Oaxaca for the masterchef

Take a walking tour through historical Oaxaca, a city best explored on foot due to its cluster of alluring landmarks. Learn about the city’s rich cultural heritage as you amble through the cobbled streets. Work up an appetite while you visit the world-renowned chocolatier, Chocolate Mayordomo, on Mina street. You can also try other regional delicacies like grasshoppers and the tlayuda tortillas (Mexican-style pizzas). There are also plenty of museums, galleries, markets and cathedrals to see including the imposing Santa Domingo Church.

Meet your guide and venture to Etla market, a favourite among chefs due to its wealth of fresh produce including quality meats and array of cheese. After browsing its bustling stalls, continue on to Rancho Aurora, in the rolling foothills, where you’ll meet celebrity chef, Susana Trilling. Perched on a stool in her colourful kitchen, enjoy a brief lecture on Oaxacan cuisine before donning an apron and prepping a five-course dinner. This may include dishes like tender marinated beef with a tangy salsa and chocolate pudding with cactus jus.

Set off to the ancient Mitla archaeological site, one of the most important in Zapotec culture. Peruse the ruins and their peerless geometric ‘mosaics’. Afterwards, stop off at one of Mesoamerica’s oldest markets, Tlacolula, before heading to Teotitlan Del Valle. Here you’ll visit a family-run workshop to learn all about the traditional art of weaving. Enjoy a lunch of corn tamales before a trip to see the 2,000-year-old Tule Tree, boasting the stoutest trunk in the world. Nicknamed the ‘Tree of Life’, its existence was chronicled by both the Spanish and the Aztecs.

Experience the ultimate cooking class led by lauded chef, Alejandro Ruiz. Ruiz is recognised as one of the top chefs currently transforming Mexico’s culinary scene. Your four-hour class kicks off at Sanchez Pascua market where you’ll learn how to spot the best ingredients. Then return to the kitchen where you can learn step-by-step how to create traditional dishes such as mole verde and lime-doused ceviche.  Afterwards tuck into your freshly prepped creation and wash it down with some artisanal mezcal, Oaxaca’s beloved spirit.