By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

To get the true flavor of a destination you have to … well … taste it. For some travelers that means making reservations at a restaurant helmed by a local celebrity chef. For others it means stopping at every roadside food stall and food truck to sample street eats. And we love nothing better ferreting out humble holes-in-the-wall where the fare is both authentic and affordable. But sometimes we need professional help to find flavorful nosh. So when we’re in the Caribbean, we rely on these food tours to help us find some real local flavor.

Tru Bahamian Food Tours

Let Alanna Rodgers and her team of foodies show you a side of the city most tourists don’t see on a three-hour Bites of Nassau walking tour that features generous tastings at six of Nassau’s best eateries. On the menu: Island specialties such as conch, baked macaroni and cheese, peas ‘n rice, and a refreshing glass of “switcha” (limeade), as well as a heaping side of local history. $69; trubahamianfoodtours.com

Spoon Food Tours, San Juan

Whether you want to eat, drink or do a little of both, one of Spoon Food’s comprehensive roster of tours will suit you. There’s an adults-only drinking tour with four stops for rummy refreshment; an Old San Juan tour featuring local coffee and traditional pastries; or customize your own culinary expedition in the city where the piña colada was born. From $69; spoonfoodtours.com

Jamaica Culinary Tours

There are five stops (two roadside; three in restaurants) on this 2.5-hour tour of Falmouth, the historic north-coast town famed for its Georgian architecture. Offered Monday through Friday mornings, the excursions are timed to coincide with cruise ship arrivals at the port, so passengers can take a break from the buffet and sample local eats such as fresh-cut sugar cane and piping hot patties. $49; jamaicaculinarytours.com