Flavors of Mexico Family Tour: Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City, Narvarte Night Tour

Welcome to Mexico City! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by your private driver and transferred to your hotel. Rest from your flight and get ready for a fun evening activity that will fill everyone's bellies.

Mexico City's Narvarte neighborhood is known throughout Mexico City for its tacos, and you'll kick off the tour with a visit to a neighborhood taquería (taco shop) that specializes in volcanes, a type of crispy tortilla cooked on a charcoal flame and smothered in cheese and poblano peppers. From there, you'll try tacos al pastor—picture a big outdoor roasting spit that shoots flames, which the kids will love—and suadero (a thin cut of meat) from vendors who've been in the neighborhood for decades. Grown-ups will also get a chance to sample artisanal mezcal if they wish, while kids can enjoy a range of Mexican sodas.

Day 4: Cholula's Markets & Corn

Today visit the magical town of Cholula, part of the greater Puebla area and known as Mexico's City of Churches, as well as for its hot sauces. According to legend, it has more than 365 churches, one for each day of the year. Take a stroll through picturesque streets to see the most famous of the city's monuments—Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios. Built atop the great Aztec pyramid of Cholula, it offers impressive views of the city and, on a clear day, the majestic volcanoes of the Valley of Mexico. 

After, visit the local market for an introduction to Cholula's gastronomy and its famous handmade tortillas. Considered a vital part of central Mexico's culinary identity, the art of tortilla-making is a treasured tradition passed from generation to generation. During a workshop, the whole family will be guided through the process—kids will love getting practical and making their own. Enjoy a delicious tasting afterward, accompanied by refreshing drinks and other corn-based snacks—the hot sauce is optional for the little ones!

Day 5: Cactus Forest Walk, Transfer to Oaxaca & Indigenous Food Tour

Tall, prickly cacti hold great fascination for kids, and today they can enjoy walking through a cactus forest in the Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve is about 2.5 hours from Puebla and is a protected natural area where biological, cultural, and historical richness converges. The forests of columnar cacti, endemic to this area, are a highlight. Enjoy a guided hike and learn about the peculiarities of the cacti that grow here, as well as the other species that characterize this ecosystem.

Later, transfer to Oaxaca, a city that's famous for its food and drink scene—its cuisine has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Oaxaca is another 2.5-hours drive away on a scenic road through some of Mexico's most beautiful landscapes. In the evening, visit a unique restaurant where the whole family can relax over a good meal. Chefs from eight Indigenous communities serve traditional Oaxacan cuisine.

Day 6: Historical Tour of Oaxaca City

Explore Oaxaca on a guided city tour and discover the city's cultural, historical, and gastronomic richness. There will be plenty to keep the little ones entertained as you visit the 16th-century Xochimilco Aqueduct, the colorful street of Garcia Vigil, the Temple of Our Lady of Carmen, and the Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. This latter is home to the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca. It holds the treasure of the Seventh Tomb of Monte Alban, one of Mesoamerica's most important pre-Columbian archeological finds. Take time to explore the museum, especially if your kids are into history.

Later on, don't miss the facades of the Novo-Hispanic mansions on Alcalá Street, the Oaxaca Cathedral, and finally, the Plaza de la Constitución, with its authentic Art Nouveau kiosk and colorful markets full of delightful aromas and flavors. Take a break with some snacks, especially Oaxaca's own style of ice cream, to reward the kids for all their walking.

Day 7: Rural Cooking Workshop in Oaxaca

Today you and the kids get another chance to get your hands dirty (with food, that is). Journey into Oaxaca's countryside to a Zapotec community. A local cook will share their culinary secrets with you as you prepare seasonal products harvested from family gardens over a traditional wood stove. Try your hand at dishes like nicuátole (a custard-like dessert), handmade tortillas, empanadas, sopa de guías (pumpkin soup), segueza (corn mole), and atole (a creamy drink of maize, cinnamon, and vanilla). At the end of your cooking class, sit down to enjoy eating your creations.

Day 8: Handicrafts Villages Tour

Oaxacan handicrafts are incredibly colorful, as you'll learn today as you visit four villages dedicated to their production. The first is Coyotepec, famous for its black clay. Stop at a workshop to see pieces being made and enter the colorful 18th-century market. Continue to San Antonio, with its traditional blouses and dresses, and Jalietza, where they make cotton fabrics on a backstrap loom. Finally, visit Tilcajete, where you can witness the carving and painting of the popular alebrijes, colorful carved mythical creatures. The kids might enjoy picking up a souvenir alebrije to remember their trip to Mexico.

Day 9: Hiking & Handicrafts in Teotitlán

Make the most of your last full day in Mexico with a hike around the village of Teotitlán del Valle, home to a lake, gorgeous nature, and rich traditional handicrafts, especially weaving made from naturally dyed fibers. Start by the village's dam, at the feet of the massive Sierra Norte mountains, where many birds gather around the water. Make an early start, if you can, because sunrise is a spectacular time to see the active wildlife. 

Hike for about three hours through a landscape full of cacti to the top of the closest mountain, and enjoy views over the eastern Valley of Oaxaca. Make plenty of stops to suit your family's needs, with your guide pointing out interesting flora and fauna along the way, including flowering agave. Later, re-energize with a well-deserved traditional meal at the home of a local woman, Josefina, an excellent cook and weaver. After lunch, Josefina and her family will show you their rugs made in the traditional way.

Day 10: Fly to Mexico City, Depart

It's time to say goodbye to Mexico! Enjoy a last breakfast in Oaxaca before transferring to Oaxaca International Airport for a flight to Mexico City and then onward to your next destination. ¡Buen viaje!

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