Share this tour
Offered languages
- Spanish
Sofia will pick you up from your Merida hotel and drive you to Chuburná Market for your private market tour. Discover the regional produce on offer and pick up a few ingredients for your authentic in-home cooking lesson.
Join Sofia in her kitchen for a hands-on cooking lesson of Yucatecan and Mayan delicacies. You will learn to prepare traditional recipes from scratch - dishes such as sikil pak (roasted tomato and pumpkin seed salsa), sopa de lima (chicken soup), empanadas de chaya, and pollo o cochinita pibil (perhaps the Yucatan’s most famous dish of slow-cooked chicken or pork which has been marinated in an achiote and sour orange marinade, wrapped in banana leaves) - so be ready to get your hands dirty! You will learn to cook a traditional meal as well as a fiery habanero salsa. After cooking, enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare with Sofia.
Please note that families in Mexico can be very social so you may be joined by members of Sofia's family who stop by on occasion.
Example Menu
Starter
Sikil Pak con Tostadas
Traditional Yucatecan dip made from roasted pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, and spices, served with crispy tortilla chips
Starter
Sopa de Lima
Classic Yucatán-style chicken and lime soup with crispy tortilla strips
Starter
Empanadas de Chaya con Queso de Bola
Savory pastries filled with chaya, a local leafy green, and Edam cheese
Main
Pollo Pibil
Yucatán's signature dish of slow-cooked chicken marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves and roasted until tender
Dessert
Dulce de papaya con queso de bola
Traditional Yucatecan dessert of stewed papaya served with Edam cheese
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Your host will pick you up from the concierge desk of your hotel listed in your booking and drop you off at the end of your experience.
What to expect
Back in Sofia’s home kitchen, learn to prepare traditional Yucatecan and Mayan dishes that reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage, shaped by Indigenous Maya, Spanish, and European influences. Your menu may include sikil pak con tostadas (a pumpkin seed dip), empanadas de chaya con queso de bola, and pollo or cochinita pibil, a classic achiote-marinated dish slow cooked in banana leaves.
After cooking, sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, accompanied by local beer and conversation. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- This is not a professional cooking school or chef-led culinary course. Rather, it is an opportunity to visit a local market, authentic local home, connect with a Mérida resident, and share Yucatecan culture, traditions, and cuisine together.
- This experience takes place in Sofia's private home, which also operates as a homestay. Your cooking class is private, though other guests may be present on the property.
- Sofia's home does not have air-conditioning. During warmer months, the kitchen can become hot while cooking.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
