Cartagena Cooking Class: Hands-On Colombian Cuisine

Cook Colombian dishes from scratch and sit down to eat what you made.

A hands-on cooking class in Cartagena where you prepare traditional Colombian dishes under the guidance of a local chef in a small-group setting. You chop, cook, plate and share the meal together in an intimate kitchen. All ingredients, equipment, recipes and refreshments are included; the class runs 3 hours and accommodates vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and common allergies. Bilingual instruction in English and Spanish; children from age 6 are welcome.

The Experience

You step into a working kitchen in Cartagena and start cooking right away—no lecture, no watching from the side. A local chef walks you through preparing traditional Colombian dishes: mote de queso (a white soup of yam and local cheese), posta negra cartagenera (black topside beef with coconut rice and plantains), or red snapper in coconut milk sauce, depending on which menu you choose. You handle the knife, tend the pan, taste as you go. The small-group format means the chef knows your name and adjusts the pace to where you are.

The class lasts three hours and ends the way it should—sitting down together to eat everything you cooked. Water and refreshments are provided throughout. All ingredients and equipment are there waiting; you bring nothing but your hands and your appetite. The recipes go home with you so you can make these dishes again. If you eat vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or have common allergies, the kitchen accommodates that without fuss.

Four formats let you choose your day: the full three-hour cooking class with a complete meal; a 90-minute ceviche experience focused on preparing fresh Colombian ceviche from scratch; or a five-hour option that starts at Bazurto Market (Cartagena's iconic local market) before you cook. The chef speaks English and Spanish, and children from age 6 can join—family options and age-based pricing are available if you're traveling with kids.

What’s included

• All ingredients and cooking equipment.
• water and refreshments throughout the class.
• recipes to take home.
• hands-on instruction from a local chef.
• the full meal you prepare, eaten together.
• bilingual guidance in English and Spanish.
• accommodation for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and common allergy diets.

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Lunático Experience

Is this one for you?You'll spend three hours actually cooking Colombian home dishes alongside locals, leaving with recipes and the skills to recreate them yourself.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

553 verified traveler reviews

5 ★547

4 ★5

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What dishes do I actually cook in the three-hour class?

The class offers two menu options. Menu one includes mote de queso (white soup made with yam and local cheese), posta negra cartagenera (black topside beef served with coconut rice, plantains and avocado ají), and tree tomato in syrup for dessert. Menu two features carimañolas (traditional fried cassava dough rolls stuffed with meat, cheese or crab), red snapper with coconut milk sauce, and enyucado (a traditional cassava and coconut dessert). You prepare each dish from scratch.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No. The class is designed for all levels, from people who rarely cook at home to experienced home cooks. The local chef guides you through every step, and the small-group setting means you work at your own pace. The focus is on learning Colombian techniques and enjoying the experience together, not on technical perfection.

What's included in the price, and do I pay extra for the meal?

All ingredients, cooking equipment, water, refreshments and recipes are included in the class price. The full meal you cook is part of the experience—you eat it together at the end, and nothing costs extra. Bilingual instruction in English and Spanish is also included.

Can I do the market tour option, and how long does that take?

Yes. The Market Tour with Cooking Class option runs five hours total. You visit Bazurto Market, Cartagena's iconic local market where locals shop for produce and seafood, then return to the kitchen to cook a traditional Colombian meal. This option gives you a sense of where the ingredients come from before you use them.

Is the ceviche class a full meal, or just a tasting?

The Ceviche Experience is a 90-minute hands-on class focused on preparing fresh Colombian ceviche from scratch. You learn the technique and taste what you make, though it is shorter and more focused than the full three-hour cooking class with a complete multi-course meal.

Can my family with young children join, and are there vegetarian options?

Children from age 6 are welcome, and the experience is designed to work for families. Age-based pricing and customized family options are available. The kitchen accommodates vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and common allergies without advance notice needed—just let them know when you book.