Three Amigos Announce Worry-Free Tijuana Taco Tours

Tijuana, Baja California –  In December, Three Amigos Taco Tours – a partnership between a local restaurateur and taco expert, an award-winning food writer and a fully-licensed Baja California tour guide – announced that they would begin conducting half-day taco tours in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico with inaugural dates scheduled for Tuesday, January 21 and Sunday, January 26.

Koenig and Perez lead Tijuana Taco Tour.

Navigating Tijuana to experience the city’s world-class street food can be intimidating to many north of the border. Three Amigos Taco Tours takes the guesswork and worry out of the experience. “We visit eight of Tijuana’s best taco carts, stands and restaurants — ones that I’ve loved since my childhood,” explains Francisco “Paco” Perez, Tijuana native and owner of regionally based Aqui Es Texcoco. Perez’s Mexican barbacoa restaurants have been featured on shows such as Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.

Tijuana’s location on the US-Mexico border has made it a destination for immigrants from all over Mexico for decades — and they’ve brought their cuisine with them. The Three Amigos Taco Tour showcases a variety of regional Mexican tacos, including birria de res (spiced and stewed beef), carne asada (seasoned and grilled beef), barbacoa (roasted lamb), al pastor (marinated pork) and mariscos (seafood).

To learn more or register, visit www.ThreeAmigosTacoTours.com.

“Tijuana is second only to Mexico City in regard to the variety of street tacos,” says W. Scott Koenig of Baja California culinary blog A Gringo in Mexico. “I thought I knew the taco scene here pretty well, but during our research last year, Paco guided us to no less than a dozen delicious taquerias that only locals know about. And locals tend to be pretty tight-lipped about their favorite taquerias, so our tour is pretty unique.”

Al Pastor Taco.

Tijuana’s artisanal beer scene has exploded in recent years, drawing inspiration from US craft brew capital San Diego. “With all of the tacos we’ll be enjoying, our guests are going to get thirsty,” states Perez. “We’ll take a break at two of Tijuana’s top cervezerias. And we’ll enjoy a sweet ending at my favorite ice cream parlor before we head back toward the border.” Onboard mezcal service will also be provided.

Perez and Koenig work with third amigo Fernando Cuevas of Rosarito-based Tours in Baja to provide a safe and comfortable experience. Cuevas has operated tours for over 15 years in Baja California and is fully licensed with the Mexican State Tourism Department. He maintains a small fleet of clean, modern vans.

Three Amigos Taco Tours will also offer specialized tours, including a vegetarian taco tour, a seafood taco tour and an “Extreme Taco Tour” for hardcore foodies that highlights offal, unusual cuts and exotic seafood, such as manta ray and aleta (tuna fin).

Cost for the five-hour tour is $139/US and includes transportation, eight tacos, two craft beers, a scoop of ice cream and onboard mezcal service.

To learn more or register, visit www.ThreeAmigosTacoTours.com.

For information on future tours, follow the Escape to Baja Facebook page at www.facebook.com/escapetobaja