Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: Learn Ecuadorian Cuisine

Buy ingredients at the market, then cook them in a family kitchen.

A cooking class in Cuenca where you shop at the 10 de Agosto market for fresh local ingredients, then move to a family home to prepare an Ecuadorian meal under a chef's instruction. The guide leads the market tour and the chef walks you through each dish step by step. Hotel pickup and drop-off, all ingredients, lunch and coffee are included. Vegetarian and vegan options are available on request.

The experience

The 10 de Agosto market is where the class begins. You'll walk through the stalls with your guide, learning what the local farmers and vendors sell and why certain ingredients matter to Ecuadorian cooking. You handpick everything you'll need for lunch: potatoes, cheese, peppers, herbs, whatever goes into the dish you've chosen. This is not a tour where someone else does the shopping. You're choosing the produce yourself, which changes how the meal tastes when you cook it later.

After the market, you head to a welcoming local family's kitchen. A chef meets you there and leads you through making your meal from start to finish. The options rotate: Locro de papas (the highland soup made with potatoes, cheese and avocado), Seco de Pollo (chicken stewed in onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes), Fritada (fried pork with grilled mashed potatoes), Quinoa Soup, or Empanadas de Viento. Vegetarian and vegan versions are available if you request them at booking. You're not watching a demonstration. You're doing the work, learning the techniques and the stories behind each dish as you go.

The class runs about four hours total, including the market stop and the cooking itself. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport. You eat what you've made, with coffee or tea after. A live guide speaks English or Spanish depending on the option you choose.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• market tour with a live guide.
• all ingredients for the meal.
• instruction from a chef in the family kitchen.
• lunch.
• coffee and tea.
• all taxes and fees.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small-group tour (maximum 6 people)Guide in English or Spanish · 10:00Lasts 4 hours with a fixed menu of potato soup and stewed chicken. A vegetarian option can be arranged on request. Pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Lasts 4 hours with an open menu. Appetizers: potato soup, quinoa soup, empanadas. Main course: stewed chicken, fritada, or a vegetarian option. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the class tailored to your group and your pace. The small-group option keeps the cost lower and pairs you with up to five other travelers in the same kitchen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What dishes can I learn to cook in this class?

Locro de papas, Seco de Pollo, Fritada, Quinoa Soup and Empanadas de Viento are the regular options. Vegetarian and vegan versions are available if you request them when you book.

Do I shop for the ingredients myself, or does the guide buy them?

You handpick the ingredients at the 10 de Agosto market with your guide, choosing what the local farmers and vendors have that day. That's part of the class.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in both the private and small-group options.

Can I do this class if I'm vegetarian or vegan?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan versions of the dishes are available. Let the operator know when you book which you prefer.

Is there a minimum age for this class?

Yes, the minimum age is 12.