Arrive in Mexico City and check into our group’s hotel. Take some time to settle in and wander  the neighborhood before we meet this evening for our welcome dinner at Limosneros. Chefs Marcos Fulcheri and Carlo Méndez will work with pre-Hispanic ingredients, colonial techniques, and modern creative twists to create an unforgettable meal. In a private room, we’ll share our first of many meals, and get a glimpse into what the week will hold.

After breakfast at our hotel, we will be spending the day in downtown’s Centro Histórico, exploring our trip’s themes through food, history, and culture. Today will be a crash course in the history of Mexico City, with visits to the “obscure side” of major monuments and historic remnants hidden from view, including Aztec temples, a mural by Diego Rivera, and former sacrificial sites.

For lunch, we’ll be dropping by a family-run Oaxacan grocery/restaurant in the heart of one of the city’s oldest commercial districts, once home to large communities of newly arrived Jewish and Lebanese merchants.

In the evening, we’ll set out on a taco tour, hitting a number of nighttime taco stands, including an al pastor spot housed in an auto repair shop. Along with classic tacos, we’ll also have the chance to taste ones made with brains, bull’s eyes, and intestines. Afterwards, turn in for some well-earned rest, or explore some of the local nightlife on your own.

Today, we’ll head to Milpa Alta, a center of mole production on the outskirts of Mexico City. We’ll be delving deep into all things mole, learning about ingredients, production techniques, regional varieties, and how this food represents the colonial heritage of Mexico.

On our way to Milpa Alta, we’ll stop by the home of a local villager to learn about the artisanal production of pulque, a pre-Hispanic drink made from the sap of the agave-like maguey plant. During the afternoon, we’ll visit private homes and markets to gain a better sense of daily life and the food that shapes and defines it, and finish our visit with a late lunch starring (what else?) mole. Back in the city this evening, take some time to rest and relax from the long day, and have dinner at your leisure (if you’re still hungry, that is).

We’ll set out on an action-packed exploration of Xochimilco, a highlight of the region and treasure of Aztec-era living culture. Unlike many pre-Hispanic-era monuments that are entombed in museums, Xochimilco is a living place with working farms and much to see, eat, and drink, all linked to pre-Hispanic Mexico.

For lunch, we’ll have a meal onboard a traditional flat-bottomed boat as we float along Aztec-era canals that have been in use for more than 2,000 years. Our meal will be prepared by locals using products from the chinampas, the area’s famous “floating farms,” one of which we’ll have the chance to visit. Back on land, we’ll check out a local market and get a taste of pre-Hispanic Mexico (think: tlacoyos).

In the evening, we’ll attend a Lucha Libre wrestling match, first going behind-the-scenes to meet some wrestlers and even try our luck in the ring.

Today is Day of the Dead, and we’ll start with a cemetery visit to witness how this fascinating day begins. From there, we’ll head to a bustling local market awash in produce, flowers, food, and crafts to learn about all of the special details that go into preparing for this big day. Getting a taste of what’s in season, we’ll sample food specialties from around the market.

Next, we’ll make a private visit to the nearby home and workshop of the famous Linares family. This family is considered to be the most important producer of Mexican folk art, specifically related to the Day of the Dead.

For dinner, we’ll enjoy a paired mezcal tasting led by a bottler who travels the Mexican countryside in search of small batch producers of the spirit. The mezcal will be paired with classic Mexican dishes with a creative spin. We’ll raise our glasses in a toast to the chef, and to the opportunity to spend this important holiday together.

Today, depart for home or onto your next destination – or, if you’d like, spend a few more days exploring Mexico City. Our guide will be happy to provide additional recommendations.

Until our next adventure!