Urban Day Trips
Urban Day Trips
5
Full view
About
Urban Day Trips offers unique and authentic day tours around Merida. They range from 2 hour to 1 day adventures and uncover back streets, hidden gems, and fascinating sights. Step into the lives of locals, find out what makes the city tick, and get acquainted with the local food, culture, and traditions of Merida. A local expert guide will provide the knowledge and lead you through a fantastic urban experience.
Similar Experiences
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
299 reviews
Excellent
283
Very good
14
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jiminsb
Santa Barbara, CA155 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
This was our second cooking class taken in Merida, one at Los Dos Cooking School, 7 years ago during its highlight with Chef David Sterling. The Merida Market Tour and Cooking Class was a great companion experience. While the first focused on photo perfect examples depicted in Chef Sterling's legendary Yucatan Cookbook, this experience gave us a feel for what it would have been like to grow up in and around Merida, its markets and kitchens.
We'd recommend taking the class, hosted by the ever energetic 35-year old Alejo (seen in the photos below), who met our group of 8 in downtown Merida, and walked us through the stalls of the City's oldest Market, where ingredients sufficient to make a meal for 8 of us cost pennies, and each stand seemed to have fresher, more interesting ingredients than the last.
After the market, we boarded a local bus (included in the tour) for a trip across town to Alejo's friends' kitchen, a perfect size for our group. Alejo is a "one-man show", so with his guidance, everyone present had a hands on experience, participating in preparing sauces, main ingredients and presentation of a dozen different menu items ranging from three variants on the tortilla (some stuffed, some topped, some wrapped around other ingredients), traditional lime soup, chicken adobo, a hard boiled egg stuffed enchilada topped with a chaya based salsa, and several examples of sauces that have burned Yucatecan palates throughout history. The Sopa di Lima was the best example of the soup (of many more tasted over a 9 day trip), showing the herbal taste of a special lime selected by Alejo during our market travels.
We'd recommend the class, with the caveat that it is an ALL day class, 7+ hours, 2 in the market, time in transit, preparation of everything from scratch followed by dinner. One of the most enjoyable experiences, was learning of all the variants of these dishes, which offered guidance to the menus of Merida over the remainder of the trip.
We'd recommend taking the class, hosted by the ever energetic 35-year old Alejo (seen in the photos below), who met our group of 8 in downtown Merida, and walked us through the stalls of the City's oldest Market, where ingredients sufficient to make a meal for 8 of us cost pennies, and each stand seemed to have fresher, more interesting ingredients than the last.
After the market, we boarded a local bus (included in the tour) for a trip across town to Alejo's friends' kitchen, a perfect size for our group. Alejo is a "one-man show", so with his guidance, everyone present had a hands on experience, participating in preparing sauces, main ingredients and presentation of a dozen different menu items ranging from three variants on the tortilla (some stuffed, some topped, some wrapped around other ingredients), traditional lime soup, chicken adobo, a hard boiled egg stuffed enchilada topped with a chaya based salsa, and several examples of sauces that have burned Yucatecan palates throughout history. The Sopa di Lima was the best example of the soup (of many more tasted over a 9 day trip), showing the herbal taste of a special lime selected by Alejo during our market travels.
We'd recommend the class, with the caveat that it is an ALL day class, 7+ hours, 2 in the market, time in transit, preparation of everything from scratch followed by dinner. One of the most enjoyable experiences, was learning of all the variants of these dishes, which offered guidance to the menus of Merida over the remainder of the trip.
Written January 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aaron R
3 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This was a fantastic experience for my girlfriend and I. Our guide Nelson was extremely helpful and knowledgeable in his explanation of how the Yucatan culture was formed, from the food to the philosophy of life. After a tour of some significant points of Merida, we went to a market to buy ingredients, followed by the preparation of authentic Yucatan cuisine. Dona Berta was a gracious host, who made THE best tasting food of our entire Merida/Cancun trip. If you truly want to experience a cultural taste of Merida, this tour is the way to go. Plus, you get to show off your newly acquired knowledge of this tasty food at your next family gathering. Thank you, for a truly unforgettable experience.
Written June 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave C
Vancouver, Canada23 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
This was at least our fourth trip to Merida. If you are looking for a lot more than a party holiday, then go to Merida. If you want to get a look into some of the facets of life for the people of Merida, then do this adventure. We began by meeting our very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, Ricardo in the city centre. We had a walking tour of this area and then went to the Lucas de Galvez market. This was like something you'd see on a National Geographic documentary, except that we were there in person. We watched as Ricardo bartered and joked with the individual shopkeepers in their stalls and selected and purchased the ingredients for our meal. Ricardo then drove us to his home where we met his wonderful wife and then set about preparing panuchos, salbutos, sopa de lima and hibiscus iced tea. I don't know whether it was because we made it ourselves and that it was truly homemade, but our dinner seemed more tasty than most that we had eaten in local restaurants. Both Ricardo and his wife were very gracious hosts and we enjoyed our time with them.
Written March 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mark k
160 contributions
I cannot say enough good things about Gustavo and Edgar, our guides. They were knowledgeable, funny, high energy, and worked extremely hard on the market tour and cooking and made the whole experience enjoyable.
The problem was that our tour was WAY too big- 15 people. This meant half our group could not hear Gustavo in the market (although Edgar was quick to add comments). It also meant that cooking took a long time. We ended up sitting around a lot during the cooking. We did not get home until 8pm, two hours after estimated. And it was annoying that we had to book our own Uber to get home (at our own expense).
I wish Gustavo and Edgar every success, and would not be eager to book an urban adventure again
The problem was that our tour was WAY too big- 15 people. This meant half our group could not hear Gustavo in the market (although Edgar was quick to add comments). It also meant that cooking took a long time. We ended up sitting around a lot during the cooking. We did not get home until 8pm, two hours after estimated. And it was annoying that we had to book our own Uber to get home (at our own expense).
I wish Gustavo and Edgar every success, and would not be eager to book an urban adventure again
Written December 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayden_peg
Sarasota, FL1 contribution
Oct 2014 • Friends
Thank you so much for such a great authentic Mexican experience. Ricardo gave us an excellent overview of the Grand Plaza in Merida and then took us to the Mercado...a huge open-air marketplace. Seeing all of the booths over several blocks of food, clothing, hardware - you name it...well, it was a terrific adventure. Then we took a city bus (an experience in itself) to have our cooking lesson using the food we had just purchased. Meeting Berta and her lovely family was exceptional. She is a fantastic cook and hostess - we enjoyed being involved with the preparations AND tasting the delicious results! We will look forward to getting the recipes and trying them at home.
Please thank Berta and her family for allowing us into her home - we felt very welcomed. We can definitely recommend this trip - truly outstanding.
All the best...the Haydens
Please thank Berta and her family for allowing us into her home - we felt very welcomed. We can definitely recommend this trip - truly outstanding.
All the best...the Haydens
Written October 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OregonLawyer
252 contributions
Jan 2013 • Family
Mérida is for you if you want to visit a beautiful, historic city full of wonderful people, great restaurants, efficient public transportation and lots of attractions--without all the hassle and expense of "tourist trap" cities. In 8 days we barely scratched the surface of all the things we wanted to do. You can never tire of downtown Mérida--there is something going on every night of the week (much of it free), from Mayan dance to traditional Mexican music in the many parks, to the amazing architecture, much of it from the 16th century, to the wonderful authentic Yucatecan food. Mérida is NOT "touristy." Prices are low, the streets are incredibly safe, drivers are courteous, there's a beat cop on (almost) every corner, and everyone is willing to take a minute to visit and point you where you need to go. Do not miss the amazingly fun--and free--(but small) zoo (Parque Zoológico, on Calle 59 inside Parque Centenario), the "calesas" (horse drawn carriage rides through the downtown cobblestone streets--the very best way to see all the beautiful old homes and neighborhood churches), or of course La Sorbetería Colón, right on the town square, where we found ourselves winding up at nearly every evening. We've been to Mexico many times in the past, but this was the most authentic and friendly city we've seen yet.
Written January 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
petti
Tweed Heads, Australia145 contributions
Feb 2012 • Friends
A group of us were met by Luis for an early start to the local food market. This was a truly local market and through Luis' kind attention and patience, we learned much of the local delicacies . We hopped on a local bus together and headed to Luis and his wife's beautiful home. We were made to feel so welcome, it was like going to a good friend's home for lunch. We were given a real insight into how a young Meridan family live. Luis and his wife had us chopping and slicing (whilst drinking hibiscus tea and listening to Santana). Once the meal was cooked we all joined in for a fabulous home cooked Mexican meal. Luis and his wife were so very hospitable, they made my stay in Merida very special
Written March 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1959Kathyp
Park City, UT17 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Please read to the end!
If you are looking for a working class Mexican experience this is great. You’ll walk through the historical center to a bustling market full of wonderful sites and sounds learning about the heritage of various spices and foods of the Yucatan. Our guide Gustavo was fantastic, sharing his passion for his Yucatecan and Mayan heritage, history and cuisine. Then you’ll take a bus to his Abuela and Tia’s home where you sit around the kitchen table chopping, learning and chatting. We had a really nice group. Gustavo is super accommodating, he even ran out to buy a few six packs of beer! I highly recommend this tour to learn some cool recipes and cooking tips.
If you are looking for a working class Mexican experience this is great. You’ll walk through the historical center to a bustling market full of wonderful sites and sounds learning about the heritage of various spices and foods of the Yucatan. Our guide Gustavo was fantastic, sharing his passion for his Yucatecan and Mayan heritage, history and cuisine. Then you’ll take a bus to his Abuela and Tia’s home where you sit around the kitchen table chopping, learning and chatting. We had a really nice group. Gustavo is super accommodating, he even ran out to buy a few six packs of beer! I highly recommend this tour to learn some cool recipes and cooking tips.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wenye
Santa Monica, CA1 contribution
Aug 2015
For me the market tour was great but the cooking class was just okay. I've taken many similar cooking classes on trips and felt this one could use some improvements. Ricardo provided great insight on the history of Mérida throughout the tour, which we really enjoyed. The kitchen where the cooking class took place was small, hot, and not conducive to learning. We ended up doing all the prep work but couldn't do much of the cooking. Most people know how to chop onion and shred chicken so it would be better if the simple prep work was already done and students got to do the cooking, in a more open kitchen or even at individual stations. Also, the transportation is just the city bus (non air conditioned for us) and the house is about 30 minutes away. For $52 per person we expected more as that goes a long way in Mérida.
Written August 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Wenye, thank you very much for your opinion and we will take note on those details to improve the experience. However the main idea of this experience is not just the cooking class with professional chefs and that’s why we call it Home Cooking.
We know the spaces are reduced and sometimes hot but is the real life of the families in Merida, nothing fake or build up, same as the transportation. With this tour we give a good amount of the money to the families that have been improving they’re quality of life and doing some improvements to their houses thanks to people like you that book this tour, hopefully we got more bookings soon so they can handle the expense to put an Aircon at least when the cooking is going on.
The main idea of this cooking class is the interaction with real families that have been doing their best to receive you and little by little we’re improving.
We aim to provide a real interaction with local families and improve their quality of life with this, your comments will be passed to our product development team.
Muchas gracias, bonito día ✌🏽
Written October 31, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
alsk3
Denver, CO2 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
I spent a wonderful afternoon with Ricardo wandering through Merida's market after a brief overview of the Plaza Grande. He was indulgent with my Spanish and eager to point out unfamiliar fruits, vegetables, and spices. We took a collectivo to Doña Berta's home north of Merida (sharing a seat with someone's large spider man piñata) and made sopa de lima and an assortment of yucatecan antojitos like panuchos, salbutes, and papazdules. Ricardo also whipped up an assortment of flavored aguas frescas. It was delicious, and gave me the confidence to order from food stalls around town during the rest of my stay. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon and see a different side of Merida.
Written April 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How did you find Gustavo? I'm going in October and need a guide.
Written August 2, 2018
Hola Amunoz,
Thank you for your message, please send a message to Merida urban adventures on facebook and our team will let you know how you can sort out activities with him or book activities here and mention that you want Gustavo as a guide
Have a good evening!
Kind regards,
MILTON ESTRADA
Written August 8, 2018
Hi are life jackets available for the cenote tour? Thanks
Written July 17, 2017
Hi Moira
Yes, usually cenotes are not too deep, and in case you need it, you just have to ask for it to your guide, or if its possible in a note with your booking.
Written July 26, 2017
Hey placed a great review for you guys for the merida market tour but alejandro promised to email all the reciepies from the cooking class to the students, havent recieved them and would love to!!
Evan
Written January 12, 2017
Hi Evan
Thank you for choosing Urban Adventures, please send us an email to send make us sure you will receive the recipes from your class. If is not possible to do it through TripAdvisor. Please send us an email to go(dot)urbanadventures(at)gmail(dot)
Best from Urban Adventures Team
Written January 12, 2017
hola, como los contacto para hacer una reservación? gracias
Written April 19, 2016
Hola señorita, la forma más fácil es por nuestra página de internet, la segunda opción es mandarnos correo ó llamarnos al 55 1632 0847. Espero esta información dile sea de utilidad...bonita noche!
Written April 13, 2018
Hola somos dos personas en Mérida esta semana y nos gustaría hacer el curso de cocina, hay disponibilidad? Gracias y un saludo
Written March 29, 2016
Hola,
Lo siento. Yo no tomato una clase de cocina. Pedro puedo recommendar la gira Cenote de Urban Adventures ofrece en linea.
Written March 29, 2016
Julss88
Saltillo, Mexico
Hola buenas tardes.
En Julio del 2016 viajaremos a Mérida una amiga y yo, quisiéramos visitar el Zoológico Bicentenario, Chichen Itzá, Cenote X´Keken y el puerto progreso......iremos de jueves a lunes...habrá algun tour que hagan a estos lugares?? o podrían ayudarnos con costos o talvez algun autobús especial que vaya a estos lugares.
Gracias
Saludos!!.
Written September 5, 2015
Julss88
Saltillo, Mexico
Hola buenos dias!!
Te dejo mi correo ya que quise escribirte al que me dejaste pero me lo rebota.
julia.montemayor20 (es de gmail)
Gracias!!
Written September 12, 2015
Why I am unable to book for Dec. 2015
Written February 27, 2015
Probably is the TA system. Maybe in the website of the attraction is available
Written March 4, 2015
Showing results 1-7 of 7