a beeline for Calle de los Dulces (Sweet Street) to sample tortitas de Santa Clara (shortbread biscuits) and camotes (sweet potato lollies). Save space for a cinnamon-dusted churro or two! Once you’re full and satisfied, perhaps check out Talavera pottery or chill out in a cantina.

Travel by bus to Oaxaca – a beautiful city nicknamed the ‘land of the seven moles’, hinting at its varieties of the thick sauce. When you arrive, head straight for the bustling Mercado 20 de Noviembre for a late lunch. Among the many great choices, tlayudas (Oaxacan pizza) is a staple you shouldn’t miss. After, explore Oaxaca’s artsy neighbourhood, Jalatlaco, with your leader. Bright murals and coffee shops adorn its streets so sit down with a hot cup of coffee from a cafe that’s been open for 140 years and take in your colourful surroundings. With free time for the remainder of the day, you can continue to roam the city's markets, people watch in the zocalo or take a gentle stroll around Oaxaca’s streets.

Today, you'll venture out of Oaxaca for an insight into regional life. First, 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. At lunchtime, explore the abundant Mercado Tlacolula, renowned for its barbacoa and the ideal choice to refuel until dinner. On the way back to Oaxaca, stop at a mezcaleria (mezcal distillery). Although this drink 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!

Visit a market in the morning with a local chef and learn about Oaxaca’s cuisine from an expert. Take the ingredients you’ve picked up and, during a special cooking class, learn how to transform them into traditional Oaxacan dishes, which you’ll then enjoy for lunch. You can even take these recipes home as a souvenir – the gift that keeps on giving! The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you like. You may like to regroup with your fellow travellers in the evening to head out for a final dinner together and reflect on your amazing journey through Mexico.