Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour: Mercado 28 to Five Tastings

Five stops, one afternoon: tequila, seafood tacos, blue-corn quesadillas, flame-grilled carne asada, and the taco that travels

A guided Mexican food tour in Cancun that starts at Mercado 28 with a tequila tasting, then moves through four neighborhood taquerías sampling Baja-style seafood tacos, hand-made blue-corn quesadillas and huaraches, northern-style carne asada with norteño salsas, and a signature regional taco. The tour runs four hours with a live guide in English or Spanish, soft drinks at each stop, and hotel pickup available depending on your option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cancun Mexican Food and Tequila Tour

• Tequila tasting at Mercado 28
• Shop local crafts at Mercado 28
• Taste Baja-style tacos and pescaditos
• Try quesadillas and huaraches with blue tortillas
• Enjoy flame-grilled carne asada and salsas
• Sample spicy meaty tacos at Taqueria Los de Jalisco

The experience

You arrive in Cancun with a free afternoon and no restaurant reservation. The tour starts at Mercado 28, the city's working market, where you taste tequila and learn how it's made before browsing the stalls for local crafts and souvenirs. That's the setup: a guide who speaks your language, a tasting that frames what comes next, and time to move through the market without the pressure of a meal reservation.

From there the route moves through four taquerías, each one built around a region of Mexico. Taquería Los Parejitas serves quesadillas and huaraches made with hand-rolled blue tortillas: the kind of detail that separates a neighborhood spot from a tourist version. Los de Asada brings the north: flame-grilled carne asada, handmade flour tortillas, and the salsas that go with it, the flavors simple and smoky. Taqueria Los de Jalisco closes the loop with a taco that has its own reputation, slightly spicy and meaty, rooted in local tradition. Between stops you get soft drinks. The guide handles the ordering and the pacing so you taste without planning.

The whole thing takes four hours. Hotel pickup is available if you book that option. If you're staying in Puerto Morelos, contact the operator to arrange it. You need to be 18 to drink the tequila, and if you have food allergies, mention them when you book so the stops know what to avoid.

What’s included

• Guided tequila tasting at Mercado 28 with samples and education on tequila types.
• four food tastings at neighborhood taquerías (Baja-style seafood tacos and pescaditos, blue-corn quesadillas and huaraches, flame-grilled carne asada with norteño salsas, and a signature regional taco).
• soft drinks during tastings.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off if you select that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour from CancunGuide in English or Spanish · 16:30Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are available for the Cancun Hotel Zone or Downtown. Pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 16:00Private: Choose this option to travel only with your own party, with just you and your companions taking part in the activity. Hotel Pickup: Pickup is included from the most centrally located hotels in Cancun, Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres.

Tour departing from Puerto MorelosGuide in English or Spanish · 16:00Add hotel pickup and drop-off from the Puerto Morelos area by selecting this option. Pickup is included.

Tour departing from the Costa Mujeres areaGuide in English or Spanish · 16:00Select this option for hotel pickup from the most centrally located hotels in the Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres area. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 16:00 and 16:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cancun Travel Experience

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour to meet other travelers while visiting five food stops. Pick the private option if your group prefers the same route and tastings with a dedicated guide.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Can I do this tour if I'm staying in Puerto Morelos instead of Cancun?

Yes. Hotel pickup is available from Puerto Morelos, but you'll need to contact the local operator directly to arrange it when you book.

What exactly is a pescadito, and where do I try it?

A pescadito is a small fried fish, a Pacific coast specialty and a culinary legend in Baja-style cuisine. You'll taste it at the second stop, after Mercado 28, along with Baja-style tacos.

What if I have a food allergy?

Tell the operator about any allergies when you book, and they'll alert each taquería so the stops can prepare accordingly.

Is the tequila tasting included, or do I pay extra?

The tequila tasting at Mercado 28 is included in the tour price, along with the four food tastings and soft drinks at each stop.

Can I buy souvenirs at Mercado 28, or is shopping not included?

Shopping is not included in the tour price, but you have time to browse the market stalls for local crafts and souvenirs at your own cost.