Private Markets & Teotihuacan Pyramids Day Trip

This full-day Mexico City tour is a combination of two of our most popular tours: our Teotihuacan day trip and our markets and food tour. It promises to give you an incredibly in-depth local experience, from the bustle of the city markets to the peace of the suburbs and the serenity of Teotihuacan on the outskirts of the city.

We begin the day by experiencing three of Mexico City’s most exciting local street markets. The first one we visit is a relatively unknown art market, a highlight if you’re a fan of Mexico’s most famous artist exports, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Next, we make our way to one of the most bizarre markets in the city before finally reaching a three-in-one market offering fresh fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, and the largest flower selection in the city. Along the way, you get to taste a variety of samples until you’re in a food coma and ready to power nap on the way to the pyramids.

You awake refreshed and ready to encounter the Teotihuacan Pyramids, “where the men become gods.” We begin our visit at the impressive Moon Pyramid with a guided Teotihuacan tour to learn about the history, meaning, and architecture of one of the most representative icons of Latin America. Our exploration continues with a walk through the Calzada de los Muertos (Dead Pass) to reach the Sun Pyramid, which is the tallest and most spectacular in the area. We have the chance to climb 66 meters up to the top — without the morning crowds, we have the whole pyramids to ourselves! Once on top, you feel the amazing energy that flows through the pyramids, and you feel fully recharged and peaceful!

You have some time to relax and enjoy the pyramids before we continue our walking tour through the streets of a local town and make two stops that give you a deeper understanding of the local way of life outside the big cities. The cherry on top of our big day is dinner! We are welcomed into a local family’s home to see how locals live outside Mexico City. Here, we get to experience customary dinner routines and conversations and enjoy some real local flavors of typical Mexican kitchens. Delicious!

After dinner, we head back to Mexico City happy, full, and enriched from our exciting day exploring local life, ancient pyramids, and delicious food!

Additional information

Dress standard: We recommend dressing conservatively, as we will be visiting some non-touristy areas. Long trousers or jeans and a t-shirt are recommended. Leave your valuables, such as passports and credit cards, in the hotel and only bring a small amount of spending cash. In the family projects, they have local products on sale. If you’re thinking of buying a souvenir, you can pay with cash. Small cameras are recommended, but if you do bring a large camera, keep it discreetly stored in a backpack. During the rainy season (May to September), we recommend bringing a raincoat or umbrella.

Your trip: For your Urban Adventure, you travel in a small tour group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: When you receive your voucher, your booking is confirmed. See you at the meeting point! Get in touch with us if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Additional Information: This tour is a combination of our Teotihuacan Day Trip & Dinner with the Locals and our Original Markets & Street Food Tour, which you can take separately on two separate days, if you wish. We use private transportation when there are eight or more travelers in the group.

Closure of sites: Some of the places visited along the route are local houses and businesses, which have irregular opening hours, so our stops may vary slightly, which makes each day new and exciting with this adventure.

Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Please select “child” when booking for the child rate. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.

Local contact

Office phone number: International dialing: +52 1 55 1632 0847 Local dialing: 044 55 1632 0847
Email address: [email protected]

Mr. Richard F. from USA travelled on 05 Apr 2019:

My tour was fantastic. In the morning, Eduardo showed us around three distinct and amazing markets. Whether it was talking about prehispanic culture, public art, or the amazing food, Eduardo knew it all. After a delicious meal, we followed César to the Teotihuacan complex. Having him as a guide was so helpful into understanding the nuances of the architecture, not to mention the amazing obsidian artisan we visited and the delicious homemade dinner.

Mr. Dan B. from United Kingdom travelled on 10 Feb 2019:

Excellent guide, very knowledgeable and friendly.Interesting markets and good lunch at local restaurant. Great going to top of pyramids, although quite tiring. Again guide very good. Lovely meal with local family afterwards. Long day but worth it.

Ms. Glenys J. from Australia travelled on 02 Nov 2018:

Julio is an amazing guide. He is energetic, charismatic and very knowledgeable.

Mr. Dominic R. from United Kingdom travelled on 11 Oct 2018:

Eduardo was very insightful and enthusiastic, we had a great tour and it was a great way to see the city and the ruins and meet some local people.

Ms. Verena G. from Canada travelled on 27 Jun 2018:

Ro was absolutely amazing, patient, knowledgeable – it exceeded my expectations.

Mr. Keith B. from USA travelled on 27 Mar 2018:

This was an excellent tour in every way. Our guides (Katia and Addy) were knowledgeable, personable, and committed to giving us the best experience, presenting us with options whenever possible. They drew on their own experiences and knowledge, and their discussions were completely unscripted; they were also able to address unanticipated and even difficult issues in a thoughtful way. There were opportunities to buy items (beyond the food provided) in both the market tour and at Teotihuacan, but there was absolutely no pressure whatsoever, and every vendor we interacted with was focused only on pride in their work and welcoming visitors to Mexico.

Mrs. Tania S. from Australia travelled on 20 May 2017:

Rodrigo & Evalyn were absolutely amazing tour guides. Evalyn for the Markets, Rodrigo for Teotihuacan. Their passion is just wonderful. Along with their knowledge.

Mr. steve g. from USA travelled on 02 May 2017:

It was a LONG day but so worth while, the day started with a market tour and tamales, the 2nd market was really no spectacular- it would have been more interesting to be at a craft market instead of one selling junk from china, our guide Eva was FANTASTIC! -the afternoon we changed guides and did the pyramids! Had a blast ! Were were nervious about the dinner with a family but it was a lot of fun! –i wasnt too thrilled with the weird show and sell stuff in the afternoon- it was cheesy and you felt compelled to buy crap-

Ms. Melissa D. from USA travelled on 31 Mar 2017:

What a fabulous experience! We began our day with Evelyn touring through 3 local markets. Each one was unique, but my favorite was the flower section of the 3rd market. The smells and colors were wonderful, and I was amazed to learn that market is open 24/7. We ate a great meal at Evelyn’s families restaurant before embarking on our journey to Teotihuacan with Rodrigo. It became apparent very early on how passionate Rodrigo was about Teotihuacan – he is the perfect guide for this tour. He was patient with everyone fielding questions and making sure everyone felt comfortable during their climb to the top! The day ended with some visits to 3 local families in the Teotihuacan community. Each family was inviting, kind, and informative – really made us all feel welcome. This was my first experience with Intrepid tours and it certainly won’t be my last. By the end of the tour the individuals that made up the group began to feel more like familiar friends, and I think that had a lot to do with the overall experience and the attention that both Evelyn and Rodrigo gave to the group. Thanks for showing us your home!

Mr. Michael S. from USA travelled on 27 Mar 2017:

This tour was amazing. The Market Tour began in the morning with Evelyn. She was a very thoughtful and engaged tour guide as we walked through many outdoor markets, tasting different foods, and checking out the different things that people sold. One of the great parts of the tour was seeing many murals in the market places, some by Diego Rivera. We ended the tour at Evelyn’s family restaurant, where her mother cooked us a delicious meal. The second part of the tour was to Teotihuacan. Our tour guide was Rodrigo. He had great energy and was very informative throughout the trip. We took a bus and made our way to Teotihuacan. Along the way, Rodrigo answered everyone’s questions with enthusiasm. Once we arrived, he took us throughout the city and offered many insightful thoughts about the ruins. We finished the tour with a delicious home-cooked meal in the local town. The entire day was incredible. I could not have been happier. Both Evelyn and Rodrigo are wonderful guides and I am so grateful for the experience.

Ms. Karen N. from USA travelled on 03 Jan 2017:

I had Nathan for the markets and Leon for the pyramids and they were both great! My only suggestion would be to skip the second market so that there is time for everyone to climb the Sun pyramid and visit the museum at Teotihuacan. I enjoyed the Rodriguez and Jamaica markets, and I also liked the obsidian workshop with Miguel.

Mr. Pilar C. from Australia travelled on 06 Dec 2016:

The hole group says … Thanks all the people who made their trip to teotihuacan possible.
Good trip with excellent tour guides. Milton and Nathan.

Ms. Courtney M. from USA travelled on 29 Nov 2016:

Evelyn and Cesar were excellent guides. They spoke great English and were very personable, chatty, and funny.

Ms. Nicole C. from USA travelled on 29 Nov 2016:

The best! Evelyn, Cesar and driver Octavio were fantastic. Nathan provided by far the best customer service ever. He and the team went above and beyond in every way to help us navigate our tours, tickets to the symphony and even a van back to the airport. We were a group of 4 adults and 3 teenagers and we all thought our experience was fantastic and we enjoyed learning about Mexico.

Our trip to markets were great. The flower market and lunch with Evelyn’s family was a highlight. Cesar stopped at a rest area on the way to the pyramids which we appreciated (good coffee!) The only caveat to an absolutely great day is that the agave and prickly pear experiences were just OK (we were tired and it seemed a bit “touristy”) but all in all they added to an interesting evening near the pyramids. The dinner was definitely a cultural experience that we enjoyed.

We did 2 tours with Urban Adventures and would 100% use them again next time in Mexico City. We loved the day they arranged for us in Tepotzlan too. The guides were energetic, flexible, knowledgeable and patient. We learned a lot about Mexico and had a ton of fun.

Mr. Michael C. from Australia travelled on 21 Oct 2016:

Excellent guides who gave insights into local culture

Mr. Juanita C. from Australia travelled on 08 May 2016:

It was great to have an English speaking guide firstly. Our tour guide was exceptional in knowledge, passion, responsibility in looking after us and giving us a great experience in Mexico City.

Mr. Rem P. from USA travelled on 07 Apr 2016:

I would have been great for us to be allowed to take pictures during the tour of the Mexico City markets. These markets are beautiful, especially the flower market but we were told by our guide to not take pictures which somewhat ruined the experience. The pictures would provide great memories for us for years to come but we couldn’t for most of the markets we visited. Perhaps the guide could have talked with the people in the market to explain that we are tourist and ask if they would allow us to take pictures. I would have even offered to buy something small from the vendor if I was allowed to take the picture.

Ms. Karen S. from USA travelled on 27 Mar 2016:

Excellent day. Both Rodrigeo and Cesar were superb. We learned a lot, ate great food and saw things we woul not have on our own. I would absolutely recommend either of the individual trips or the combo to anyone. My only suggestion is to give travelers a little more information in advance. I assumed that we’d be in one group with one vehicle all day and brought a large duffel with spare shoes and jackets, thinking I could stuff it in the van, did not know the first half was on public transport. Again, our guides were fantastic and that is the most important thing.

Mr. Tom C. from USA travelled on 15 Mar 2016:

3/11/16 tour with Evelyn in downtown Mexico City was great -markets, history, tastings, bus and metro transfers. Wonderful experience, Trip to the pyramids with Rodrigo was also great, also. However, after the pyramids and before dinner with the local family, we had two “sales presentations” for local artist and salsa/liquor manufacturer. Little bit of education; emphasis on buying products. I resented being a captive audience. Everything else associated with the pryamids tour was excellent. Both Evelyn and Rodrigo were very knowledgable and likeable.

Mr. Juan Manuel K. from Argentina travelled on 21 Feb 2016:

Everything was beyond expectations! We’ve spent the best possible day trip ever when we walked around Mexico city with Rodrigo visiting Sonora Market, Abelardo Rodríguez Market and Jamaica Market. We had mexican tipical breakfast and mexican tipical lunch before we got on a van to visit Teotihuacan and its piramids. Then we went to San Martín de las Pirámides to a small family company where they offered us their products derived from a specific cactus. Everything there was DELICIOUS!!! Still in San Martín de las Pirámides, the tour continued meeting an artisan who works with obsidian rocks making beautiful objects by hand. To end a wonderful day, we had dinner in a family house with Rodrigo (the tour guide) Jesús (the driver) and the rest of the group. Do it! Don’t miss it “Mexico walking city tour and Teotihuacan”… you’ll love it!!! Thank you everyone! Thank you Nathan from “Urban Adventure” at Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral for recomending us the tour.

Mr. Andrew A. from USA travelled on 16 Feb 2016:

The only thing that I did not realize was that we would be taking public transit. The price seemed a little steep to not include private transportation, and it seemed like we wasted a lot of time on the bus that could have been spent at the pyramids, had we driven ourselves.

Ms. Jennifer B. from USA travelled on 19 Dec 2015:

What a spectacular day! The tour was split between two guides, Angela and Rodrigo, and they were both amazing. I’m so happy I booked the tour.

Mr. Peter K. from United Arab Emirates travelled on 01 Jun 2015:

Luis was a great guide. Had a fantastic experiance

Mr. Chad C. from USA travelled on 29 May 2015:

Luis is the best!

Ms. Karen B. from USA travelled on 19 Jan 2015:

This was one of the BEST tours I have ever done. Our guide, Luis, was fantastic. My boyfriend and I are probably a bit out of the normal age range of the clientele attracted to this experience but we are in good health and very “game” to try anything. It was a long day and we were on the “go” but we loved it. Luis’ knowledge was extraordinary and he was quite entertaining while always keeping a responsible eye on all of us. The morning tour to the markets was just the two of us with Luis and that was really special. For the afternoon tour we were joined by 5 more young adults for the pyramids and they were all lovely. Touring the pyramids without a knowledgeable guide would be a mistake. This is a great way to see some of the charms of Mexico City. I highly recommend this company and will do more with them on my next trip to DF.

Mr. Roger K. from USA travelled on 23 Dec 2014:

Luis was an amazing guide! So enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I had a blast!

Mrs. Amy L. from USA travelled on 07 Nov 2014:

This is a great way to experience Mexico City! I’m glad we split it over two days though – gave us time (and energy) to really enjoy it all.

Mr. Ulrich M. from Germany travelled on 06 Oct 2014:

I only had as little as one and a half days for Mexico City. Dario and Luis showed me around on a breathtaking journey back and forth through the history, the sights and the amazing Foods of the city! The tour was flawless! Thanks guys for the great time!

Ms. Kimberley I. from Australia travelled on 08 Jul 2014:

The guides were very friendly. Had a great time & highly recommend.

Ms. Charity L. from Australia travelled on 28 Apr 2014:

Really enjoyed this full day tour – but make sure you’re well rested and are ready for a big day, because we left at 8:45am and didn’t get back until 10:15pm! Started off at the markets and got to experience a huge variety of food, all totally delicious. The flower markets were fascinating and beautiful! We then travelled to Teotihuacan where we were guided through the ruins and the pyramids – truly a fantastic sight to see. Afterwards, we were taken to a local arts and crafts shop for souvenirs and tequila tasting, and we were also introduced to the wonders of cactus. A really fantastic experience, and our guides were informative, enthusiastic and really lovely.

Ms. Maria Fernanda U. from Venezuela travelled on 16 Mar 2014:

My guides were very good, both show me the best of Mexico. From the very first moment they give me the good flavors of Mexico and views.