Cuenca Cooking Class: Learn 9 Traditional Ecuadorian Recipes

Cook Andean recipes in a home kitchen, then sit down to the meal you built

A 4-hour hands-on cooking class in Cuenca where you prepare nine traditional Ecuadorian dishes (from locro de papas to seco de pollo) in a local home kitchen, guided by a bilingual host. You cook, then gather around the table to eat the full meal you made, with unlimited drinks and a digital recipe booklet to take home. Small groups keep instruction personalized. No cooking experience needed.

The experience

You meet your instructor and a small group inside a real Ecuadorian home kitchen in Cuenca, where the class centers on making several traditional dishes: locro de papas (a creamy potato soup topped with cheese and avocado), seco de pollo (chicken simmered in naranjilla juice and spices), patacones (crisp double-fried plantain slices), ceviche, and others. The menu also includes appetizers like tortilla de verde y maduro con queso and finishes with desserts such as espumilla and dulce de babaco. Your host walks you through each step, no experience required, and you handle the cooking yourself, taking notes if you want. Most ingredients are available worldwide, so you can recreate these dishes at home.

Once everything is ready, you sit down together to eat the full meal you prepared. This is where the class shifts from instruction to experience: you share stories with your host, taste what you made, and toast with canelazo, a warming blend of sugarcane liquor, cinnamon, and fruit juice. Unlimited drinks come throughout the class: traditional canelazo, mapanagua (a regional refreshing beverage), or virgin versions if you prefer no alcohol. The class runs 4 hours and includes all ingredients, utensils, and an apron. You bring nothing except your appetite.

A digital recipe booklet goes home with you so you can cook these dishes again. The small group size means your host can adjust the pace and offer personalized guidance rather than lecturing to a crowd. If you have food allergies or intolerances, mention them when booking and the host will adapt the menu.

What’s included

• Hands-on cooking guided by a bilingual local host in English or Spanish.
• all nine recipes in a digital booklet to take home.
• every ingredient, utensil, and apron provided.
• full meal you prepare (appetizer, main, dessert).
• unlimited drinks throughout the 4 hours, including traditional canelazo and mapanagua or virgin versions if you choose no alcohol.
• 5-Star Experience Guarantee, or your money back.

Options for this experience

4 options

Shared group class without alcoholGuide in English or Spanish · 12:00Lasts 3 hours; alcoholic drinks are not included

Shared Group-Bottomless DrinksGuide in English or Spanish · 12:00The class runs 3 hours and includes a complete cooking session, with unlimited refills of caipirinhas to make the experience even more enjoyable.

Shared class with a market tourGuide in English or Spanish · 11:00Shared class preceded by a 1-hour market tour; the total duration is just over 4 hours, with the cooking class lasting 3 hours and including bottomless drinks.

Private classGuide in English or Spanish · 18:00Private class for a minimum of 2 people, lasting 3 hours

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, Wednesday and SaturdayDepartures at 11:00, 12:00 and 18:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 9 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cook in Fiesta

Is this one for you?Book the shared group class with bottomless drinks if you want to cook alongside other travelers and enjoy the social meal afterward; choose the private class if you'd rather cook with just your own group; add the market tour option if you want to shop for ingredients with your host before heading to the kitchen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (2 to 9 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What dishes do I actually cook during the class?

You prepare nine recipes across appetizers, mains, and desserts: tortilla de verde y maduro con queso, patacones, ceviche, locro de papas, seco de pollo, fritada, mapanagua, canelazo, and desserts like espumilla and dulce de babaco. Your host guides you through each one, and you do the hands-on cooking.

Can I take the recipes home and cook them myself later?

Yes. You receive a digital recipe booklet with all nine recipes so you can recreate the dishes at home. Most ingredients are available worldwide, not just in Ecuador.

What if I don't drink alcohol?

The class offers virgin versions of all drinks, including a non-alcoholic canelazo. You can also choose the no-alcohol option when booking, and you'll still have unlimited drinks throughout the 4 hours.

Is there a way to enjoy the class without cooking?

Yes. You can book as a youth participant instead of an adult for a lower price and simply watch, eat, drink, and enjoy while others cook. You still sit down to the full meal and participate in the experience.

How many people are in the group?

The class keeps groups small so your host can offer personalized guidance. You also have the option to book a private class if you prefer to cook alone or with your own party.