Travellers who love using Airbnb to get a feel for what it would be like to live in a place now have another option to immerse themselves in local culture. A couple of years ago, the short-term rental company launched Airbnb Experiences. These are activities created and led by locals. On our recent trip to Mexico City, we took the Bikes & Munchies tour and among other things learned about Mexican cuisine’s vitamin T and why you shouldn’t drink mezcal before dinner.
Airbnb Experience Review: Bikes & Munchies Tour in Mexico City
Paola and her partner, Sven started their tour business just a few months ago, but it already runs like a well-oiled machine. Paola is a Mexico City native, while Sven is a transplant from Berlin. The day we took the tour, Sven was out of town and Daniel was Paola’s co-host. Both had the qualities necessary for the perfect tour guide. They were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, patient, and protective. That last one is important if you’re on a bicycle in a busy, unfamiliar city. Helmets come with the comfy tour bikes and the hosts took care to tell us how to navigate each segment of the tour before we set off. We felt safe and secure the whole time.
Daniel and Paola demonstrating how Mexicans eat a fresh tortilla (salt it and roll it).
One of the things Steve and I love about taking a bike or walking tour early in a visit to a new place is that it helps in getting the lay of the land and making decisions about how to spend the rest of your time. Bikes & Munchies makes it even easier by providing a handy and handsome explorer map identifying favourite spots for food, culture, drinks and parties.
Street Art and Stories
The tour takes you through Mexico City’s popular neighbourhoods of Juárez, Centro, Condesa, and Roma. Paola and Daniel explained sites along the way, described what it was like to live through the earthquake the city experienced in September, and showed us their favourite street art. It felt very personal. The fact that there were only two others on the tour (fellow Canadians—what are the chances?) made it feel less like a tour and more like friends out on their bikes for the day.
The Bunny and the Fox by Italian artist, Ericailcane appears to depict the relationship between small business and big banks.
Vitamin T
Never heard of vitamin T? It’s what keeps Mexicans full, healthy, and happy. Vitamin T is composed of the staples of Mexican cuisine: tortillas, tacos, tamales, tortas, tostadas, and tlacoyos. Terrific! Steve and I loved everything we tried on the tour. It was all made fresh before our eyes, and there was always an array of hot sauces to go with (I LOVE the hot sauces).
Our stop at the understated Tacos De Guisado offered so many varieties of tacos it was hard to choose.
San Juan Market
The opportunity to visit the massive San Juan Market, sample foods, and speak to vendors was a highlight. You could spend an entire afternoon exploring this place! From seafood and fruit, to poulty and insects, it’s a fascinating spectrum of sights, smells, and flavours.
We decided to pass on tasting insects because we’re wimpy.
The barracuda ceviche at San Juan Market was outstanding.
The big finish: Mezcal
We capped off the tour with a taste of mezcal. We were new to this twice-distilled alcoholic beverage. It’s made from specific varieties of the agave plant, which is native to Mexico. Daniel explained that mezcal is traditionally produced by cooking the plant inside earthen pits lined with charcoal. It is then distilled in clay pots. To me, it had a chipotle flavour and deep smoky finish.
Daniel explained that mescal is a digestif – meaning that it aids digestion after eating. He cautioned us about drinking it before meals saying that it will make you feel sluggish and full. Also, it’s meant to be “kissed” rather than taken shooter-style as you might with tequila. How romantic!
Should you take this tour?
Yes! Our first “taste” of an Airbnb Experience was overwhelmingly positive. We tried dishes at hidden little spots we would never have discovered on our own. Our guides Paola and Daniel did a nice job of combining their personal experiences of growing up and living in Mexico City with factual information. As a bonus, Paola encouraged us to contact her for advice or guidance that might assist with the rest of our stay, which we did on one occasion. She was most helpful.
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[…] Experiences: We’ve pedalled around Mexico City sampling delectable street food on the Bikes & Munchies Tour, and we’ve made our own Mexican wrestling masks and attended a match with the Design Your Mask, […]
This tour sounds wonderful. I especially like that you heard about personal experiences. I’ve not taken an Airbnb Experience, but will check them out for future travels. Do you need to be staying at an Airbnb to sign up for one of their experiences?
Nope, you don’t have to be staying at an Airbnb. I would definitely seek one out at your next destination. It’s an interesting model that I think puts a different spin on the average tourist activities.