La Merced Market Tour: Immerse in Mexico's History, Culture and Traditional Foods
4.9
62 Ratings
Ciudad de México
Immerse yourself in Mexico's history, culture, and traditional foods on a tour of La Merced Market. Explore the oldest market in Mexico, try exotic fruits and snacks, discover hidden gems, and learn about local beliefs and practices. End the tour with delicious street tacos and a visit to historic cantinas and bars. Perfect for curious travelers seeking an authentic cultural experience.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mercado Sonora - Immerse yourself in the enchanting market of magic and fauna
  • La Merced - Explore the most historic marketplace in the city
  • Abelardo L. Rodriguez Murals - Discover an amazing secret of the city, the marketplace of art
  • Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Loreto - Witness an extraordinary ecclesiastical structure
What's Included
  • Prehispanic Food Tastings
  • 1 michelada, 1 cocktail and 1 beer or pulque
  • Snacks
  • Lunch
  • Bilingual Guide
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a journey outside your comfort zone to experience the city’s oldest and most historic district, La Merced. Together, we will navigate the bustling paths of Mexico’s ancient market (Mercado Merced), where we’ll encounter exotic fruits, unique juices, traditional moles, prehistoric snacks, and other ethnic delicacies. Prepare to be captivated by the enchanting sorcery and art markets, and uncover hidden architectural jewels, striking street art, secluded monuments, and more tucked-away treasures. We’ll be introduced to popular local beliefs through the exploration of Santa Muerte street altars, gaining insight into the ways locals express their faith.

Our adventure will also feature a chance to taste some of the finest street tacos the city has to offer, complemented by a visit to one of the oldest cantinas and pulquerias. To conclude our expedition, we will relax in one of the most appealing downtown bars, enjoying a refreshing cocktail or coffee. This engaging experience is ideal for those intrepid travelers looking to venture beyond tourist attractions for an engaging and immersive cultural discovery.

  • A maximum of 6 people per booking
  • Dress code is smart casual (DISCREET)
  • Avoid bringing valuables.
  • Please be aware that maximum waiting time is 15 minutes, if you don’t make it on time you will loose your tout.
Location
Hotel Castropol
José María Pino Suárez
We'll meet at the entrance to Hotel Castropol.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(62 Ratings)
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Cynthia_s
Mar 12, 2024
This tour is a must!! Cesar was awesome! - Cesar was the best tour guide and our entire group enjoyed every minute of it! The tacos were amazing, the micheladas and beers were refreshing and Cesar was very knowledgeable. We would’ve never known where to go or what anything was if we didn’t have Cesar. Would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
139estebann
Feb 21, 2024
An incredible and unexpected experience - An amazing experience all together! Not only the places we visited felt absolutely safe and interesting, but the guide was so good in really allowing us to understand the impact and importance in the culture of the city and country’s culture. I would emphatically recommend this to everyone who wants to see the real Mexico beyond any tourist trap.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_c
Jan 27, 2024
Amazing - Cristobal was an amazing guide. So knowledgeable and passionate about his city and culture. He went out of his way to show us things we were interested in
Review provided by Viator
Jet08022869164
Jan 14, 2024
Incredible CDMX Cultural Experience - This is the best tour I've ever had! Ricardo was so friendly, knowledgeable and passionate - it was such a pleasure to visit the La Merced area under his guide. Though not touristy at all, this area is so colorful, diverse and full of the hustle and bustleI of CDMX, so definitely check this tour out if you would like some special experience at the city. learned so much about the local's life and the city's history in depth that I won't be able to know elsewhere. We also stopped at different spots for taco/food/drinks/mole/pulque. Thank you so much Ricardo and I hope to attend another tour hosted by Bondabu if I visit CDMX again in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X3276uhkarenf
Jan 9, 2024
Awesome deep dive into Mexico City! - This was a fantastic day of peeking behind the curtain and being introduced to parts of Mexico City that I don't think many tourists get to see. Ernesto was a fantastic guide who really knows the history, places, people and stories that make for a "Wow!" experience. Also, the food. Plenty to eat, drink and enjoy along the way. Loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P4659rfadrianv
Jan 2, 2024
A must while in CDMx - Worth the time, the walk and every penny. This is what we look for when travelling, that extra mile into what locals eat, drinks, and do, specially in this emormous city, where it would take forever to discover it was handy, informative and fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Willem_a
Dec 28, 2023
Great tour - Ricardo, is a great guide , knows a lot and shows a lot of details , we liked the tour very much we Will be back thanks for the ride
Review provided by Viator
Happycamperut
Nov 22, 2023
Fascinating! - Fantastic tour! Ricardo was kind, knowledgeable and an absolute joy to spend the day with. Exploring the markets with Ricardo was fascinating on many levels and something that we wouldn't have appreciated nearly as much on our own. The food experiences were a highlight! Do it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
118traceh
Nov 3, 2023
Día de los muertos trip for our 20th wedding anniversary - Me and my spouse celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in Mexico City on día de Los muertos. One of the best experiences was taking the deep Mexico tour of the local markets with Bondabu. We were undecided if we wanted a private tour or to join a group. We ended up joining a group with two other couples. Everyone was great and I am glad we met other tourists. Ricardo was our guide and Cammie was in training, both were so fun, smart, and funny. Ricardo really knows his history and both knew a lot about biology, my favorite topic. They showed us so much that we could have never seen without a local guide. We walked a lot in crowded markets but we have visited many local markets around the world and love to see how others live. It was fascinating and so enjoyable. Not to mention the incredible food we tried! We indulged in authentic mole, perfectly prepared river shrimp, crunchy grasshoppers, and delicate tiny fish. Each dish was a symphony of flavors, a true celebration of Mexican cuisine. And let's not forget about Ricardo's suggestion to try pulque, a traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage crafted from the fresh sap of Agave plants. I had never tried it before, and thanks to Ricardo's dedication, I had the chance to savor this unique treat. It was a delightful addition to an already unforgettable day. We truly relished every moment of our tour. Bondabu and their exceptional team made our anniversary celebration an experience we will cherish forever!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Reneeba975mb
Nov 2, 2023
Markets and neighborhoods tour - Ricardo was the best tour guide we have ever had! He was so fun and interesting. He had great stories about everything. He was flexible when he found out we were vegetarian. If we lived in Mexico i would want to hang out with him. When we come back, I will see if he is available. Can’t say enough good things about Ricardo and his trainee Camila. Thank you! Renee and David
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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