Mexico: Roots of Fire

Chef, preserver, entrepreneur

Yimnah Rosas

Departures by Request

YOUR HOST

Mexico City | Puebla | Oaxaca

11 days, 10 nights

Group size: 8 Maximum

Physical Rating: ①◯◯◯ (Easy)

From $8,317 USD Double Occupancy

From $9,726 USD Single occupancy

Not suitable for dietary requirements

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In Mexico, food boils down to family, history, smoke, heat – and passionate feelings about how things should be done. Recipes get passed down like family surnames, rarely in written form, but as living memories told through the generations.

With the help of some of our culinary friends and a few elite chefs, this itinerary puts you right into those stories, learning about Mexican cooking by watching, tasting, and standing close enough to be given a ladle and a task to contribute. 

You’ll grind corn by hand for tortillas, learn what actually goes into a proper mole (hint: it’s way more than you think!), and eat street food from places that have been feeding locals these same dishes for decades.

Mornings on this trip start by rising with the markets, absorbing the smell of chilies hitting a hot comal, and the sounds of chopping, flipping, and energetic conversations about what’s in season. 

Days are spent meeting chefs who learned from their parents and grandparents, who cook by feel instead of by recipe book, and who can tell you exactly why each ingredient belongs in a dish. Some of what you’ll eat is rooted in ancestry. Some is fire and instinct. Regardless, you won’t just eat your way through Mexico – you’ll leave infused with smoke and spice from the inside out –  an adventure for the senses. 

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Private Departures
Interested in travelling with your own group? We can occasionally run this itinerary privately on request. Pricing varies depending on guest numbers and availability. The itinerary remains unchanged.

Yimnah Rosas

YOUR HOST:

Yimnah is our number-one choice for Salt Caravan’s Mexico: Roots of Fire tour – and with good reason. 

Since 2018, she’s established herself as a leading expert in local food tours, and is highly trusted within the industry. An executive chef with formal gastronomy studies, she was raised in her grandmother’s Mexico City kitchen and understands how tradition, history, and geography shape what's on your plate – and the Mexican identity. 

Plus, she knows exactly where to eat. And the fact that her culinary connections open otherwise closed kitchen doors doesn’t hurt, either.

WHAT YOU GET

  • All accommodation for tour nights

  • All breakfasts, six lunches, four dinners

  • Expertise and services of our experienced English-speaking hosts: at least one per trip

  • Arrival and departure transfers

  • Additional guides and experts from the region

  • Salt Caravan gifts related to the themes, activities and narratives of each trip

  • All transfers between itinerary destinations

  • All scheduled activities, including workshops and tastings

  • Drinks within included tasting activities, pairings, or hosted meals

WHAT YOU DON’T

  • International airfare to and from the journey

  • Visas or entry documentation required for travel

  • Personal travel insurance

  • Any meals not specified as “included” in the itinerary

  • Drinks beyond what’s covered in tastings, pairings, or hosted meals

  • Personal spending, including laundry, room service, bar tabs, etc.

  • Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the respective exchange rates. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.

    A deposit is required to hold your spot.

    There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made at least 120 days before trip departure.)

    We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.

    The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.

    Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.

  • This Trip has a Physical Rating of: 1 - Easy

    Participating in this tour means you are capable of the following:

    • Able to regularly walk for an afternoon (2-4 hours at a time) at a reasonable pace, unassisted.

    • Have the mobility and balance to walk over hilly and uneven ground (e.g. cobblestones, cracked pavements).

    • Have the energy levels to regularly enjoy busy days on your feet.

    • Can handle own luggage; up and down stairs, on and off any mode of transport, and lift into/out of luggage racks.

    • Could negotiate a shower over bath in hotels, if needed.

    • Can handle own luggage, up and down stairs, and on/off transport luggage racks.

    • Could use a squat toilet, if necessary. Or willing to train on strength to do so.

    • Does not have mobility issues (e.g. knee/hip problems).

    • Does not use walking aids.

    Not quite sure - or have some questions first? Chat with one of our Salt Caravan Booking Managers to discuss a trip before booking if you have questions about trip suitability.

  • This will depend on the passport you travel with:

    • Check entry requirements for your nationality well in advance.

    • Confirm if a visa is needed for your trip: Check your official government travel site, or contact your nearest embassy.

    • Remember to also consider countries you traveling - to and transiting through.

    • A handy place to start is AnyVisa

  • Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.

    You will be notified about the tipping amount and how it’s distributed, by 120 days pre-trip.

  • This trip begins and ends in Mexico City. We recommend flying into Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juárez). The same airport is the most convenient option for your departure.

  • Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommended. If possible, come one day early to settle in.

  • Opportunities to do laundry during your trip may be unpredictable. However, your guide will be able to assist with this during your trip.

  • Your guide will be with you throughout your trip, and is your first point of call for any help you might need.

    In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.

    Read our Trip Help Process for more detail.

  • People who join our trips tend to be well travelled, curious, and comfortable with a bit of looseness in the plan if the food or the moment leads us somewhere better. They care more about what’s real than what’s polished, and they’re happy trading Michelin stars for access, stories, and meals with a point of view. That is, not all white tablecloths and perfectly composed plates; it might mean a plastic stool, a smoky kitchen, a cook who knows their regulars by name, and a dish that carries a bit of history.

    We also expect guests to follow our Participation Guidelines; they keep everyone happy, safe, and having fun throughout their adventure.