Mayan Cooking Class in Merida: Make Ancestral Dishes

Cook buried venison and handmade tortillas the way the Maya did

A hands-on Mayan cooking class in Merida where you prepare ancestral dishes using traditional techniques, then taste what you've made alongside regional snacks and an open bar. The experience runs about four hours and ends with a jarana dance performance. Children from age one are welcome, and a live guide leads in English or Spanish.

The experience

You arrive at a property set among local flora and fauna, where a welcome cocktail sets the tone before you step into the kitchen. The core of the class is learning to cook two signature dishes: venado pibil, a venison marinated in achiote and sour orange, prepared using the pib method (an ancient Mayan technique of cooking meat buried underground), and handmade tortillas shaped and cooked by hand. A guide walks you through each step, explaining the artisanal process and the history behind the food. You're not watching a demonstration. You're doing the work yourself.

Between cooking sessions, you taste regional snacks and can swim in the pool on the property. An open beverage bar with soft drinks, waters and beers runs throughout, so you stay refreshed while you work. You'll also have a chance to interact with farm animals kept on site (deer, turkeys, rabbits), and see the vegetation that flavors the local cuisine. At the end of the class, you sit down to eat everything you've prepared, with a tasting bar of the finished dishes included.

Before you head back to the city, a jarana show, a traditional Mayan musical dance performance, wraps up the afternoon. The whole experience takes about four hours and accommodates children from age one. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a specialized infant seat if needed.

What’s included

• Welcome cocktail.
• open beverage bar with soft drinks, waters and beers.
• instruction in preparing venado pibil and handmade tortillas.
• tasting of all dishes you prepare.
• regional snacks.
• pool access.
• farm animal interaction.
• jarana dance show.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

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 due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tour Experiencias Ancestrales Tío Charlie

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself with a guide's instruction, so this suits anyone who wants to learn the techniques and history rather than watch from the sidelines. The four-hour format fits a free afternoon without eating into evening plans in the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I cook during the class?

You prepare venado pibil, a traditional Mayan venison dish marinated in achiote and sour orange and cooked using the ancient pib burial method, and handmade tortillas shaped and cooked by hand. The guide explains each step and the history of the techniques.

Is the food I cook included in the price, or do I pay separately to eat it?

Everything you cook is included. You taste it all at the end of the class as part of the experience. Regional snacks and an open bar with soft drinks, waters and beers are also included throughout.

Is there anything to do besides cooking?

You can swim in the pool on the property, interact with farm animals like deer and turkeys, and see the local vegetation. At the end, a jarana show, a traditional Mayan musical dance, rounds out the afternoon.