Having someone trained in the culinary arts guide you through the markets and street vendors is such a treat. San Juan market with Ariane was a perfect introduction to the best places to eat in Centro. The al pastor I had with her has been standard setting. I also know exactly where to go for ingredients and gourmet gifts for loved ones now.
Playa Del Carmen: Blend of Flavors
Downtown Walking Tour
Must-Try Regional Food
All Ages are Welcome
Whether this is your first visit to Playa del Carmen or not, this tour will give you an insider’s look at the diverse and mouthwatering food scene. Playa del Carmen (or just “Playa”, as locals call it) is a cosmopolitan town that offers the amazing regional food of the Yucatan Peninsula plus some dishes that showcase the international influence this place has received in the past decades.
This tour was carefully curated by Tonalli, a food expert in Playa who is also a talented photographer. Through her artistic and culinary expertise she has chosen the places and dishes that best represent Playa. Tonalli will take you on a fabulous journey that will provide in-depth knowledge of the local culture. Furthermore, you will stroll through Playa’s friendly streets and enjoy beautiful street art through the carefully planned route.
After this succulent experience, you will be able to navigate Playa’s streets with full confidence like a true local and know where to find its hidden gems. This experience is the perfect complement to an unforgettable vacation in the Mexican Caribbean.
Highlights
Taste the best examples of regional food plus some other foreign items that make up the unique personality of Playa del Carmen
Taste pulque, an ancestral Mexican beverage made from fermented agave sap
Learn the stories of the vendors that have been feeding the locals for years
Click the tabs to find out more
Trip Details
Price
NEW TOUR: get a 10% discount in your reservation using the code EATPLAYA
Adults: $94
Children (8-13): $50
Young children (0-7) & babies in carriers: free
Looking to go private? Private tour option $15 per adult available at check-out. Subject to availability.
Availability & departure time
Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday at 6:00 PM
Meeting point
Mariscos y Clamatos el Doctorcito on Avenida 25 Norte, Calle 12 Nte y, Downtown, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R.
Duration
3 to 4 hours
Group size
Minimum 2 people, maximum 8 people
Traveling with a group larger than 8? We’ve got you covered! Book a private tour by emailing us at hola@eatmexico.com
Included
- As much food as you can eat (enough for a large dinner)
- Pulque tasting (ancestral Mexican beverage that contains alcohol)
- Generous tips for all street vendors and restaurant staff
Not included
- Transport to/from the meeting and end points of the tour
- Souvenirs
- Tip for your guide
- Additional personal beverages, outside what’s included on the tour itinerary
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- An appetite
- Water to stay hydrated
- Tip for your guide if desired
- An umbrella during the rainy season months (June through October)
Participation requirements
Guests should be able to walk for three hours, with breaks in between at all of the stops. Strollers are welcome. This tour is also wheelchair accessible.
Staff on tour
You’ll be accompanied by one of our local, bilingual culinary guides. Each has a degree in gastronomy and/or has worked in local kitchens. They’ll enrich your experience by sharing their knowledge of Mexico City’s food scene, their own personal traditions, and the vendors’ stories. Read more about our guides here.
Playa Del Carmen: Blend of Flavors
We will start the tour in Zazil Ha neighborhood and then walk through the Hollywood neighborhood, which is characterized by being an area where many office workers live, therefore there are many busy cafeterias with a cozy atmosphere. We will walk through the old and new parts of Playa del Carmen, the locals distinguish these two parts in an extra-official way. The new part has a more bohemian feel and is an important tourist destination. We will also visit the famous Quinta Avenida where commerce is concentrated, from handicraft and souvenir shops to restaurants, bars and nightclubs. We will end the tour sitting down in a restaurant enjoying a savory traditional snack and some pulque. Pulque is a refreshing drink, obtained from agave, with a low alcohol content, that comes from a very ancient pre-hispanic tradition.
During the tour we will stop to try:
Panucho: a slightly puffy tortilla that has been fried and stuffed with the best homemade refried beans. To make it even better, it has several toppings such as salsa, lettuce, tomato and onions. It’s as simple and delicious as it sounds.
Cochinita Pibil: slow cooked pork with a sweet and acidic marinade. This meat is very tender, it’s served in a taco accompanied by pickled onions and optional habanero salsa.
Marquesita: a thin and crunchy dough rolled with the filling of your choice. The traditional filling is “queso de bola”, a local cheese, but you can indulge your sweet tooth and choose chocolate or marmalade.
Empanada: A great example of foreign influence that now is part of Playa’s local cuisine. Argentinian expats love this spot because they are as good as in Argentina. Choose from several fillings, both vegetarian or with meat.
Plus several more items!
This tour includes as much food as you can eat, be sure to arrive hungry.
- The tour is conducted rain or shine.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- This tour includes a lot of food. We recommend arriving hungry and not eating dinner beforehand.
- Vegetarians can be accommodated on this tour, but meat and vegetables will be cooked on the same surface.
- Feel free to bring your own water bottle.
3 to 4 hours.
No. It starts at El Pirata, located on Calle 40 5, Zazil-ha, 77720 Playa del Carmen, Q.R. between 10 Avenida Norte and Quinta Avenida. It ends at La Perla on Calle 38 Norte between 5ta and the beach.
Yes! You can eat as much as you want in each of the stops. Our guide will let you know how many stops remain so you can pace yourself. No one knows your appetite better than you!
If you plan to tip your guide, you should bring enough cash to cover that—about 10 to 15 percent is standard.
Of course! Our guides are culinary experts and speak perfect English.
We usually require a two-person minimum on our tours. If you’re a solo traveler, you’re welcome to book the date of your choosing—if it has other guests, you’re good to go. If three days prior to the tour date, the tour does not have any other guests, we will reach out to you about choosing a different date or refund your ticket.
Yes. All the streets where we will walk are traveled daily by visitors and locals safely. Even so, we recommend taking the normal precautions when traveling: put your cell phone and wallet in a zippered bag or pocket.
Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page!
See what previous guests have to say
Our tour with Adrian was a highlight of our trip to CDMX. Adrian was a delight to spend 3 hours with and his knowledge of the food scene in Mexico City is outstanding. He took us to wonderful small local street food stops and to highlights of the San Juan Gourmet market. We got a much deeper appreciation of the fabulous street food available in this great city!
My husband and I did a 3.5 hour food tour in Mexico City with Eat Mexico, and we loved every second of it! We did the Gourmet San Juan Market & Street Food Tour getting a chance to eat tostadas, food from Oaxaca, street tacos, delicious Mexican fruit, Mexican wine, pulque, and so much more! Highly recommend this tour.
We had a fantastic Gourmet San Juan Market & Street Food with Ariane. She was super knowledgeable and had chosen vendors that were so tasty and very hospitable. Some of the food was from traditional recipes from old family recipes. Others were new flavor combinations that were amazing.
