Mexico City Mystic Markets La Merced & Sonora Food Tour Tradition

This tour was fantastic! With our guide we were able to explore markets which are not typically visited by tourists. We sampled many delicious foods and drinks in the Mercado Merced. This is a huge market, and it would be easy to get lost without a guide. He told numerous interesting stories about the market, based on firsthand experience, as his family still owns a stand there, and he worked in the market as a child.

You should not miss out on this experience. Gabriel is incredibly personable and knowledgable. His first hand knowledge of the markets and its vendors makes this an experience you can't replicate on your own. Bring your appetite, because, as value for money goes, you definitely get your fill, and more. The 4-hour span of the tour goes by in a flash and is not physically demanding. I'd recommend this tour for solo travelers and couples/small friend groups. This was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our CDMX trip.

Totally amazing food and market tour! We both definitely expanded our Mexican food knowledge and learned about the food culture through this tour. We tried so many new flavors and dishes and even insects! Gabriel's professionalism was well noted and the little touches like having wet wipes, hand sanitizer and kleenex for the bathrooms was right on target....haha! We even met Gabriel's father who had a food stall in the market. If you want a true local experience, take this tour with CDMX Memories!

Gabriel: knew the local environment and gave unvarnished facts about the areas we walked through. We ate some very new foods and found some that will be our favourites for years to come. Gabriel is a pro in all aspects. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Undoubtedly the best tour we’ve had in Mexico City. The highlights were well thought out, and was a complete cultural immersion into local life in Mexico City. Tiffany was fantastic. She is extremely knowledgeable, and a delightful guide. She really took care of us and made sure we enjoyed ourselves. I really hope she and CDMX Memories does well, because I want to take this tour again the next time we’re in Mexico City.

One of the best food tours we have done. The tour operator grew up in the market and knows how to navigate it really well, and tailor to your desires (want a pound of oregano powder? A pound of mole powder? Sacrifice a chicken to cast a spell on someone? eat a creamy fried cockroach? Fresh blue corn tortillas that are impossibly delicious with a red salsa deeper than anything in New York?). Brilliant 4 hours and would recommend booking a private tour, and buying a few KG of fresh mole powder (what we ended up doing).

Gabriel is a fantastic and very knowledgable guide. I was very surprised how much food and drink is included in this tour. I was able to try some foods that I would not have purchased due to fear I wouldn't like it. All in all, a must do when visiting Mexico City!

It was very informative about not only the markets themselves but the culture within them. Being able to taste fruits and spices added to the experience.

Best market food tour . Just amazing. If you want to have wonderful food and learn all about the market join Gabriel for a great experience.

Our family had a great time on this tour. Irvin was amazing, he knew so much and was engaging with our curiosities. This company had thought of everything from start to finish, down to taking us to a local pastaria to enjoy local treats. There was lotssss of eating - and all of his recommendations - just say "yes"! They were amazing. The flor de calabaza (squash blossom) and huitlacoche (corn fungus) quesadillas were probably my favorite! I am not the most adventurous eater, but I'm glad I said "yes" to all the recommendations. You'll leave so full - from the food and experience! Tip: If you buy mole or peppers at the market, check it to go home! We made it home with ours (in checked back), but a family member didn't when they tried to take it carryon back to the US!

Our guide Irving was awesome! He was so friendly and knowledgeable and really showed us a great time. The food was delicious and the bigger portions well spaced out so you with smaller tasting bites. We definitely left very full! But such a fun experience. 5 stars!

Our guide, Gabriel, was fantastic. This tour was the highlight of my entire trip to Mexico City. Such an incredible window into the culture.

This tour was a real highlight for my family. Moving through the massive markets was a feast for the eye, as there was something new around every corner. Estefania our guide was so accommodating and knowledgeable and gave us so much information we would never had received just by going on our own. We tried lots of delicious food (don’t eat ahead of time) and braved a platter of insects as well. Pastries at the end was unexpected, and the bakery was a sight all on its own. If you want to really feel and taste the culture, this trip will not disappoint.

terrible-I cancelled this trip and somehow it was not noted and had to pay in full. Guide and tripadvisor did not help resolve this issue. Would NOT recommend.

Excellent tour with lots of tastings included- my favourite was the Mamey milkshake. Really well organised, helpful and pleasant guides. Only thing I would say is that the trips should advertise there are 2 guides or split the tips, as some people may not come prepared to tip two people. Other than that it was an

Though we thought our previous visits to other CDMX markets left us well-informed, this tour, led by Gabriel, gave us great additional insights into into Mexican food culture. Gabriel was enthusiastic, friendly and always able to give clear, comprehensive answers to any questions we put to him. The food stops were well targeted and highly informative at stalls which welcomed locals as well as foreigner. At 4 hours, there was inevitably a lot of walking but meant the tour was comprehensive and didn't feel rushed. The "on-the-house" cake shop visit at the end of the tour was very thoughtful and a fantastic finale. All in all, we had a great time and learnt a lot

You absolutely must have guide to explore the markets. Be prepared for sensory overload. It is crowded and narrow so as a visitor you must be aware of vendors moving products and customers passing. Everyone is friendly and there is no pressure to buy. This is where the locals shop.

Really great experience! Gabriel was knowledgeable and fun. Would recommend to anyone visiting Mexico City! Definitely show up hungry, lots to eat

One of the best tours of my life! Gabriel was an extraordinary guide! The tour is immersive, delicious, and informative. This experience should be on everyone's can't miss list for CDMX.

Estefania was really great with us. We happened to be the only ones that made it to the tour and she was very helpful accommodating and had a detailed knowledge of the markets. The food stalls she took us were all delicious. it didn’t feel like a 4 hour tour as we did quite a bit and different areas of the markets.

Wonderful tour of the market. I did this alone as a woman and was a little worried about safety but I felt safe the entire time. I tried so many delicious dishes and got some special items from the Sonora/mystical market. Highly recommend

Lots of great food and fun and they think of everything to take care of you: hand sanitizer, wipes for foods that are messy, coins and TP for the bathrooms! We ran late due to road closures and Gabriel was so accommodating! and afterward sent info about everything we tried. Loved it!

My partner and I have taken food and market tours in cities all over the world, and this was one of my favorites. Highly recommend.

Gabriel was an amazing tour guide. I would recommend this tour to anyone truly interested in learning the culture of Mexico City. This is off of the beaten path of the touristic spots. Amazing food and sights. Truly a 10/10

Gabriel was incredibly knowledgable and we ate tons of great food, learned a ton about the markets and even got to get something from the witchcraft market to bring home. We could have never done the markets without him!

The guide is very informative, polite, attentive, and always ready to answer all your questions. Good to know that the markets are in a rough area of the city so act accordingly.

Gabriel was an incredible resource navigating the markets of Mexico City. We definitely would not have been able to have this authentic of an experience without him. 10/10 recommend!

My brother, husband, 9 year old daughter and I went on this tour with Gabriel and Stephanie and it was amazing!!🙌 Both of them are excellent guides and it was such a pleasure being able to talk with them about life in Mexico City and gain some deeper insight into the market culture and Gabriel's family history within the market. Both La Merced and Sonora Market were filled with interesting things to see, taste, smell, and learn about. Full sensory overload! Plus, ALL the food was absolutely DELICIOUS. Book this tour!! Highly recommend.

Our guide Gabriel was awesome. He grew up around the market, so his knowledge of the food and culture made it fun and educational. The food sampled was the highlight for me. Too much to list. Highly recommend.

Gabriel was fantastic! He took us to great spots and stopped along the way for smaller tastings and to explain the food culture very well. He even translated our tarot and palm readings we opted for! Felt very safe with him as well.

Gabriel was amazing!!! He was a walking wealth of knowledge and made the tour so interesting. Loved every minute of it!!

Gabriel was an engaging and thoughtful guide and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. We enjoyed some delicious and interesting cuisine.

With our kids ages 9,11, and 14, my husband and I enjoyed this private trip through La Merced with Gabriel. It was incredible- the tastes, the sights, his knowledge and caring approach to everyone in my family and all the vendors, whom he knows well. We were so full by the end, and loved trying all the foods. We felt very taken care of as he provided hand sanitizer, baby wipes, bathroom breaks, and water. Gabriel is a smart young man, with stellar English, and an appreciation for the uniqueness of this market he grew up in and his family still run taco stalls. I'll be sending my friends to him as it was one of our favorite parts of CDMX!

My partner, my parents and I had a fantastic time on this tour! Gabriel was an engaging, well-informed, and accommodating guide who made our experience so much better than it would have been without him. We had great food, heard interesting facts and stories, and traveled into parts of the market we didn’t know existed, let alone knew how to find. He was also helpful in accommodating my partner’s dietary restriction and my father’s physician limitations.

This was an excellent tour of the Mercado La Merced and Mercado Sonora. I have been on market tours in Mexico City before but what made this one special is that instead a set itinerary, Gabriel listens to your interests ans takes you to see the things you want to see. I was the only one on the tour and it felt like a personalised experience. Gabriel grew up around the Merced market and his depth of knowledge shows. When I asked him if it was safe to visit Merced and Sonora markets by myself, he told me exactly which streets to use to enter the markets and which streets to avoid.

We had a great time walking around the market and eating with Gabriel. We learned a lot about the different foods and about life in Mexico City. Gabriel was an excellent guide and very nice. Would definitely recommend!

I’ve spent a lot of my time traveling around México and I have to say that this Mercado is one the biggest Mercados I have ever been to. The tour guide has plenty of experience in the Mercado. His family has over 30 years of working and serving en La Merced. Gabriel was very attentive and open to answering any questions or concerns. I highly recommend coming to experience something new and spending time with the locals.

Really different from the tourist places the market it's really popular for the local people the tour was really fun we love all the food that we taste Gabriel show us big part of the market and answer are questions fully recommend.

Wonderful it was a really exciting experience Gabriel was really good he knows the market really good these is something you gotta do if your visiting mexico city my wife and I liked a lot it's a really different experience from the tourist places

wow this tour was great it's for people who want something other than traditional places the food was great and very delicious Our guide Gabriel is very attentive, very good in every way, he gave us a lot of confidence, we were able to talk about various things, he explained the doubts we had.

Fascinating This guided tour was great in all our guide Gabriel was excellent, he knows the place very well, he surprised us with how easy it is to move there since we would have gotten lost, the food was great, especially the pozole

Gabriel was the best tour guide ever! He guided us through the maze of Mercado de la Merced and Sonora. He took us the places he knew and liked. Everything tasted amazing. The markets were crowded but clean and beautiful. It was sensory overload of the best kind. Thank you Gabriel for the truly exceptional tour.

An unforgettable experience. Mercado La Merced and Sonora is like diving into another world. Very original, Mexico far away from the usual tourist places. Our tour guide Gabriel knew the two labyrinthine markets like the back of his hand. And you should definitely visit these markets with someone who knows their way around. Gabriel had a lot of insider knowledge and provided us with Mexican delicacies and interesting food and drinks. We tried our way through Mexican cuisine, including insect tasting, tacos in many variations, etc. So here's a tip: come with a good appetite, there's a lot to try.

Excellent Guide! Really a very good tour, where the first thing is to know and customer satisfaction. The treatment of our guide is very rewarding and pleasant, made us have an amazing day!!!! RECOMMENDED 100%!!!!