Culinary Tour of Sicily (9 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Segesta, Sciacca, Agrigento, Selinunte, Taormina, Syracuse, Mount Etna
Culinary Tour of Mexico
(15 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis) Merida, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende
Eat your way through Mexico on this incredible culinary tour. Stay at Mexico's best luxury hotels, enjoy cultural touring with your own guide and driver in each location, enjoy authentic regional cuisine, explore markets and take cooking classes by renowned instructors.
Begin in Merida, the gateway to the Yucatan. Spend several days exploring surrounding Mayan villages and ruins. Accommodation is at the best luxury hacienda property in the region. With your private guide and driver, browse colorful food markets, visit local Mayan homes and villages, and enjoy a cooking class at an acclaimed Yucatan cooking school.
Continue to Mexico City, the sophisticated and vibrant capital of Mexico. Your expert guide and private driver will show you the very best of the city and provide a wonderful link to the local history, culture and restaurant scene. Visit excellent museums, such as the Museum of Anthropology; explore a variety of neighborhoods, including those best known for their beautiful residences, colorful markets, art galleries and boutiques, and highly recommended restaurants. See murals, explore ruins such as Templo Mayor, and take a private canal cruise through the floating gardens at Xochimilco. Explore the city's enormous food market and enjoy reservations at some of the country's best restaurants. Accommodation will be at the city’s leading luxury hotel.
Next, visit Puebla, the home of Poblano mole sauce and traditional Talavera pottery. Spend two days exploring the city with your private guide. Enjoy a cooking class and explore the local food markets before continuing to Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s best destinations for gastronomy and traditional arts. Explore the plazas, food markets and back streets of the colonial center and visit art galleries and folk art shops. Spend a day exploring the surrounding valleys with your private guide, including visits to local Indian markets and craft villages. Your guide will introduce you to the most noted local artisans specializing in black pottery, wood carvings, textiles and more. Also explore Zapotec and Mixtec ruins in the region. Spend a morning at a cooking class to learn to prepare Oaxacan specialties. Sample local products such as Oaxacan chocolate and cheese, visit a Mezcal distillery or learn how to make mole sauces.
Next, fly to Mexico City for the drive to enchanting San Miguel de Allende, the base for exploring Mexico’s colonial heartland. Enjoy a privately-guided tour of town, best known for its cobblestone backstreets lined with beautiful colonial buildings, high quality local crafts and folk art, contemporary galleries, design and antique shops, lively markets, interesting small museums, and beautiful homes and gardens. Spend one day enjoying a cooking class at a renowned cooking school and time for dining at San Miguel’s excellent restaurants.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1
Arrive Merida
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Private introductory tour of the city
Day 2
Merida
Yucatan cooking class, including market visit
Day 3
Merida
Full-day private excursion to Uxmal or Chichen Itza, local Mayan villages
Day 4
Merida - Mexico City
Transfer and flight to Mexico City. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Begin private touring this afternoon
Day 5
Mexico City
Full-day private tour of Mexico City including interesting neighborhoods, markets, museums and gallery districts
Day 6
Mexico City
Full-day private tour, including boat ride on Xochimilco canals, San Angel and Coyoacán
Day 7
Mexico City – Puebla
Private transfer to Puebla for 2 nights. Private afternoon tour
Day 8
Puebla
Morning market visit and cooking class
Day 9
Puebla –Oaxaca
Private transfer to Oaxaca for 3 nights. Evening Guelaguetza show
Day 10
Oaxaca
Full-day excursion to local craft villages, markets and ancient ruins
Day 11
Oaxaca
Oaxacan cooking class and market visit
Day 12
Oaxaca – Mexico City – San Miguel de Allende
Transfer and flight to Mexico City. Transfer overland to San Miguel for 3 nights. En route, tour colonial city of Queretero