Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen trip ideas

Playa del Carmen - Taco tour with local Chef

Badge of ExcellencePlaya del Carmen, Mexico

3 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Get beyond the tourist restaurants on a 3-hour culinary walking tour of Playa del Carmen, as you discover the city’s locally-owned cafes and street food stalls. Come hungry for tastings and drinks at five locations, and get an insider introduction to the Playa del Carmen food scene.

3-hour food walking tour of Playa del Carmen
Explore Yucatecan food with an insider
Visit family-owned restaurants
Try the best street food
Get inside tips from a local

Sample Menu

Starter

Tacos al Pastor

Mexico's finest

Starter

Tacos de Asada

Beef Tacos with salsa

Starter

Elotes y Esquites

What's Included

Food-tastings
Soft drinks

Gratuities
Alcoholic beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Playa del Carmen, Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula
Meet us 20 Minutes before Scheduled time. at Entrance of Old Downtown City Hall (Palacio Municipal) Avenue 20th, North. between Calle 8 and Calle 10.

Start time

06:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to a central location in Playa del Carmen where your tour begins, and where you'll meet up with a local foodie guide. Hear stories about Playa del Carmen history and culture as you walk to your first stop, part of a hand-picked itinerary that highlights the city’s most distinctive food.

From panuchos to cochinita pibil, food from the Yucatán has arrived on the international scene in recent years, and you’ll try food and drinks that highlight local flavors. Taste a variety of sauces—Yucatec chefs top their cuisine with refreshing, mild flavor to fiercely hot salsa made with habaneros—and find out which ones you prefer.

Over the course of the tour you’ll get a good overview of local food, so this is the ideal way to start a trip, with insider tips on the best restaurants, bars, and markets to visit during your stay. At the end of your walking meal, walk back to downtown Playa del Carmen, where the tour concludes.

Juan More Taco Tours (Pass By)

Playa del Carmen

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Playa del Carmen

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infant meals not included
Stroller accessible
Minimum drinking age is 18 years

Near public transportation
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Most travelers can participate
Please Let us know of Food Allergies, Food restrictions or Mobility issues
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.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Chelsey_K

Amazing food, really enjoyed this walking tour! Francisco is a wonderful host, so warm, accommodating, and knowledgeable. I was pleasantly surprised when he brought out an archaeology magazine and showed us a map of Mexico. He pointed out the various regions of Mexico, talked about the Yucatan peninsula, the Mayan people, the history of Playa del Carmen, and much more. I had felt sick earlier in the week, and wondered if going on this food tour was a good idea. But, we ate at all sorts of places some that I would have been hesitant to try on my own, and my husband and I felt totally fine. I especially enjoyed sampling the chorizo tacos at El Fogon, icecream from Michoacan, and fresh juice from a local fruit vendor. The juice flavors / combos were fantastic! I had beet and orange, and my husband had watermelon. Highly recommend this tour!

Reviews

5.0

55 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 55 reviews

Chef Alma was amazing!

Shawn_K, Feb 2024

Chef Alma made the experience fantastic. It was so nice to get out of a resort and into the heart of the city where we had the opportunity to go to local spots with a local resident that shared their experience and stories with us. 10/10.

Something fun and different.

bryan_s, Feb 2024

She wass very friendly and knowledgeable. Went to good places, that we would not have stopped at if we were on our own. History of p.d.c was nice to hear. Plenty of food.

So awesome!

Terina_S, Dec 2022

Incredible experience!! Could not recommend it more. Wonderful food choices and a very nice and knowledgeable guide. Shared PDC history and happenings

A walk with the locals

Styles_M, Jun 2022

This was great opportunity to get away from the tourist traps and try some local cuisine. Alma was very friendly and knew a lot about Playa Del Carmen’s history. The tour felt like going to visit a friend in a foreign country. Come hungry, because there is a lot of food on the tour!

Authentic Food at Curbside Stands

James_L, Feb 2022

We tend to be a bit reluctant to end at curbside stands. Frankly, we wouldn't have done it had it not been a big part of the tour. We were pleasantly surprised and our guide was very informative. It did seem a bit pricey though for what we got. I would have thought a drink or two would have been included as well.

Playa del Carmen at its best!

Peter_C, Jan 2022

What a fabulous night out with our guide Alma!! She was very personable and knew great deal about the food we ate. Food that we had was delicious and would not have been able to find ourselves. We thoroughly enjoy the evening and would highly recommend the food tour especially with Alma.

A great experience!

Villette H, Oct 2019

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Alma. We learned alot about the food and culture of Playa and had more than enough food to sample. We tried foods and went to places we never would have on our own. A great experience! Thanks Alma!

Fantastic!!!!

Justin_W, Sep 2019

Alma is fantastic. She took us to several small restaurants and stops around town. All the food was great. She knows the history of the foods and the town. The places she picked were great. We will repeat this tour when we’re in PdC

This tour all over downtown Playa...

Kasey F, Jun 2018

This tour all over downtown Playa del Carmen was the highlight of our trip! Francisco felt like family by the time we left. We got to see the real Playa, not what all the other tourists experience. I feel so lucky to have found this particular tour - I can't say enough good things about it. We made so many stops, every single thing we tried was delicious, and we learned SO much about Mexico and the city. We walked all over looking at street art, different neighborhoods, and we even took the bus. If you have an interest in the local culture and you love food, you definitely won't regret spending your night on this tour. Make sure you arrive with an appetite, your camera, and comfortable walking shoes!

The evening was very cool, it was...

John V, Apr 2018

The evening was very cool, it was me, husband and two kids high school and college. My favorite was the traditional tacqueria in a neighborhood we probably wouldn't have went to on our own, but then returned on the same trip at the request of the kids. After the evening we also regularly bought fresh juices from people selling them out of coolers on their bikes no-one got sick and crepes from the same way. The guide was very nice and really into it. We loved it, but it was too long. 3 hours is good, it was 5 hours which makes it worse than too short. I would probably cut out one of the food spots we hit the tacqueria, a mayan restaurant and a seafood restaurant it was too much to the point people were showing it but trying to be polite. I'd keep the tacqueria, the crepe food vendor, maybe keep the street tamale and end with one desert we stopped at two then coffee? Just a thought. We still liked it I gave it 5 stars, but 3 hours would have been a 5.

Fransisco aka Pancho was a great...

Daniel_W, Mar 2018

Fransisco aka Pancho was a great guide and an absolute font of information on not only the food but the region, Mexico and the cultures that make up Mexico. We had some great food, ranging from a tacqueria to a street vendor selling banana and Nutella waffle wraps, to a restaurant serving a volcano-like seafood dish. Our tour was almost 4 hours long and we came away very full of food as well as information. We will definitely return to several of the places in which we ate, as well as visit a few that Fransisco recommended before we leave Playa del Carmen. This is a must do tour at the start of any visit to Playa, to find out where to eat and to experience some tastes you otherwise might not find on your own.

Francisco is a terrific guide and a...

Joni_K, Mar 2018

Francisco is a terrific guide and a natural at sharing the foods of Playa del Carmen. He is a wealth of knowledge on so many traditions and trends. Had the very best experience,

Excellent tour! Very customizable...

JAMESH_W, Mar 2018

Excellent tour! Very customizable based on your tastes and hunger level. Relaxed pace, with a conversational approach. Do yourself a favor and take this walking tour while you're in Playa. You will try and learn about everything from authentic street tacos to delicious regional ice cream. If the tour doesn't appear to be available on your desired date, call Viator and they can contact the operator directly. That's what I did, and I got a tour that fit my schedule.

One word - AMAZING!!! This tour is...

Thomas V, Feb 2018

One word - AMAZING!!! This tour is for the person that is interested in the culture as well as the food. The guide takes you through behind of what you see on your plate. In our opinion this guide should do this full time!! Even my wife, who is Hispanic, learned the history of Mayan food. Thank you for a wonderful time.

Francisco is the best. He gives you...

Phil H, Feb 2018

Francisco is the best. He gives you great history about the food and its origins, and the food itself is amazing. Plenty of walking, but you get so much food. If you are a foodie this is for you. Thanks again Francisco!!

This is an awesome food tour and...

David_C, Feb 2018

This is an awesome food tour and takes you away from the hustle and bustle of 5th Avenue to some tasty places you might otherwise just walk past. We were the only ones on our tour so it was very much a private tour but in no way was it awkward. Francisco is very knowledgable and passionate about the places we visited and Mexico itself. My favourite was the store we bought beautiful agua fresca at and El Fogon unreal tacos. My partner loved Taqueria Dos Hermanos even if we had to wait a little while for it to open. A must do for anyone who likes to eat. Wear comfy shoes though - you will walk quite far and come with an empty tummy!

This was a fun way to experience the...

Vincent_S, Feb 2018

This was a fun way to experience the authentic Mexican fare. Our guide was adorable and the tour way well thought out. The food was awesome!!! Glad we did it.

This is a must take tour. Francisco...

Bryan S, Jan 2018

This is a must take tour. Francisco was everything that was expected and more. When we started the tour he said that he wanted to feel more like our friend than a tour guide and I felt that he delivered this experience. We not only learned about some of the more off beat places to visit in Playa del Carmen, but learned about its short history as well. We had a group of 7 people and everyone of us were very satisfied. It was my wife's birthday and Francisco made sure to include that into the tour as well with some special things planned for her along the way. This listing is billed as 3 hours but you will find that Francisco will continue on way past that. We started at 6:00 PM and were getting back into the taxi to our resort at 11:00 PM. Never a dull moment.

Amazing food, really enjoyed this...

Chelsey_K, Jan 2018

Alma, our tour guide, was a...

Pat_R, Jan 2018

Alma, our tour guide, was a delightful, engaging, and knowledgeable. Our food started with chicken tamales wrapped in banana leaves which was light and almost fluffy. We had a hibiscus drink and traditional corn dish--brushed with mayo, sprinkled with cheese, and dabbled with chili sauce. The finale was a crisp dessert crepe filled with nutella and gouda cheese--actually a wonderful not too sweet yet creamy sweet. Along the way, Alma also told us the story of Playa Del Carmen, its people, and its traditions. All together it was a pleasure.