The beef cheek taco seizes your tastebuds and stops you in your tracks. You think: “Wow, I am eating beef cheek on the street in Puerto Vallarta and it is unimaginably tender and moist.” Who knew?
But the beef cheek taco is just one surprise on the Vallarta Food Tours evening taco tour.
These are things you learn when you surrender to the sense of adventure that travel brings:
1. Street meat can be magnificent.
2. The architecture in downtown Puerto Vallarta is heart stoppingly majestic.
3. It’s possible for a man to operate a churro stand all his life in order to put his daughter through law school.
4. It is also possible that the same man will light up a gas apparatus in a rainstorm to feed a van full of hungry tourists. Apparently this is dangerous.
5. There are more types of tacos than you ever imagined.
Other things you learn.
Coca Cola in Mexico is not the same as it is here. High fructose corn syrup is not present in the Mexican version of the popular soft drink. The tacos they serve in Canada are sad, and will never taste as good as they did before. Mescal is not so sharp, or potent, as you expected.
A group of US and Canadian tourists are racing from spot to spot, stand to stand in the Vallarta food tours adventure at night in Puerto Vallarta.
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First stop Cevicheria El Guero, 291 Madero Street and Consititution Street |
I am not a foodie, or a food blogger by any stretch. My family is not even particularly adventuresome, as far as food goes. My kids right now, in their tweens, enjoy only bland beige food. No spices, please, my mouth is on fire. That’s what I hear when I serve Fajitas from a kit. They are actually much more restrictive eaters than they ever were as toddlers. Sad, but true.
I enjoy sampling new culinary treats and I indulge in spicy food, even sometimes when I shouldn’t. (My stomach sometimes kicks me for it, but never ever has done so in Mexico.) But I am up for an evening food tour on the third night of our stay in Puerto Vallarta. The tour is run by Vallarta Food Tours and it is a three hour nightly walking tour through the streets of downtown Puerto Vallarta. This tour is not recommended for vegetarians. Wear comfortable shoes and be warned – although kids are welcome and will enjoy much of the tour, three hours at night is a long time for a child to walk, talk and eat.
My daughter was 12 when we visited. She enjoyed a few of the dishes – fish tacos and churros were great for her and the guides were amazing with her. One ran off to get her Gatorade, worried she was overheating. The service, was, as we noticed everywhere in Puerto Vallarta, world class, attentive and proactive. In short Vallarta food tours is an experience you should embrace.
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Our Tour Guides for the evening taco adventure |
The Vallarta Food Tour guides took us through 5 de Deciembre neighbourhood and Emiliano Zapata area as well. We felt safe the entire time and were treated to an insider’s view of some amazing little Puerto Vallarta hotspots for foodies. There are several of these food tours to choose from with Vallarta Food Tours. Some start in the romantic area of town and they also offer some private tours too. You can get tickets on line or call 322.151.4426.
I tried Mescal which is something I had never done before _ even though we’ve been to Mexico three times now. It was not as harsh as I thought it would be. The fish tacos were a highlight for me, and for my daughter as well. The spicy parts of the tour really come when you add them via the various hot sauces, so this trip excursion isn’t too harsh in that regard. This was enjoyable and a really unique experience for me as a traveller who often stays inside a safe bubble of all inclusive resorts.
Vallarta Food Tours
The food and the incredible people make this tour enough on its own. But add to that, the fact that this Vallarta Food Tours Evening Tour pulled in historical facts, stories and architecture and the evening adventure is a must do excursion. In fact, tell anyone you are travelling to Puerto Vallarta and see what they say. Every tourist who has ever visited this gem of a spot will tell you the food here is outstanding and unique and it may change the way you feel about Canadian or American cuisine. So be an explorer and sample something new.
I highly recommend this experience (with a couple of caveats above) because the walking portion of the tour gives you a beautiful insider’s view of the city itself and the culture. Keep your camera or iPhone ready to shoot some pictures. The night we went, in June, we were rained out at the end of the tour. The bus picked us up and took us back to our resort at Casa Magna Marriott. Read my Casa Magna Marriott, Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta review here. We had a great adventure prior to the rain though. This food tour was a hit with the group.
Follow them on twitter here http://www.twitter.com/pvfoodtours/
This has been a series of posts about family travel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
We were guests of the Puerto Vallarta tourism board.
This was the Snorkelling and Hiking tour in Yelapa. It was hosted by Puerto Vallarta Adventures. You can read the rest of my posts about Puerto Vallarta here:
Dolphin Discovery (my daughter’s favourite part of the trip.)
We attended this tour as part of a travel bloggers trip. Many thanks to Vallarta Food Tours and the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. My opinion is all my own.
Momstart says
This sounds like an amazing tour – what a wonderful way to experience the area and its food!
LifeAsAConvert says
Thanks! It is midnight here and now I am hungry lol. I would love to travel around and eat street food.
Carly from The Puzzled Palate says
I love street tacos! I am sad that it is so hard to find authentic food like this near me!
Masshole Mommy says
What an amazing tour. I love to experience culture through food!
Celebrity VIP Lounge says
I am going to go to Vallarta. This would be such a great experience. The food would be a highlight. Amber N
Ann B says
Thanks for sharing! I love tacos and would love the chance to try an authentic mexican taco. Your photos are great!
Rupert Missick says
This is so cool. Thanks for sharing. I really love your travel pieces.
Jennifer Williams says
I would love to visit there just for the food alone. Our family is adventurous when it comes to food so trying all the new foods that are full of flavor would be fun.
Pam says
This sounds like quite the tour. I have never been to Puerto Vallarta but have many friends that have and just loved it. The food pictured in your post certainly looks appealing and I always love to experience different foods like this when I am traveling. I will have to check out your other posts about Puerto Vallarta.
Jennifer Van Huss says
Sounds amazing! I can’t believe that COKE is different here then there! Which do you prefer??
becca says
what an amazing tour and so much fun with yummy food.
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I’ve never been on a food tour. That sounds like it would be fun!
Nicole says
Sounds like a lot of fun. I love food tours. Not that I need an excuse to eat while traveling but it certainly gets me to places I wouldn’t otherwise find. (And yes, I love Mexican Coca-Cola. WAY better than what we have here!)
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says
All those yummy looking ingredients made my mouth water! There is nothing like a street taco in Mexico – delicious!
Amanda @ Growing Up Madison says
Sounds like a great tour. I won’t mind going on a food tour if I can get lots to eat. I like to try out new food things.
Randa Derkson says
This is right up my alley! I would love to experience REAL Mexican food. Fresh and colorful (not seasoning and ground beef 😉 )
Mmm... is for Mommy says
Mmm… real tacos 🙂 Street meat is always memorable… one way or the other 🙂
Melissa Labelle says
This sounds like an amazing and fun tour! My husband and I really love trying different foods (the spicier the better 😉 ), but our kids do not. This looks like it would be awesome for just my husband and I.
Krystal Butherus says
Street tacos are SO good. We have a good food truck here in my town that is so awesome!
Erica says
What an incredible press trip! The food looks delicious, too!
Annemarie Leblanc says
You can never go wrong when it comes to tacos.
valmg says
This sounds like fun! I would have been afraid things would be too spicy so glad to know that wasn’t a big issue.
Trista Laborn says
IIt looked like you had fun! I would love to go on a food tour!
Jessica B. says
The food and country look amazing. I’d love to visit someday.