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Taste of Yucatan

General Info | Photo Gallery | Traveller Feedback
Highlights:

• Explore one of the bustling Merida markets
• Shop locally grown veggies
• Meet locals and cook and taste yucatecan delicacies
• Prepare salbutes, panuchos, papadzules or codzitos

Tour style:Local Cuisine & Market Visits, Local Life & Culture
Inclusion:

English speaking guide, transport as indicated, 1 light lunch and cooking session at a local family home

Exclusion:

Taxi to return to your hotel.
Items of a personal nature, tips or gratuities for your local guide.

Group size:Maximum 12
Schedule details:

• Duration: 4-5 hours
• Pickup location:

  At the lobby of Caribe Hotel (Calle 59 x 60 in the corner of Hidalgo Park).

• Pickup Time: 9.00 AM
• Drop off location:

  The tour will finish at the final house for the cooking lesson. You will be responsible for your transportation back to Merida. Taxi is recommended. Approximate distance to Merida centre is 2 km, and approximate price for a taxi is $4 or $5 USD.

Additional information :

• Voucher exchange details:

  Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the trip.

• Confirmation of booking:

  Please contact Merida Urban Adventures to confirm your trip 24 hours prior to departure.

• Dress standard:

  Latin Americans can be very conscious of appearance so try to be casual but conservative in your dress. Outside of beach areas halter tops and very short shorts should not be worn. When visiting churches or religious sites shoulders and knees should be covered.

• Child policy:

  Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively.

• Language: English

Also runs from:1 Jan 2014 to 31 Mar 2015

Itinerary:

This Merida day tour culinary experience includes visit to a bustling market, conversation with local people and the possibility to cook and sample some of the yucatecan delicacies. We start our tour visiting one of the local markets of Merida, not very frequented by tourists. Our guide will explain us in detail about some of the fruits and vegetables only produced in the region. We will learn about achiote, pepita de calabaza and chile habanero. We will also do our shopping for the meal we will prepare today, before arriving to our host’s home. 

 

The Yucatan cuisine includes one of the most varied arrays of dishes of Mexico. While we prepare our food, our host and guide will explain us some of the traditions of the local people, the influence of other cultures and the differences between the yucatecos and the people from other parts of Mexico. We will learn some Spanish and Mayan words while we taste the delicious plates prepared by ourselves.

 

We may prepare salbutes, panuchos, papadzules or codzitos. Included beverages are horchata or hibiscus flower tea. Our experience comes to and after a long chat with our host, and we say good bye to our new friends.

Photo Gallery:

Traveller Feedback:

Ms. nancy R.
USA ~ 08 Oct 2012[back to top]

My friend and I saw all the good reviews and decided to spend our last day in Merida learning to cook our favorite Yucatan dish—Pollo Pibil. We met Jorge at the Hotel Caribe (which is in a beautiful little plaza). We were lucky that his wife Alejandra could join us that day too. He gave us an informative tour of the Centro as we weaved our way to the Mercado to buy the ingredients we'd need for the day. I cannot begin to describe all the smells and colors and sounds of market. We learned about the different chiles and unfamiliar fruits. He was so patient as we asked about every little thing we saw. We were adventurous and had a tasting test at the fried meat section...I won't spoil it for you...just try everything! We took a local bus to the chef Laura's home. It was lovely and inviting. We dove right into chopping vegetables and cutting banana leaves from the back yard for the chicken pibil and sopa de lima and crema de coco for dessert. Oh my, I can still taste it! SOOO delicious. Laura was really sweet and a wonderful cook. AND the funny thing? We saw her later that night at the Simfonica de Yucatan—all of us waving across the balcony like old friends. I really recommend doing this if you want a real taste of yucatan cuisine that's quite easy to fix when you get back home.

 

Your trip:

This trip is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Tipping:

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour