Culinary journey Mexico
13 days - from € 8,950 per person
culinary - history - archaeological sites
- Get to know the real Mexican food
- Explore Aztec markets, drink in typical cantinas and enjoy street food
- Follow the sommelier’s recommendations and taste the top wines of Bodega Cuna de Tierra
- Sip on the best tequila from Casa Dragones in San Miguel de Allende
- Learn to cook the original Chicken in Chocolate Sauce at a Zapotecan family in Oaxaca
Travel description
Day 1: Amsterdam - Mexico City
Your culinary tour will start today. From Amsterdam, you will depart with an intercontinental flight to Mexico City. Once you have arrived here, one of our local staff will welcome you and take you to your accommodation. In the evening, you will enjoy a gourmet dinner with Mexican wines or matching traditional beers, the choice is yours. You will be taken to one of the most artistic and dynamic neighbourhoods of the city; La Roma. Here you will enjoy a delicious four-course Mex-fusion dinner with a seasonal edge.
Accommodation: The St. Regis Mexico City | bed & breakfast
Day 2: Mexico City
After breakfast you will be picked up by your private guide to get acquainted with the historical centre of the city. What is now the heart of this modern city was once also the centre of the Aztec world, Tenochtitlan. Stroll through the city centre together with your guide and let him explain you more about the history. Later you will go on a real Mexico-foodie adventure. Enjoy this gastronomic adventure through the traditional flavours of Mexico, from pre-Hispanic dishes to contemporary culinary dishes. Explore the main Aztec market, drink in a typical cantina and enjoy street food. While walking you will get familiar with various local eateries and you will understand what makes Mexico so special from a culinary point of view.
Accommodation: The St. Regis Mexico City | bed & breakfast
Day 3: Mexico City
Today you will get to know the southern neighbourhoods of the city, San Angel and Coyoacán. If you visit San Angel on a Saturday, you can explore the Bazar del Sabado, an art and craft market that brings people from all over the city to San Angel. During lunch you will visit the Mercado Coyoacán, the local market. All scents, colours and tastes will meet you, it is an authentic Mexican market and you can have lunch here. Afterwards, you will visit the famous house of Frida Kahlo, where you can admire some of her original paintings and works of art. If time permits you can also visit the museum of Dolores Olmedo. This museum is housed in a 16th century building, and manages an extensive collection of works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, supplemented by hundreds of pre-Hispanic sculptures.
Accommodation: The St. Regis Mexico City | bed & breakfast
Day 4: Mexico City - San Miguel de Allende
You will continue your trip to San Miguel de Allende (approx. 320 km / 5-hour drive). On the way, you will make a small diversion to visit the Aztec town of Teotihuacán, one of the most famous archaeological sites! Since 1987 this place has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Together with your private guide you will discover the archaeological site and learn about the rituals, culture and way of life of the Aztecs who settled here. In the afternoon you will arrive in San Miguel de Allende, a small colonial town with a cosmopolitan and international character.
Accommodation: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende | bed & breakfast
Day 5: San Miguel de Allende
Just after breakfast, your private guide will pick you up and introduce you to the colourful historic centre of San Miguel de Allende. You will visit the iconic central square, where the locals gather and talk in the shade of the trees before entering the famous pink church of San Miguel (Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel). Afterwards you will go to the vineyard of Cuna De Tierra, one of the best bodegas in the region. You will be amazed by the beautiful landscape and modern architecture. A sommelier will take you to a high tower from where you can enjoy the view while tasting a glass of wine. You will be shown around the vineyard. This is followed by a gourmet four-course meal with matching wines, carefully chosen by chef Carlos Segura. The dishes are made with local products.
Accommodation: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende | bed & breakfast
Day 6: San Miguel de Allende
At the end of the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the local market, where there are numerous stalls with everything that the delicious and unique Mexican cuisine has to offer. Taste the freshly cooked chickpeas, the tamales and the dried chilli peppers. Afterwards you walk through the city to the new organic market. On the way to this market, a savoury tasting is planned. You will stop at the churro-factory, at a wine shop with local wine and at an artisan chocolaterie. At the new market, you will have a cheese tasting, with cheeses made by some of the best cheese-makers in the area. Your lunch can be extended by choosing from the many meals served here.
In the evening you will have a Tequila tasting in the tasting room Casa Dragones. Here you will enjoy a tequila blanc and typical artisanal cocktails. A good tequila is made of 100% pure blue agave plants. Casa Dragones works together with Meyer Davis, a world-famous architectural firm from New York. Besides a delicious tequila, the location has a special interior. For the design they used iconic lava stones found in the agave fields of Casa Dragones. Designer Gloria Cortina created the natural obsidian rocks in 4,000 tiles that have been used here on the ceiling and walls.
Accommodation: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende | bed & breakfast
Day 7: San Miguel de Allende - Puebla
This day you will travel further to Puebla with an English speaking private driver (approx. 380 km / 4.5-hour drive). On the way you can make a few stops if you wish. Puebla is surrounded by the Popocatépetl and the Iztaccihuatl volcanoes and snowy mountain tops and has no less than 70 churches in the historic centre. The city was founded by the Spaniards and to this day many Spanish influences can still be seen, such as colonial architecture and painted ceramics.
Accommodation: Azul Talavera Puebla | bed & breakfast
Day 8: Puebla
You will start the day with a visit to the oldest and most prestigious Talavera factory in Puebla, where painted ceramics are made. The tradition of Talavera pottery was born in the early years of Mexico's independence and the secrets of the Talavera Poblana have been preserved for generations. Here you will be shown around and take a look in the showrooms. You can participate in a ceramics hand painting workshop. After this, you will get to know the historic centre of Puebla which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the important highlights are the famous Capilla del Rosario, with Mexican Baroque architecture and 23-carat gold leaf decorations throughout the church, as well as the beautiful Palacio Nacional and the Zocalo (the central square). At the end of this culturally rich day you can sit back and relax. Take an agua fresca, for example, which are typical Mexican juices made with cold water and fresh fruit flavours.
Accommodation: Azul Talavera Puebla | bed & breakfast
Day 9: Puebla
In the morning, your guide will pick you up for an adventurous day filled with Mexican culinary specialties. The first stop on this quest is a small stall for tamales and a cup of coffee. During this tour you will eat like a real 'local'. You will taste molotes, pelonas and semitas, some of the most traditional poblano delicacies, and you will taste tacos at the Tacos Arabes stand. Along the way, the guide will also show you some of the most iconic historical buildings, such as the Palafoxiana, the first library on the American continent. The excursion ends with a walk along Calle de los Dulces, a three-block street with sweet shops, where you will stop at La Gran Fama Dulceria. Taste handmade delicacies and be sure to try the camotes, Puebla's signature candy made from sweet potato. The afternoon is freely scheduled and, if desired, you can explore the city further on your own.
Accommodation: Azul Talavera Puebla | bed & breakfast
Day 10: Puebla - Oaxaca
In the morning, your private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to your next destination; Oaxaca (approx. 340 km / 4.5-hour drive). Once you have arrived at your hotel you can freshen up and then it is time to get familiar with the historic centre of Oaxaca. You will learn more about the city's cultural heritage during a visit to the city's cultural museum. Here you will find an impressive exhibition of the treasure found in one of the tombs of the archaeological site of Monte Alban. If time and interest allow, you can also visit the art galleries Art of Oaxaca and Quetzalli. You will have the chance to try some of the regional delicacies of Oaxaca, such as hot chocolate and grasshoppers.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Oaxaca | bed & breakfast
Day 11: Oaxaca
Today you will visit the village of Teotitlán del Valle, a beautiful village on the east side of the valley. Here you will find a remarkable church with authentic artifacts from the 16th century. Upon arrival in Teotitlán del Valle you will visit the market. Afterwards you will visit the house of a family to see how they make traditional woven carpets. Many still use the traditional techniques of carding and spinning their own wool, which is then dyed with natural colours to finally weave it on looms of solid wood. Afterwards, you can enjoy a regional cooking class and lunch, where you will be welcomed as a guest in the home of a Zapoteek family. During the cooking class, they will share their cooking techniques and secrets with you. At the end of the afternoon you will travel back to your accommodation in Oaxaca and have the evening at your leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Oaxaca | bed & breakfast
Day 12: Oaxaca - Mexico city - Amsterdam
Your culinary journey through Mexico comes to an end today. You will be picked up at your hotel and brought to the airport of Oaxaca from where you will fly to Amsterdam via Mexico City.
Day 13: Amsterdam
You arrive in Amsterdam today.
Travel sum
From € 8,950 per person
- Based on 2 persons travelling together
- Depending on the time of booking, availability of accommodation and period of travel
Included:
- domestic flight, economy class
- 11 nights at a hotel, meals as stated
- all transfers and excursions as mentioned, accompanied by English-speaking private guides
- 24/7 our backup; locally and in the Netherlands
- Comprehensive travel document package with small attention
Not included:
- international flights, if desired we can reserve these for you
- early check-in / late check-out, based on availability this is sometimes given by the hotel. If you want to be sure you have this, please enquire about the surcharge.
- (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking
- SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
- travel and cancellation insurance
Request travel proposal - For a journey through Mexico
Do you also want to make this trip? Of course, we can arrange the above trip for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a tailor-made offer below. We are happy to help.
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