Mexico

The Flavors of Mexico: A Culinary Adventure in Oaxaca & Puebla

Program No. 23977RJ
If you love Mexican cuisine, join us for a delicious learning adventure in the heart of Oaxaca and Puebla! Enjoy hands-on cooking classes, market visits and much more.

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At a Glance

Taste, sample and savor the many flavors of central Mexico during this culinary adventure in Oaxaca and Puebla! Traditional Mexican cuisine was one of the first food traditions or cultures to be recognized by UNESCO on their list of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” With experts from the Seasons of My Heart Cooking School, get hands-on instruction into creating and enjoying the cuisine that the region’s Spanish and indigenous cultures have influenced. Learn cooking secrets from local chefs, get instruction for making world-famous Mole Poblana and visit bustling marketplaces where the freshest ingredients are found. Throughout your learning adventure, you’ll also enjoy opportunities to immerse yourself in history during field trips to the archaeological site of the city of Mitla, the 2,000 year-old cypress tree El Arbol del Tule as well as the village of Teotitlan del Valle, known for its ancient textile traditions.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 1-2 miles daily over varied terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Create your own culinary masterpieces during hands-on classes at a prestigious cooking school.
  • Learn how chocolate is made during a field trip to the Mayordomo Chocolate Factory and delight in an opportunity to explore the Mercado where rich fruits, vegetables and herbs are sold in a local market.
  • See how a local chef makes Mole Poblano.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
María Teresa Peniche
Maria Teresa Peniche, who prefers to be known simply as “Teri,” is a highly regarded addition to Geronimo’s Road Scholar staff. Teri pursued a career in higher education, preparing school curriculums designed as well as teaching English in secondary education. After retiring, Teri’s vast knowledge of Mexico’s history and culture paved the way towards her becoming a Group Leader. Blessed with a caring disposition and a great desire to share her love of her country, Teri’s capacity for sharing her considerable knowledge is unrivaled.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of María Peniche
María Teresa Peniche View biography
Maria Teresa Peniche, who prefers to be known simply as “Teri,” is a highly regarded addition to Geronimo’s Road Scholar staff. Teri pursued a career in higher education, preparing school curriculums designed as well as teaching English in secondary education. After retiring, Teri’s vast knowledge of Mexico’s history and culture paved the way towards her becoming a Group Leader. Blessed with a caring disposition and a great desire to share her love of her country, Teri’s capacity for sharing her considerable knowledge is unrivaled.
Profile Image of Haydee de Hoyos
Haydee de Hoyos View biography
Originally from the northern state of Sonora, Haydee de Hoyos learned English through her interest in American television, especially “Sesame Street.” Her affinity for American culture led her to pursue a career in the travel industry with a degree in tourism and business form the University of Guadalajara. Haydee has worked for Geronimo for more than 20 years and served as a Group Leader on programs focusing on art, culture, history, the environment and Mexican cuisine, developing an encyclopedia of knowledge of all things Mexico.
Profile Image of Suzanne Barbezat
Suzanne Barbezat View biography
Suzanne Barbezat grew up in Montréal, Canada, but holds a deep love and appreciation for Oaxaca. After graduating with a degree in anthropology, she lost her heart to Oaxaca on a solo trip through Latin America. Moving to Mexico in 1998, she has worked as a teacher, group leader and writer Suzanne spends her free time discovering off-the-beaten-path locales around Oaxaca with her Mexican husband and children. There's nothing she enjoys more than getting to know Oaxaca better and sharing her love for it.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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9 days
8 nights
20 meals
8 B 7 L 5 D
DAY
1
Arrive Oaxaca, Check-in, Welcome Dinner
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
D
Hotel Casa Conzatti

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, checking in, and getting your room, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax.

Dinner: In the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a plated 3-course meal with beverage choices of soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Dinner will be saved for those arriving late.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Orientation, Market System, Benito Juárez Market
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
B,L
Hotel Casa Conzatti

Activity note: Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; generally flat terrain.

Breakfast: In the hotel restaurant, choices include Mexican and international cuisine with a variety of hot and cold dishes plus fruit, yogurt, pastries, bread, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with an instructor who will give lectures and a Group Leader who will be responsible for logistics. A certified expert will lead field trips, and transportation will be via bus unless specified otherwise. We will provide suggestions for restaurants and on-site visits for personal independent exploration and several meals on your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our Study Leader will give us a presentation on the market system in Oaxaca and its importance in Oaxacan cuisine. We will then walk on into the historic district with our local expert and explore the Santo Domingo church and museum. Once the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, founded by the Dominican Order, the rooms that constituted the monastery now house the Cultural Center of Oaxaca. Construction began in 1570 and continued over two centuries. It underwent a complete restoration that was completed in 1999.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we will then walk to the famous Mercado Benito Juárez where we’ll feast our eyes on the rich colors of the fruits and vegetables, the smells of the aromatic herbs and exotic spices, and the sounds of the vendors calling out “Tortillas! Tamales! Chocolate! Chapulines!” We’ll take in the hustle and bustle of local chefs picking ingredients for their evening culinary delights and watch artisans as they weave rugs, put finishing touches on pottery, and create paintings. Returning to the hotel, we’ll enjoy a social hour and spend more time getting to know our fellow Road Scholars.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Hands-on Cooking Class, Pre-Hispanic Food Lecture, Free Time
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
B,L
Hotel Casa Conzatti

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1 hour each way to/from cooking school. Minimal walking; periods of standing to participate in cooking class. throughout the day; periods of standing to participate in cooking class.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board a bus for a field trip to the prestigious Seasons of My Heart Cooking School. There, we’ll put on aprons for a hands-on cooking class focusing on pre-Hispanic foods, traditional culinary, medicinal, and spiritual herb usage.

Lunch: At the cooking school, we’ll have a tasty meal featuring the foods we helped prepare with beverage choices of soft drinks, coffee, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll return to the hotel for a lecture on pre-Hispanic foods of Mexico and the impact on gastronomy worldwide as a result of the Spanish invasion. The arrival of the Europeans on the American continent brought about a huge shift in many aspects of life, including diet and not just in the Americas; the changes that came about affected the whole world. In this session, we’ll learn about some of the ingredients, utensils and cooking methods used in Oaxaca since pre-Hispanic times and see how some of the additions brought from other parts of the world were added in to create new and interesting combinations. The text entitled “The Mesoamerican Diet and Gastronomic Mestizaje” offers an introduction to this material. The remainder of the afternoon is free to see and do what interests you most in Oaxaca. Or, just relax.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy the regional cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Mitla, Santa Maria del Tule, Teotitlán del Valle
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
B,L
Hotel Casa Conzatti

Activity note: On your own to enjoy the regional cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll board our bus with a local expert and set out on a field trip to Santa María del Tule. This was once marshland filled with cypress trees and bulrushes the Aztecs called “tulle.” We’ll stop in the town center to see El Árbol del Tule, a 2,000 year old Montezuma cypress tree that has the greatest girth of any tree in the world with a diameter of almost 40 feet. Moving on, we’ll arrive in Mitla, an archaeological site that is an important representation of Zapotec culture as it features unique and intricate geometric and mosaic work. Well-preserved thanks to the dry climate, Mitla was the residence of the high priest, whom the Spanish likened to the Pope, and served as the main religious center for the Zapotec.

Lunch: At a restaurant outside Mitla, we’ll have choices of different kinds of moles, salads, main dishes, desserts, and beverage choices of soft drinks, coffee, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Our exploration will continue as we explore Teotitlán del Valle, a small village known for its handmade textiles made from local materials. The village was originally founded by the Zapotec under the name Xaguixe — meaning “at the foot of the mountains” — and retains much of its original culture. The Spanish renamed the site Teotitlán del Valle; Teotitlán meaning “land of the gods” in Nahuatl. We will be treated to a unique demonstration given by local experts and local professional weavers. We’ll observe the treating of the wool, organic coloring, and weaving by a team of professionals weavers. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trip.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Monte Albán Archaeological Site & Museum, Free Time
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
B,L,D
Hotel Casa Conzatti

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 12 miles, approximately 1 hour each way to/from Monte Albán. Walking about 2 miles total throughout the day; flat surfaces; lots of sun; bring hat, sunscreen, sufficient water.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will join our Study Leader for a lecture on Traditional Oaxaca Cuisine, including regional and holiday specialties. Food is a vital part of community identity and plays an important role in celebrations, as well as in everyday life. In this session, we’ll explore what people in Oaxaca eat, as well as where and why, and how those choices pertain to their belonging in the community. We’ll have a look at the most important yearly holidays and special occasions and discuss what foods are considered obligatory for those events Aboard our bus, we will begin a field trip to Monte Albán, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in México with the most spectacular views. One of the greatest Mesoamerican cities, it served as a political and economic center for the Zapotec from roughly 500 BCE to around 500 CE. One of the defining features of the city are the carved bas relief monuments called Los Danzantes — the dancers — along the main plaza. Next, we will walk to the Monte Albán Site Museum with an opportunity to see many of the artifacts excavated from the area, including the impressive collection of Danzantes.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will return Oaxaca for free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
6
Transfer to Puebla, Check-in, Historic Center of Puebla
Puebla City, Puebla
B,L,D
Hotel Colonial De Puebla

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 212 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total with stops. Walking about 2 miles and periods of standing; sidewalks, generally flat terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and transfer to Puebla, arriving in time to check in and have lunch.

Lunch: In the hotel restaurant we’ll have a 3-course meal featuring Mexican cuisine with beverage choices of soft drinks, coffee, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll set out from the hotel with a local expert on a walking field trip into the Historic Center of Puebla, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. The area was unsettled during the Aztec empire, having served as the location for “flowery wars” between the Aztec alliance and their rivals. Until the establishment of Puebla in 1531, the area was known as Cuetlaxcoapan — “where serpents shed their skin.” Today the city is known for its diverse architecture and Talavera pottery in addition to being one of the largest cities in México. Among the highlights we will see are the Templo de Santo Domingo; the Capilla del Rosario, also called the House of Gold, considered one of the modern wonders of the world; Casa de los Muñecos, the Doll House, a baroque house from the 18th century with beautiful talavera tile; and the El Parian artisan market.

Dinner: We will walk with our Group Leader to a local restaurant for a 2-course meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Cooking Class, Free Time
Puebla City, Puebla
B,L,D
Hotel Colonial De Puebla

Activity note: Periods of standing during cooking class. Extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be joined by a local chef who will lead a cooking class focusing on the secret of preparing “mole poblano” — sometimes called the national dish of México. With nearly 20 ingredients, mole is a labor-intensive sauce that is a source of pride for its makers. It is said that each Mexican woman has her own mole recipe that has been passed down through her family. One legend behind the sauce's creation tells of convent nuns in Puebla needing to prepare food for the archbishop who was coming to visit. After praying, they mixed together what ingredients they had and poured it on top of cooked turkey. When the archbishop enjoyed the meal, the nun explained that she made a “mole,” being the ancient word for mix.

Lunch: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most.

Dinner: At the hotel, we will have a 3-course meal with the mole that we helped prepare in our cooking class and beverage choices of soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
8
Transfer to Mexico City, Frida Kahlo Museum and Food tour
Mexico City
B,L,D
Hotel NH Mexico City Centro Histórico

Activity note: Drive about 210 miles for about 3 hrs, walk up to 2 miles, standing for periods of time.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: We will check out of the hotel, and board the motorcoach to transfer to Mexico City. Once we arrive in Mexico City, our field trip begins in the neighborhood of Coyoacan. Once an independent village on the shore of Lake Texcoco, Coyoacan welcomed the Spanish and served as the headquarters of Hernan Cortez and the conquistadors. Its name comes from a Nahuatl word, of which the exact meaning is unknown, but most likely means “place of coyotes’. We’ll visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as Casa Azul, the museum is housed in the building where Frida Kahlo spent most of her life and was donated, along with its contents, to be a museum in her memory by her husband Diego Rivera. Here we will admire many exhibits of Frida’s work, as well as some personal items that are on display. The museum displays work of art by the couple and other artists, in addition to displaying the lifestyle of Mexican artisans and bohemians in the first half of the 20th century. You will also be able to enjoy some of Diego Rivera's work. After visiting the museum, you can walk on the beautiful gardens on the property. Afterwards, we’ll transfer to Downtown Coyoacan.

Lunch: Lunch will be during the culinary journey, an opportunity to sample different regional dishes. The group will make stops at local restaurants where they will eat a variety of dishes including drinks and desserts.

Afternoon: We’ll spend the afternoon in downtown Coyoacan on a culinary journey featuring several tasting locations specifically chosen to highlight the best of the regional flavors Coyoacan has to offer. An appetizing opportunity to experience the Mexican culture through its food. After the field trip we will transfer to the hotel in time to check in and to rest before dinner.

Dinner: Farewell dinner will be at the hotel.

Evening: We’ll then gather with our Group Leader for a program review and discuss transportation for the conclusion of the program. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

DAY
9
Program Concludes, Depart from Program
Mexico City
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 1:00 p.m. See your program’s Travel Information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel,

Morning: Independent transfers to the Mexico City Airport for the return flight. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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