Mexico City Market and Salsa Making Secrets with Local Family

Mexico City, Mexico

From $59.38

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

5 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Peruse 2 of Mexico City's top street markets during this 5-hour cultural and salsa making experience. Navigate the bustling markets packed with goods like exotic flowers, traditional piñatas, super hot tamales, taco lesson and taste, food history, and 'magic' love potions with your guide, who will give you the inside scoop on the best places to find whatever you're after. With tasty samples along the way, you'll finish your tour with panza llena, corazon contento: a fully tummy and a happy heart. On this tour, you will learn about the socio-political history of Mexico, support independent market vendors, and experience real connections by meeting with a local family.

Explore 2 of Mexico City's local markets
Shop for items like fresh produce, local flowers, and local candies
Indulge in lots of tastings along the way
Learn about the history of Mexican cuisine, ingredients, local producers, and how Mexican families are involved.

What's Included

Join Bilingual local guide and experience real connections by meeting with a local family.
Experience Mexico City like a local by navigating public transit (public transportation included)
Discover two different street markets that are far off the tourist trail
Savour iconic street foods like tacos, tamales and huaraches
Visit a local family business and learn about their daily life in Mexico City
Take an interactive salsa making lesson and taste your homemade salsa
Get tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

República de Guatemala 4, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral facade / entrance. República de Guatemala 4, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06020 Ciudad de México, CDMX

Start time

08:30 AM

End point

Palacio de Bellas Artes
Av. Juarez S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Palacio de Bellas Artes facade /entrance. Av. Juárez S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX

What To Expect

Meet your guide at the Hostel Mundo Joven facade. Begin your insider tour of the city's best markets the way the locals do:

Your first stop is a market that even some locals don't know about. As you have a look around, learn about the context of this place in Mexican social and political history in the early 20th century. Hear about the market's connection to prominent Mexico City historical figures Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Jump back on public transport and head to the 3 in 1 flower market. Continue a few blocks to a market that has 3 parts: flowers, fresh produce and prepared food. Ask one of the vendors in the largest flower market in the city to pick out some flowers that match your eye color. Stroll through the warren of stalls chock full of local products, atole, taco, huarache dish, tamales and pineapple tepache as you walk.

After buying some fresh vegetables (and learning about local farming practices), head over to a local family business, where you’ll learn how to prepare your own salsa. Together, you’ll wash, cut and grill the ingredients, then smash them in the traditional way, using a molcajete (mortar and pestle). Taste your homemade salsa with a classic huarache.

MERCADO MELCHOR MUZQUIZ

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Mercado de Jamaica

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Small group of a maximum of 12 people

We recommend dressing conservatively as we will be visiting non-touristy areas. Long trousers or jeans and a t-shirt is recommended. Leave your valuables, such as passports and credit cards, in the hotel and bring a small amount of spending cash. Only small cameras are allowed and during the rainy season (May to September) we recommend bringing a raincoat or umbrella
On this tour, you will learn about the socio-political history of Mexico, support independent market vendors, and experience real connections by meeting with a local family.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

259 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 259 reviews

The Hidden Treasures of the Mercado

Jose_F, Mar 2024

If this was a movie production, the stories of the people are all contained and portrayed in the Mercado. I learned to say “bon provencho” as we shared tables with locals while taking my first bite of tamales. It’s like being inside the maze in there but my guide, Alfonso Gomez had more in store for me. I was innocently surprised and amazed as murals greeted the entrance to the stalls and the walls leading to the second floor. Shhhh… it a well kept secret. Finally, as they say the window to a man’s souls is through his stomach. Truly an experience to make your own salsa and “eat a piece of your cake too” My guide ie very knowledgeable not only to the landscape of tourism but he made sure that your experience is a memorable one. Thank you also to the owner of “Ramoncita” whose genuine smile can totally disarm you. Highly recommended if you are going to visit Mexico City

Left out in the cold!

Kenyah_M, Nov 2023

The tour operator did not inform us that the tour was canceled. We waited an hour out in the early morning cold, clueless. I wasted money on an Uber and am now waiting for a refund. If I did not show up, I would not receive a refund. The double standard doesn't work for me. Poor business practices. Will not use Viator in the future.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We are genuinely disappointed to learn of your experience. The guide operating this tour had a last minute emergency, which resulted in a late cancellation of the tour. We understand a full refund has been provided, but we appreciate the situation you found yourself was less than ideal and you should have been advised sooner. We would welcome the chance to address this matter. Please reach out to our customer care team at customercare@intrepidtravel.com.

Jose was an incredible...

Allison_L, Oct 2023

Jose was an incredible guide and took us to parts of CDMX we probably wouldn't haven't seen on our own. Highly recommend!

An Incredible Experience!

Karlita_S, Sep 2023

Jose was an amazing tour guide offering insight into local culture and history! His passion for history is infectious. The salsa making class was above and beyond, and the family was so welcoming and patient! You must do this tour!

Highly recommend!

Jake_M, Aug 2023

Jose was a fantastic guide; friendly, engaged and knowledgeable. We loved seeing the murals at the Abelardo L. Rodriguez Market, the food was exceptional- starting with the tamals right thru to the huaraches prepared by Fernando and his family!

Esteban is the best!

Elizabeth_C, Aug 2023

Great day with Esteban, really enjoyed the markets, especially the flower market, the murals, salsa making and all the tasty food! Esteban was a great host.

Great tour!

Elaine_C, Jul 2023

Jose was great! He is personable and knowledgeable about the city. The highlight was meeting Fernando and Dona Esther of Huaraches Ramoncita and hearing their story. The food and salsa were delicious!

Super Mexico CityMarket tour

Alison_C, Jul 2023

Our guide, Estaban, was superb. He was very knowledgable, relaxed, and was happy to answer all questions . There was a good balance between historical and cultural info and market tours and food . We really enjoyed the tour and will recommend to our friends and family. His English was so good for non Spanish speakers.

Friendly and Informative

Joakim_B, Apr 2023

I had a good experiance, i was about 7min late and the host was still waiting for me, so that was a pleasant surprice. The tour have a lot more infiormation about the city, history and art, then i thought when reading about the tour. You do get to do everything that is stated on the tour if you want to. The host was very friendly and was intresting to talk to. He also seemed keened on that you should have a good time. It's for sure a nice experiance to do if you are in Mexico City. If i would have any kind of constructive criticism it's that everything felt so well planed and flowing on in a steady pase, that it felt i didn't really have time to stop and look at the shops in the markets to maybe buysome stuff. But still five out of five stars. Kind regards all the way from Sweden

Solo woman traveler.

Charlene_I, Mar 2023

I had a great time and learned a lot about Mexico City and the markets and subway system from my beautiful guide. My only suggestion would be that we only made one salsa. I was expecting to make a few different ones that I would not have experienced before. I am from Tucson so my expections might have been a bit different from most tourist.

You won’t regret this tour!!

Paola_H, Mar 2023

As a solo traveler I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone thinking of visiting CDMX! It was my first tour of my trip and really set the tone for the coming weeks! Esteban is super knowledgeable and very well versed on all of the murals and market activity! Fernando and his family were so welcoming and kind when teaching us how to make authentic salsa! 10/10!

A wonderful food and history tour.

Edward_D, Feb 2023

I had an amazing time on this tour. I was lucky as it was only me and the guide on tour. A really interesting and deep history of Mexican culture and food. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone interested in this topic. Many thanks for a truly wonderful 5 hours.

Don't hesitate, just book it already:)

Andrea_G, Jan 2023

I did this tour on my first day in Mexico city, and I am so glad that I did! I had an amazing time. I learned so much about the past and present of Mexico, and went to places I definitely wouldn't have found on my own. Esteban was an amazing guide! I really enjoyed it, thank you so very much!!! :)

Do not take this class

Sona_K, Jan 2023

this is not a cooking class we do not visit the local family or make salsa from scratch its just walking around history class i do not recommend this at all

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi Sona - we're so sorry if your Urban Adventure did not go to plan and for your understandable disappointment. We've begun an investigation into your tour to better understand what happened. Our Customer Care team will be in touch with you directly today.

Gem of a tour!

Susan_C, Dec 2022

Alfonso “Poncho” was a fantastic guide explaining everything we saw and was so helpful shepherding our group. Loved the food. It was very educational and would highly recommend. Loved the Mercado Jamaica flowers and making the hursche. It was a little bit of everything with a knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend.

A great time!

srybas, Dec 2022

We had an amazing time, and we would highly recommend this tour to anybody interested in a truly authentic cultural experience in Mexico City. Great guide! Great food! The whole tour takes about 5 hours overall, which is just the right amount of time. We (a family of two adults and two kids, one preteen and one teen) couldn’t be more pleased.

Excellently guide

Ada_C, Dec 2022

Caesar is wonderful. He gives excellent historical backgrounds and goes above and beyond to ensure our tour is great

Fantastic!

Amy_C, Nov 2022

Really cool way to tour the city and understand some local food. Cesar was also so friendly and knowledgeable!

Mexico City Market Secrets is really secrets

Yuka_T, Nov 2022

Caesar is very knowledgeable and explained Mexico's history, art, and food culture very well. I definitely recommend this tour to anyone visit to Mexico City.

A day of walkabout Mexican dining!

Yvonne_G, Oct 2022

Sampling new dishes in really authentic surroundings. It was a lot of fun and our guide brought it all alive

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