LAST MINUTE BOOKING?
Sometimes we have spots for our tours 1 hour before they start, check what is available for today!WOMEN OWNED AND OPERATED CULINARY ITINERARIES IN MEXICO CITY FOR SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS TRAVELERS
My name is Rocío .I was born and raised in Mexico City. I spent my childhood cooking with my chef mom and later became a food writer and studied Mexican Cuisine. I´m also a travel junkie and I usually HATE TOURS, that´s why I created my company.
When I became an entrepreneur I understood that I had the power to literally shape my world. I get to set the rules of my company, and I wanted better rules because honestly sometimes the status quo sucks. That´s why our itineraries are not only about the best food we include history, sightseeing and most importantly we take you to meet the people who make the food. Our itineraries will show you the magic of connection, and how powerful and transformative understanding other cultures can be.
And this is not only about connecting and having the best food experience EVER, I´m so proud because I created a business model that allows me to pay living wages to my team and vendors while investing in my community. Not with charity, sometimes charity SUCKS, we create opportunities for our people that lead to long-lasting and impactful changes in their lives. Eat Like a Local represents the world I would like to live in: fair, fun, free, powerful, crazy, meaningful, loving and of course freaking delicious. Come with us and discover why The New York Times, Forbes, and Condé Nast have featured our itineraries. LET US SHARE MEXICO CITY´S MAGIC WITH YOU!
STREET FOOD ITINERARIES
All inclusive Immersive experiences. History + Food + Sightseeing.
TRAVEL SHOULD NOT BE ONLY ABOUT WHAT YOU ATE AND SHOPPED, IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MET WHILE TRAVELING, WHO MADE YOU SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Because, it doesn´t matter how many 50 Best restaurants you visited, how many cocktails at the cool bars you had, how many selfies you took and how many museums you visited. The fondest memories you´ll treasure from your trips are the times you allowed the people you met while traveling to touch your heart and change it. I truly believe that conscious travel will change the world, because when you connect you care, and when you care you take action.
RECOMMENDED BY
TRAVEL AND MAKE AN IMPACT, THIS IS OUR SOCIAL PROGRAM GAME CHANGERS PROGRAM
Your bookings help us pay for our programs that benefit girls from La Merced market. Words matter and it’s important to use the correct words to describe what we do so the impact in the people who participate in our activities is the right one. We used to call our program “social” but that word in many cases is linked to charity and creates a power imbalance between us and the girls who participate in it.
We are not doing charity or something social . We are empowering youths, creating new futures, inspiring, changing perspectives, we are making invisible opportunities more visible through a series of tools like English lessons, sex education, emotional education, culinary experiences and so on. The ones who join the GAME CHANGERS program are smart, driven, creative, hard working girls and women. They contribute with their ideas and passion to our tours and we contribute with tools and mentoring to their futures. It’s a symbiosis rather than a charity program where one gives and holds all the power and the other one receives and it’s powerless. We don’t want to be part of this narrative, because we believe that we can create new ways of interacting and benefiting each other as humans, away from the traditional charity model.
WE SEEK TO CREATE A MORE HONORABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAVELERS, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS PLACE HOME.
WHY CHOOSE EAT LIKE A LOCAL?
WOMEN ONLY TEAM
WE DON´T WORK WITH ASSHOLES
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT EAT LIKE A LOCAL
I created this company in 2015 after a night out drinking with some homeless guys in Istanbul, where they showed me the best street food and I finally understood Turkey´s soul, (yes I was younger and yes, I never saw the danger). After this eye-opening experience, I came back to Mexico, quit my job and created Eat Like a Local
These itineraries are what I would like to have when I travel. I focused the tours on street food, because the first time I arrived in Vietnam, saw all the food and could not understand a thing, I realized how you feel in my country. You don´t need us for restaurants, you need us for the street, and here I am for you.
If you, like me, love authentic, flexible, meaningful, personal, experiences, without rushing or making you follow an umbrella (that´s just embarrassing). This is the right company for you. For me, the most important thing when I travel is to have connections and memories not only in my mind but in my heart, and this is what we offer at Eat Like a Local, amazing food, responsible travel, personal connections with locals and memories you´ll cherish forever. Learn more about my company HERE
ALL THIS SOUNDS NICE BUT… WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM?
In simple words it´s to travel without being an a**hole. It´s basically traveling with low negative impact to the local culture, society and environment, high economic growth for the city you visit, and of course cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Responsible tourism happens when the locals are dignified and empowered and the visitors get knowledge and and a comprehensive idea of the culture they visited.
That being said, if a company says they tip their vendors and pay them fair prices, thats basic human decency not responsible tourism. Responsible tourism involves education, gender equality, fighting hunger, developing communities and much more, there are 17 goals stablished by the United Nations General Assembly,that a company needs to comply to be responsible (sustainable) Eat Like a Local focuses on the following:
OUR TEAM
Eat Like a Local is a boutique women owned and operated company, our food hunters were born and raised in Mexico City, they travel, love to eat and have amazing personal projects that enrich our itineraries. We also work with women and girls from the markets who join the tours to practice their english or participate as assistent guides. Join us and discover our food, culture, people, and history with born and bred Mexico City´s foodies.
THE FOOD HUNTERS
Rocio
La JefaEat Like a Local's Founder, traveler and responsible tourism advocate
Mateo
The co-founderA 15 YO lab who used to lead the Mezcal tour until his age made it impossible. But he still gets free tacos from all our vendors.
Panda
The cool hunterDesigner, Coolhunter, passionate storyteller, standup comedian in the making.
Lorenza
The mountain climberFashion marketing graduate from the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires.
Clarissa
THE WINE LOVERWith a Hotel Management and Hospitality degree and a master in Events
Carla
The peace makerWith a degree in Public Relations and a master degree in Events.
Elisa
THE GEEKConference interpreter and translator, art passionate, toy collector and big time pop culture nerd.
Ale
The taco hunterProfessional shouter. Occasional chef, restaurant PR, will beat you up at any eating contest.
Plaqueta
The urban explorerTV Host, feminist writer and urban explorer. Street lettering collector, thrifting queen.
Gina
THE VOICE OVER ARTISTProfessional walker, concert goer. CDMX lover. Sometimes event producer, always voice over artist.
Fer
The food geekA former journalist turned food nerd who explores the lies between food, history and culture with sharp sense of humor.
Maria
The fashion designerFashion designer, prop stylist and self-taught cook who loves hosting friends for dinner.
THE MARKETS TEAM (80IQ GIRLS)
Camila
The nerdSuper sweet, smart and curious, she likes to research fun facts to tell you during her tours
Wendy
The girl bossHates lamb. Her dream is to travel the world, she rides a motorcycle like a boss girl. Wendy joins the tours to practice her English.
Camila
Once she ate a roachThe coolest 4YO in Mexico, our tiny foodie who loves to eat bugs. Camila joins the tours to steal your tacos and get free candy.
Areli
The logistics coordinatorMother of Camila and el Pirru. Our official La Merced logistics coordinator and guide. She makes the best micheladas in town.
Montse
The eye roller13 years old smart diva. She wants to become a nail artist and is saving money to pay for her quinceañera
Mayte
The smartResponsible, shy and super smart. Mayte loves to make esquites with the weirdest toppings and eats them during the tour