Mexican Cooking Class in Riviera Maya: 6-Course Feast

Cook a six-course Mexican meal and eat what you made at a jungle fiesta

A hands-on cooking class in the Mayan jungle near Cancun where you prepare six authentic Mexican dishes with a professional chef, then join a traditional fiesta to eat everything you cooked. The class runs six hours in a small group at a private cooking school, with all ingredients, drinks, recipes and an apron included. Vegetarian and dietary options are available with advance notice.

The experience

You arrive at a private cooking school set in the Mayan jungle and start with a walk through the organic garden, where the chef points out the herbs and chiles that anchor Mexican cuisine. Then you move into the kitchen and begin the hands-on work: you'll prepare six courses over the morning and early afternoon, learning techniques for dishes like cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork), sopa de lima (lime soup), tamales verdes, and flan. A professional chef guides each step, and the group stays small enough that you get real attention.

Once the last dish is plated, the cooking stops and the celebration begins. You sit down to a traditional Mexican fiesta where you eat every course you just made, with drinks and tequila flowing and live music playing. The meal is the payoff for the work. You taste what your hands produced, in a completely Mexican environment, treated like a family member rather than a tourist passing through.

The class runs six hours total and includes all ingredients, recipes, drinks and an apron. If you have dietary restrictions or prefer vegetarian options, let the operator know before you arrive and they'll adapt the menu. Round-trip transportation from your hotel is available for an extra cost (from $85 USD). The school itself is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are welcome. Minimum age is 13, and the minimum drinking age is 18.

What’s included

• Hands-on cooking instruction with a professional chef.
• all ingredients for the six-course meal.
• gourmet feast with all drinks and tequila.
• recipes for every dish you prepare.
• apron.
• tour escort and guide service.
• snacks during the class.

Before you book

Lasts 6h, runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30, from US$ 148 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, in groups of up to 8 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcome

Operated by Mexico lindo cooking

Is this one for you?Book this class if you have a free afternoon in Cancun or Riviera Maya and want to spend it learning rather than sightseeing. The six-hour commitment and small-group format mean real instruction and a real meal at the end, not a rushed demo followed by a plate of food someone else cooked.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What Mexican dishes do I actually cook during the class?

The menu changes by day of the week. You might prepare sopa de lima and cochinita pibil on Monday, ensalada de nopalitos and carnitas on Tuesday, or tamales verdes and salpicon de res on Thursday. The operator confirms which six courses you'll make when you book, based on your preferred date.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No prior experience is required. The professional chef teaches each technique hands-on, and the group is kept small so you get real instruction and support throughout the six hours.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

Transportation is not included in the base price, but round-trip pickup from your hotel is available for an extra cost starting at $85 USD per person. Hotels further than Playa del Carmen may incur an additional surcharge from the transportation company.

What happens after we finish cooking?

Once all six courses are prepared, you move to a traditional Mexican fiesta where you eat everything you cooked, with drinks, tequila and live music included. It's a celebration of what you've made, not a separate meal elsewhere.

Can the class accommodate vegetarian or dietary restrictions?

Yes. The operator happily adjusts the menu for vegetarian options and any dietary restrictions or allergies. Just let them know at the time of booking so they can prepare accordingly.