Food tours · Playa del Carmen · Browse related providers
Eating With Carmen Food Tours is a Mexican culinary-tour company that began in Playa del Carmen in 2017. Its experiences introduce travelers to local Mexican food, neighborhood eateries, markets, traditions and the people behind them, rather than keeping to the city’s main tourist corridors.
Updated October 13, 2026.
About Eating With Carmen
The company says it has welcomed more than 30,000 guests since 2017. Despite the name, Carmen is not a tour guide: the name is a playful reference to Playa del Carmen. Its mission emphasizes authentic Mexican flavors while supporting local restaurants, traditional cooks and small businesses. Beyond Playa del Carmen, it now runs experiences in Cancun, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Mérida, Mexico City and Los Cabos.
Authentic Local Experience in Playa del Carmen
The flagship tour is a guided walk of about three hours with seven tasting stops, food and non-alcoholic drinks included. Dishes vary with availability; examples include tamales, sopes, cochinita pibil, carnitas, mole and tacos. The guide adds local history, culture and street art along the way. Groups are limited to 12 guests per guide.
The tour deliberately moves beyond the restaurants and bars on Fifth Avenue, focusing on local neighborhoods, family-run businesses and Mexican and Yucatecan dishes. Taken early in a stay, it also helps you find streets and dishes to seek out on your own later.
More Playa del Carmen food experiences
| Experience | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Mexican Beer & Seafood Madness | Three hours of coastal dishes such as ceviche, seafood tacos and tostadas paired with Mexican beer |
| Tequila & Mezcal Gourmet Experience | Adults-only evening of gourmet cuisine, premium tequila and mezcal pairings, cocktails and upscale restaurants |
| Local Brewery & Tacos Experience | Shorter tour with a craft brewery visit, beer tastings and neighborhood tacos |
| Authentic Cooking Experience | Small-group workshop preparing traditional Mexican and Yucatecan dishes and handmade tortillas |
| Private food tours | For couples, families, friends, celebrations and larger groups, with flexible scheduling |
Food tours in Cancun, Tulum and Puerto Morelos
The company also runs food experiences in Cancun, Tulum and Puerto Morelos. Dishes, meeting points and schedules differ: the Cancun Local Experience starts near Mercado 28, while the Tulum tour explores local flavors away from the beach zone. You can also compare a Puerto Morelos walking food tour.
Private tours and groups
Private tours suit couples, families, friends, corporate outings, birthdays, anniversaries and larger gatherings. They offer more flexible start times, more time with the guide and, depending on the booking, optional enhancements.
Dietary requirements
Vegetarian options are available, and gluten-free needs can be accommodated on most tours when disclosed in advance. Standard tours generally cannot accommodate vegan diets, but dedicated vegan tours run in Playa del Carmen and Tulum. If you have allergies or strict requirements, share the details before booking.
What’s included
On the flagship tour: all food and non-alcoholic drinks, seven tasting stops and a guided walk with commentary. Transportation to the meeting point and guide gratuities are not included. Alcohol is included only on experiences that list it, such as the beer, tequila and mezcal tours.
Walking, weather and cancellation
Expect about three hours of leisurely walking, so wear comfortable shoes and light clothing. Tours run rain or shine, though itineraries can change in severe weather. Optional Trip Protection on group tours allows cancellation up to one hour before departure for a full refund; without it, the flagship tour can be canceled or rescheduled up to 48 hours before departure.
Getting there
The flagship Playa del Carmen tour meets at the corner of Juarez Avenue and Fifth Avenue, outside the ADO bus station, easy to reach from central Playa del Carmen. Guests at an all-inclusive resort should allow time to reach the meeting point, since transport is not included.
Arriving at Cancún Airport? Book a private ride straight to your hotel and skip the airport taxi lines.
Before you book
Tour menus, schedules, prices and inclusions change. Check the date, meeting point, total price, dietary accommodations and cancellation terms with Eating With Carmen before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carmen the name of the guide?
No. The name refers to Playa del Carmen, where the company started in 2017.
How many people join a group tour?
The flagship Playa del Carmen tour is limited to 12 guests per guide.
Are vegan options available?
Standard tours generally do not accommodate vegan diets, but dedicated vegan tours are offered in Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Is alcohol included?
Only on experiences that specifically list it, such as Mexican Beer & Seafood Madness, the Local Brewery & Tacos Experience and the adults-only Tequila & Mezcal Gourmet Experience.
Is transportation included?
Not on the standard Authentic Local Experience. Private or corporate arrangements may offer transportation as an add-on.
- Category
- Food tours
- Location
- Playa del Carmen
- Meeting point
- Juarez Avenue and Fifth Avenue, outside the ADO bus station (flagship tour)
- Tours
- Authentic Local Experience, Beer & Seafood, Tequila & Mezcal, Brewery & Tacos, cooking class, private tours
- Duration
- About 3 hours (flagship tour)
- Group size
- Up to 12 guests per guide
- Other destinations
- Cancun, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, Mérida, Mexico City, Los Cabos
Discover more providers in Playa del Carmen, browse food tours, or return to the Cancun and Riviera Maya Travel Provider Directory.
This independently compiled directory entry is informational. Listing does not imply an endorsement, partnership or verified booking arrangement.