Oaxaca Ancestral Food Experience

Do a walk through the historical centre of Oaxaca, while strolling through the history of delicious foods in this region

Itinerary for eating your way through Oaxaca City’s downtown markets and street vendors

We will dive deep into dishes that are less common in touristy restaurants but are very common as delicacies amongst locals living in Oaxaca. With a focus on some of the oldest food sources in Oaxaca (if not in Mexico), many of the dishes will include either maize (corn) or cacao (chocolate). Most people who visit Oaxaca only hear about Mole, quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), and Tlayudas (a grilled tortilla)

You will meet at a local market at 9:00 a.m. to get an early start at some restaurants and stalls that use recipes passed down for generations. Here you will try a unique ancestral drink that has been around for hundreds of years. You will also get to try some common breakfast foods and learn about the history and the cultural importance of the ingredients to the region!

From here we will visit another local restaurant, which focuses on native maize – corn which is native to this region, and the tortillas and dishes that are made with it. You will have the chance to try some dishes that are otherwise quite hard to find in Oaxaca but are common in the villages surrounding it.

From here, we travel by foot to another local establishment for a chocolate tasting. You will learn about the importance cacao played in Mesoamerica while tasting some of the most delicious chocolate Oaxaca has to offer. This is an often-overlooked highlight of this region of Mexico and one which will leave you craving more!

We will stroll through some of the beautiful neighbourhoods of central Oaxaca on our way to another street food vendor, learning about historical sites in the region, and their relevance to Oaxaca, its culture, and of course, to food as well!

We end the tour in an organic market, where all the food produced and sold here has a story to tell. We will try several more dishes and ancestral drinks, further reinforcing the diversity both of food and cultures found in and around Oaxaca state, their history, and why Oaxaca is known as the gastronomical capital of Mexico!

For anyone who likes to eat, and appreciates good food and beautiful cultures – we know you will leave satisfied on all fronts with this special ancestral experience!

Please note: There is no Dress Code! You will be visiting some food vendors who are a bit more traditional, so dressing respectfully is appreciated. You don’t need to dress to impress – you will be getting your hands dirty (literally). It is recommended to just bring comfortable clothes, which are modest, and that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty in (food spillage happens to the best of us). A more detailed list of suggested clothing attire can be found below.

What to bring to the Oaxaca Ancestral Food Experience?

Though this could vary seasonally, this is the basic list of what we suggest you bring with you:
– Jeans or long pants (this is most customary in Mexico, though shorts/dresses are fine if you are most comfortable in that).
– Sneakers/comfortable shoes.
– Umbrella (for the rainy season, May-Nov)
– Sunblock.
– Hat/cap.
– Covid Mask.
– Cash. The producers do not accept credit cards if you want to buy any food after your experience. There is no pressure to buy anything. Unlike other tour companies, the producers we work with will always get paid fairly for their time, regardless if you buy additional food or not.

What is included with the Oaxaca Ancestral Experience?

Your ancestral experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
– a specially trained and licensed English-speaking guide who will facilitate your experience
– translations and demonstrations with the local food vendors
– meals (it’s a food tour after all. Alcoholic beverages are not included with the meals)
– a special small gift to take home with you

What is not included during your Sacred Food Experience?

– Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
– International flights
– Transportation (outside of the included itinerary)
– Accommodation in Oaxaca
– Alcoholic beverages (outside of the included mezcal tasting)
– Gratuities and tips
– Spending money if you wish to purchase additional food, souvenirs or items.

Need a place to stay in Oaxaca?

We’ve made finding accommodation a little easier. Below, you’ll find an interactive map to help you compare hotels and short-term stays in and around Oaxaca City. Just plug in your travel dates and the number of guests, and explore your options. You’ll be able to see listings from trusted platforms like Booking.com, Hotels.com, VRBO, and others, complete with reviews, prices, and availability. We’ve also placed a marker on the map showing the center of Oaxaca City — the closer your stay is to that point, the closer you’ll be to many of the cultural experiences and historic sites Oaxaca has to offer.

Please double-check the currency displayed, as it may vary depending on your device settings or the website you’re viewing.

Supporting Local Projects with our TRiP Foundation

For every TRiP that you go on with WSE Travel, we will donate 2% of the total sales price to an environmental or community-based project in the country you’re visiting. We want to ensure that every guest we help, in turn, helps support and preserve the destination we’re experiencing together as a direct result. We live by an ethos to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP).

For more information on the projects supported by this experience, please visit our Mexico TRIP projects.

Cancellation & Rebooking Policy

All tours, services, and experiences booked through WSE Travel are bound to our Terms and Conditions, which were modeled after most other travel services such as flights, hotels, and other tour operators.

At Where Sidewalks End, your reservation is more than a transaction — it’s a direct contract with local professionals who rely on this work as a primary source of income. As such, we are obligated to honor the livelihoods of our local partners — including guides, Ajarns (masters), and drivers — who dedicate their time exclusively to your experience.

In many of the destinations where we operate, labor protections and fair wage commitments are upheld by local laws — and we are both ethically and contractually required to adhere to them. Once a booking is confirmed, the service providers committed to your experience are financially compensated for reserving their time — even in the event of cancellation. This ensures fair and dignified treatment for all involved in delivering your experience.

If You Need to Cancel or Reschedule

All bookings are subject to the following terms:

More than 14 Days’ Notice

Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:

• Used for a future date
• Transferred to a friend or family member

Refunds are not available unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.

7–14 Days’ Notice

A 50% rebooking fee will apply. This helps offset the compensation obligations to your dedicated team of local guides and service providers, who have reserved their day exclusively for your private tour and may not be able to secure alternate work with us or others on short notice.

Less than 7 Days’ Notice

The full cost of the tour is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. As this is a private experience, your local team’s time is fully dedicated to your session. A new team will be hired for any future rebooking.

These policies are a compassionate extension of our official Terms & Conditions, designed to support both our guests and the ethical standards of responsible tourism.

Travel Insurance or Liability Waiver Required

Because life can be unpredictable — and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners — all guests must either:

• Provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, or
• Sign a Liability Waiver Form at the start of their trip

We highly recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — trusted by global travelers for its flexible, affordable coverage and very competitive rates.

Travel insurance can help protect you from financial losses related to:

• Illness
• Missed flights
• Emergency cancellations
• Non-refundable bookings

If you choose to travel without Travel Insurance, you will be required to fill out a Liability Waiver Form at the beginning of your trip. 

Thank You for Traveling Responsibly

We deeply appreciate your understanding and support of ethical tourism. Your booking directly sustains local communities and helps preserve cultural traditions in a meaningful and lasting way.

If you have any questions or need help rescheduling, please contact us — we’re always happy to assist.