Zihuatanejo: Food Tasting Walking Tour with Market & 6 Dishes

Morning food walk in Zihuatanejo with market stops and local flavors

You’ll wander through Zihuatanejo’s lively downtown alongside a local guide, tasting six traditional dishes, from fresh cheese at the farmers market to rich mole and hand-ground coffee. Expect laughter over mispronounced words, early-morning city sounds, and stories that stay with you long after breakfast ends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Zihuatanejo food tasting and walking tour

• Hotel lobby pickup at 8 A.M.
• Drive to Zihuatanejo downtown
• Walk through farmers market
• Learn about local vegetables and products
• Visit six local food tasting locations
• Taste six traditional Mexican dishes
• Walk approximately 10 minutes between restaurants
• Receive cultural and culinary explanations from guide

The experience

The first thing that happened was I wore the wrong shoes: should’ve known better than to go for sandals on a food tour in downtown Zihuatanejo. The cobblestones are sneaky here, especially when you’re distracted by the smell of frying masa or someone’s abuela selling tamales from a basket. Our guide, Luis, met us right at the hotel lobby just after 8am. He had this easy way of making everyone feel like we’d known him for ages. He laughed when he saw my shoes and promised we wouldn’t walk too far (he lied, but in a friendly way).

We started at the farmers market where everything felt louder and brighter than I expected: vendors calling out, kids darting between stalls, and that earthy scent of fresh herbs mixing with something sweet I couldn’t place until Luis handed me a cup of champurrado. Thick, chocolatey, not too sweet. I tried to pronounce “atole” correctly. Luis grinned but didn’t correct me. There was cheese so fresh it squeaked between my teeth, and mole with this smoky depth that kind of lingered on my tongue long after we left that stall.

I lost track of how many times we stopped to taste something: six dishes in total, but honestly it felt like more because every bite came with some story about Zihuatanejo’s history or why people here cook things the way they do. There was one spot where we sat on plastic stools under a faded tarp while an old man ground coffee beans by hand: his hands moved so fast I almost missed it. The coffee tasted earthy, almost salty from the sea air drifting in. At one point I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once since we started walking. That doesn’t happen often.

By the end I was full (maybe even too full), but also weirdly content just wandering those streets and listening to Luis talk about his childhood here. My feet hurt a little but I still think about that mole sometimes, you know how some flavors just stick with you? Anyway, if you’re curious about real food in Zihuatanejo and don’t mind getting a bit messy or lost along the way, this is probably your kind of morning.

What’s included

Your morning includes pickup from your hotel lobby at 8 A.M., all six regional tastings (think mole, tamales, local cheese), bottled water and breakfast snacks along the way, plus an air-conditioned ride into town before you start exploring on foot with your guide.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Wednesday and FridayDepartures at 08:30 and 08:45

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Infant (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 24

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.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luis de la Maza Ixtapa Zihuatanejo tours

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How long does the Zihuatanejo food tasting walking tour last?

The tour lasts about 3 hours from pickup to finish.

Is hotel pickup included for this food tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included at 8 A.M.

How many dishes will I try during the tour?

You’ll taste six different traditional Mexican dishes.

Does the tour visit the Zihuatanejo farmers market?

Yes, you’ll walk through the farmers market as part of the experience.

Is this food tour suitable for vegetarians?

No, this tour is not recommended for vegetarians.

Are drinks included during the tastings?

Bottled water and traditional drinks like chocolate beverages are included.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You’ll walk about 10 minutes between each tasting location downtown.

Is breakfast provided on this Zihuatanejo food tour?

Yes, breakfast snacks are included as part of your tastings.