Merida Market Tour & Yucatecan Cooking Class at Sofia's Home

Cook Yucatecan dishes from scratch in a local home kitchen after shopping the market with Sofia.

A private market tour and hands-on cooking class in Merida where you shop at Chuburná Market for fresh produce and regional ingredients, then return to Sofia's home kitchen to learn how to prepare traditional Yucatecan and Mayan dishes (sikil pak, sopa de lima, empanadas de chaya, and pollo pibil) before sitting down to eat what you made. Sofia, a Merida resident, leads the class in Spanish and handles hotel pickup and drop-off. The experience takes place in her private home, which also operates as a homestay, and dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

The experience

Chuburná Market is where locals shop for the produce, spices and regional ingredients that define Yucatecan cooking. Sofia picks you up from your hotel and takes you there to browse together, pointing out what makes each ingredient distinctive to the region and selecting items for your cooking class. You choose what to buy, building the foundation for the dishes you'll prepare later.

Back in Sofia's home kitchen, you learn to make sikil pak con tostadas (a roasted pumpkin seed dip), sopa de lima (chicken and lime soup with crispy tortilla strips), empanadas de chaya con queso de bola (pastries filled with a local leafy green and Edam cheese), pollo pibil (the Yucatán's signature slow-cooked chicken marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves), and dulce de papaya con queso de bola (stewed papaya with cheese for dessert). You work through each dish from scratch, handling the prep and cooking yourself. Sofia teaches the techniques and the stories behind the recipes: how they reflect Maya, Spanish and European influences layered into the region's food. The kitchen can get warm during the warmer months, and you may be joined by members of Sofia's family who stop by.

After cooking, you sit down to eat the meal you made, with two glasses of local Yucatán beer included (non-alcoholic drinks are available too). The whole experience runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free diets can be accommodated if you mention them when you book.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Merida.
• private hands-on cooking class in Sofia's home kitchen.
• guided tour of Chuburná Market to select ingredients.
• the meal you prepare.
• two glasses of local Yucatán beer or non-alcoholic beverages.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?This class works best for travelers who want to learn how Yucatecan food is actually made in a local home, not in a commercial kitchen, and who are comfortable cooking in a warm space without air-conditioning. Sofia teaches in Spanish, and dietary restrictions can be accommodated if you mention them at booking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

What kind of dishes will I learn to cook in Sofia's kitchen?

You'll prepare sikil pak con tostadas (a pumpkin seed dip), sopa de lima (chicken and lime soup), empanadas de chaya con queso de bola (pastries with a local green and cheese), pollo pibil (slow-cooked chicken marinated in achiote and sour orange), and dulce de papaya con queso de bola (stewed papaya with cheese). Each one is a traditional Yucatecan or Mayan dish, and you make them all from scratch in Sofia's home kitchen.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No. This is a hands-on lesson in Sofia's home kitchen, not a professional culinary school. You learn as you cook, working through each dish with Sofia's guidance. The focus is on connecting with a local resident and learning authentic Yucatecan traditions and techniques.

What happens at Chuburná Market, and do I have to buy anything?

Sofia takes you to the market to explore the fresh produce, spices and regional ingredients used in Yucatecan cooking. You browse together and select a few items for your cooking class. Any personal purchases at the market are your choice and cost extra.

Is the kitchen air-conditioned, and might other people be there?

Sofia's home does not have air-conditioning, so the kitchen can get warm during hot months while you're cooking. The home also operates as a homestay, so other guests may be present on the property, though your cooking class itself is private.

What's included in the price, and how long does the whole experience take?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Merida, the market tour, the private cooking class, the meal you prepare, and two glasses of local Yucatán beer (or non-alcoholic drinks) are all included. The experience runs about seven hours from the time Sofia picks you up.