Mexico Real Food Adventure

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico City. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you'll meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe visit the National Museum of Anthropology. If you’re an art fan, 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 welcome dinner where you’ll hop between different taquerias around town to try a bunch of traditional Mexican tacos, sampling a range of fillings, flavours and methods of preparation. 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.

Today you’ll visit a Mexico City institution – a two-storey bakery brimming with cakes, breads and biscuits. This iconic spot is beloved by locals and visitors alike. After, head out on a walking tour of the Centro Historico, where you’ll see the beautiful Bellas Artes Palace and take in the enormous Zocalo Square. You’ll also visit Templo Mayor – a 13th-century Aztec temple – and the Baroque Catedral Metropolitana de Mexico. 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. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Maybe take in some of the city's notable museums, check out the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera or simply relax in Chapultepec Park.

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. Take 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 tlacoyos with vegetables and beans accompanied by a freshly made salad and hibiscus tea, prepared with fresh ingredients from the chinampas. Continue to 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 on a culinary city street food tour for lunch. Puebla is renowned for dishes that combine Spanish and pre-Hispanic influences, using seasonal produce, such as chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies covered in creamy walnut sauce) and mole poblano (a rich sauce of dried chilli, spices and chocolate, served over chicken and red rice). 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 the Talavera pottery at the local workshops or markets, or chill out in a cantina.

Hop on the bus to Oaxaca today – 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 (central square) or take a gentle stroll around Oaxaca’s streets.

Today, you'll venture out of Oaxaca for a look at life outside the city. First, head to the ancient ruins of Mitla (the Nahuatl word for ‘underworld’) – this important Zapotec archaeological site was the main religious centre for the Zapotec people. At lunchtime, explore the abundant Mercado Tlacolula, renowned for its barbacoa, and 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!

Join a local chef for a market visit this morning and learn about Oaxaca’s cuisine from an expert. Take the ingredients you’ve picked up to a cooking class, where you’ll transform them into traditional Oaxacan dishes – and, of course, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Take the 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 delicious journey through Mexico.