Cozumel Local Food, Flavors, and Colors Excursion

Description

• Unique culinary experience, taste many Mexican and local Cozumel dishes!
• Air-conditioned transportation!
• Explore Cozumel's fresh market!
  
• 3-hour guided excursion of downtown Cozumel!
• Small groups only!
  
  

Enjoy a truly unique excursion in Cozumel...experience the local flavors and colors of the island. Sample some of the traditional Yucatan dishes. Learn about the history and background of the food and beverages you will try. Explore the fresh market and interact with some locals.

Your fun day will start off at the meeting point just a short distance from any of the cruise ship piers. Your English-speaking culinary guide will be waiting for you. After getting checked in and receiving a briefing about your day, the guide will assist you into the air-conditioned transportation and the fun begins.

We recommend that you have a light breakfast because you will be eating a lot on this excursion in Cozumel! Your guide will be providing you with information about what you will be eating, the preparation and traditions behind all the food and drinks.

Your first stop will be at a local empanada shop where you will try these savory types of fried turnovers. These are typically filled with meats, vegetables, and cheese. The food you will be eating today is not spicy...but you will have a variety of salsas to choose from if you want to crank up the heat level. Your guide will recommend caution when spooning on the salsa since habanero chilies are typically used.

A very traditional Mayan dish is next on the list. You will try "cochinita pibil" tacos which is a type of slow-roasted pulled pork, served on corn tortillas. A unique blend of ingredients is used including achiote (annatto) and sour orange. You might want to take notes along the way as you will have the chance to purchase some of these unusual ingredients at the end of the day to try your skills back home.

A great way to see the colors and get a feel of local life is with a walking tour of the fresh market. Here you will see a variety of local fruits and vegetables being sold. Fresh meat and seafood stand, spices, herbs, and other items used in preparing dishes. As you walk the open aisles of the market, your guide will point out and explain some of the items to you. There is also traditional clothing and items such as handmade Mayan hammocks sold there. Your next item on the menu is a Yucatan lime soup or sopa de lima.

What about freshly caught seafood? You will try some fried whole fish or shrimp tacos (depending on the day). Sit back and relax, enjoy some great seafood and watch local life go by. Throughout the day, beverages will be provided.

Save some room for dessert! Your guide will take you to a local bakery where you will have a freshly made pastry. After your sweet treat, you'll head back to the meeting point at the local supermarket where your guide will assist you with finding some of the ingredients, spices, and chiles to purchase that you saw on your tour. In the end, you will have a full belly, happy taste buds, and a better understanding and knowledge of some of the local foods of Cozumel.

All food and beverages are prepared with bottled water and/or purified ice.

What is included?

• Walking tour of the local market - El Mercado
  
• Variety of foods at 5 different stops - empanadas, cochinita pibil taco, sopa de lima, local fresh seafood, and traditional pastry
• Real Mexican Coca-Cola, fresh beverage of the day (horchata, Jamaica, melon, etc)
• Guided 3-hour local excursion of the downtown area of Cozumel
  

Excursion Notes

• We suggest you bring sun protection, a camera, bug spray, cash for additional purchases, tips, etc.
  
• We recommend you wear comfortable shoes and clothing (there is a small amount of walking required).
  
• Purified ice and bottled water is used in all food and beverage preparations.
  
• Additional food and beverage items can be purchased at your own expense.
• Not available on Sundays

Where we meet

Your meeting location for this Cozumel Local Food, Flavors, and Colors Excursion is just a 5-minute taxi ride or a 10-minute walk away from the Cozumel cruise piers. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket.

Excursion Restrictions

• There is some walking involved and guests will be getting in and out of a vehicle.
• This may not be suitable for younger children due to "non-traditional" food - there are no food substitutions.

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
  
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.