Journey Through La Merced
» Mexico City » Mexico City » Mexico City
From $106.60
78 reviews (5.00)
Price varies by group size
Lowest Price GuaranteePricing Info: Per Person
Duration: 4 hours
Departs: Mexico City, Mexico City
Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Free cancellation
Overview
The colorful, chaotic Merced Market serves thousands of shoppers daily. On this tour, you’ll visit our favorite food stalls, meet some talented market vendors, and learn the market’s history. You’ll finish knowing why La Merced is unlike anywhere else in Mexico.
We’ll start this tour in the Downtown Historic Center, before jumping on the subway two stops to La Merced market. There, we’ll wind through the market’s lively banquetón, or prepared food area, tasting tacos, aguas frescas and tamales. After that, we’ll stroll through the gigantic fruits and vegetables building, and learn about—and taste!—prehispanic ingredients, such as grasshoppers and agave worms. After a quick stop to rest, we’ll leave the market to take the subway back to the Historic Center where we’ll finish up the tour with a refreshing drink and a snack in a newly revived part of the city that you won’t want to miss!
This tour is good for seasoned travelers.
What's Included
As much food as you can eat (enough for a large breakfast and lunch combined)
One agua fresca
One coffee, beer or another non-alcoholic beverage
Traditional Mexican candy
What's Not Included
Additional personal beverages, outside what’s included on the tour itinerary
Souvenirs
Tip for your guide
Transport to/from the meeting and end points of the tour
Traveler Information
- ADULT: Age: 14 - 100
Additional Info
- Face masks required for travellers in public areas
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Face masks required for travellers in public areas
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Public transportation options are available nearby
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Experience may be cancelled due to Insufficient travelers
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What To Expect
La Merced
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Centro Historico
60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Reviews
Adrian was my guide. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish, and English. His native language is Spanish and he was born here so he knows all of the spots to hit.
We had about seven stops in total. And we ate EVERYTHING.
The tour starts by entering the market on the outskirts. You go through a ton of different stalls and then end up in a central area of the "old" market where there is a ton of cooking going on. You pull up a stool, sit down, and then the journey begins. Beef tacos, chicken tacos, tacos with French Fries on them, picante tacos, taco whatever....if you can't find a taco you want here then you don't know tacos!
Each taco stall has a story and a backstory. Adrian knows them all and immerses you with the names of the families that own the stall and how long they've been honing their trade. He also tells you why these stops are on the tour and why other stalls aren't. It's very fascinating to learn all of the "why's" about this place.
I'm probably one of the most adventurous eaters out there. And when I told Adrian that he took me to a stall that deals in "head tacos." Tongue, eyeball, cow cheeks, ears, etc -- it can all go on a taco and it's really good. He said only some people opt for that stop because some people just aren't into that type of food. I highly recommend trying it. After all, you're here for something different, right?
If you're not adventurous, that's ok! Chicken, pork, beef, & sausage all can be found.
Also on the way you'll be offered a mole tasting along with various insects. Or, if you're not into that, you can skip that completely. Again, I think you should try that, but to each their own.
The tacos are some of the best, if not the best, I've ever eaten.
A couple things you need to know to prep yourself for this trip.
-Don't eat anything before you go. Like nothing at all. You'll eat so much that you won't need a meal for the rest of the day. If you are going in the morning, you might want to skip dinner the day before. Plan to eat so much food that it will be your entire caloric intake for the day, because it will be.
-Bathroom situation is pretty bad. Use your hotel bathroom before you go. 0/10 would recommend using the bathrooms facilities here.
-Bring hand sanitizer. You'll need it after all the food and everything.
-Spring for the private tour. I did and when I come back in 3 months I'll do the exact same thing.
-Wear good walking shoes. Leave all valuables at your hotel. This place can be a bit dodgy. Without a guide I probably wouldn't visit it. With a guide you're in good hands. This also means no designer handbags, no expensive watches.
-Tip your guide. Adrian was worth every penny. He's been guiding through La Merced for seven years and knows everyone! Ask for him!
Thanks, Tonalli!
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