Roatan Cooking Class: Learn Honduran Pastelitos & Caribbean Stew

Prepare two traditional Honduran dishes and eat them in a friendly kitchen where the recipes come with stories.

A hands-on cooking class in Roatan where you prepare pastelitos (crispy corn turnovers) and Caribbean stewed chicken with plantains under the guidance of experienced chefs. You learn the step-by-step process for both dishes, hear about the Afro-Caribbean and Garífuna culinary traditions behind them, and enjoy your creations with a welcome drink. Recipes download via QR code so you can remake them at home.

The experience

The class runs three hours in an air-conditioned kitchen where you work alongside a guide who speaks English or Spanish. You start with pastelitos (the corn masa dough, the savory filling, the frying technique), then move to the stewed chicken, learning how coconut milk and plantains build the dish. Both recipes arrive printed on the day and stay accessible through a QR code you can scan later. The guide shares the heritage woven into these meals: the Afro-Caribbean, Garífuna, and indigenous roots that shape what Roatan cooks.

After you finish cooking, you sit down and eat what you made, starting with a welcome drink: coffee, tea, water, or local juice, your choice. The kitchen supplies all the utensils, ingredients and workspace. You bring nothing but your hands. A free gift comes with the class. If you have dietary restrictions, let the operator know when you book so they can adjust the recipes without losing the technique.

Pickup is included, and public transportation options sit nearby if you prefer to meet the class on your own. The minimum age is 14. Products like Honduran vanilla, Guifity (the traditional drink you'll taste), organic coffee, and local spices are available to buy if you want to keep cooking after you leave.

What’s included

• Two meals you prepare yourself (Honduran pastelitos and Caribbean stewed chicken with plantains).
• a welcome drink of your choice (coffee, tea, water, or local juice).
• printed recipes with QR code access.
• all kitchen utensils, ingredients and workspace.
• air-conditioned kitchen.
• a free gift.
• WiFi access.
• and pickup included in at least one option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cultural Experience and Cooking Class in RoatanGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timePickup is included

Includes sloths, birds and monkeysGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeSloths, birds and monkeys. Lasts 45 minutes. 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 timesEvery day

AgesAdult (14 to 75 years) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

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 today

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Roatan Five Stars Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn a skill you can use at home, not just watch a demonstration. The three-hour hands-on format means you're doing the cooking, not observing, so you leave knowing how to make these dishes yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What exactly are pastelitos and how do you make them?

Pastelitos are crispy turnovers made from corn masa dough, filled with savory ingredients, and deep-fried. You'll learn the dough-making, filling, and frying steps yourself during the class, then serve them with homemade tomato sauce.

Do I get to keep the recipes after the class ends?

Yes. The recipes for both dishes print out on the day of the class and stay available through a QR code you can scan anytime, so you can remake them at home.

What's included in the welcome drink, and do I choose it?

The welcome drink is your choice: coffee, tea, water, or local juice. You pick which one when you arrive.

Can I book this class if I have food allergies or dietary restrictions?

Yes. Tell the operator about your dietary restrictions when you book, and they'll adjust the recipes so you can still learn the technique and eat the meal you prepared.

What's the difference between the two purchase options?

The standard Roatan Cooking Class is the three-hour kitchen experience. The "With Sloth, Birds and Monkeys" option adds wildlife encounters to your day. Both include the same cooking class and meals.