Explore the best of Puebla's flavors on a Mexico culinary tour. Discover Puebla's rich history and colorful culture while learning how to make genuine Mexican meals. Meet the chef at Meson de La Sacristia Cooking School for a 2-3-hour cooking class. Check out the National Palace, Palafoxiana Library, Barrio de los Sapos, and the Cathedral, which has two of the largest bell towers in Mexico, among other historic landmarks.
Highlights
Take a cooking class with a local chef and enjoy your self made meal
Enjoy regional specialties at a number of different restaurants in Puebla
Visit the Great Pyramidal temple in Cholula, once a center of Aztec worship
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Mexico's capital city and meet your guide, who escorts you 80 miles south to the UNESCO world heritage city of Puebla. The first stop on your Taste of Puebla culinary tour is, of course, lunch in Puebla! After lunch, travel on to your hotel and spend the afternoon strolling through the shady central plaza on your own after a brief introductory tour with your guide.
Enjoy a half-day experience taking in the sights of Puebla City, which sits at the foot of the Popocatepetl volcano. Founded in 1531, Puebla retains its authenticity, as you'll notice on your guided tour of the Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Roam the Zócalo (city center), home to beautiful colonial architecture, including more than 70 churches and thousands of buildings, many adorned wtih painted Talavera azulejos (ceramic tile). Wander down la Calle de los Dulces (the candy street) and visit the National Palace in the main plaza. You'll also see the Palafoxiana Library, Barrio de Los Sapos and Cathedral, which boasts two of the tallest bell towers in Mexico. At lunch time, transfer back to your hotel for time to refresh.
After historic city center exploration, it's time to roll up your sleeves with the executive chef and learn how to prepare delicious traditional Pueblan fare, including several of the famous sauces. Meet with the chef at Meson de La Sacristia Cooking School for a 2-3 hour cooking lesson. Depending on the season, you may take on salsa verde, salsa roja, chalupas, pipián verde, or arroz con leche, and enjoy fresh hibiscus water or many other local favorites. Following preparation is tasting time!
This morning head out for a tour of Cholula, considered the oldest living city (continuously inhabited) in the Americas. The Popocatepetl volcano towers over Cholula, which is home to the Great Pyramid, the largest in the world today. Frightened by zealous Aztec worship of the indigenous, the Spanish hoped to seize power by demolishing ritual centers and building their own churches right on top of the temples' foundations. You'll have a chance to walk the tunnels and climb the temple dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl, as well as see the museum and the Plaza de los Altars.
After wandering through this historic town, drive just six miles to the tiny village of Santa Maria Tonantzintla to visit its church, one of the most exquisite places of worship in Mexico. Combining European and indigenous Mexican cultures, the 17th-century church showcases an architectural style known as Indigenous Baroque. While strolling through town and exploring the plaza, you will see Popotillo, Mexican straw art, created by local artisans. Be sure to sample a cacao beverage in a jícara (cup made from a gourd) from a street stand before heading to Acatepec, where the village church presents one of Mexico's best examples of viceregal architecture and Baroque Talavera. Delight in the building's colorful exterior, intricately covered with locally produced ceramic tiles. The dramatic ornamentation is a fundamental characteristic of Puebla's trademark pottery, a traditional art that began centuries ago and still exists today.
Your tour continues as you head back to Puebla for a visit to the Barroco International Museum, designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, where your guided tour will give you the essence of the complex Baroque period of the 17th and 18th centuries, while also touching upon features of the contemporary Neo-Baroque.
At the close of this full day, transfer back to your hotel to spend your evening at leisure.
Day 4: Depart Puebla
1 Breakfast
Enjoy your last breakfast in Puebla and transfer back to Mexico City for onward travel.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.