Private Mérida Cooking Class in a Local Yucatecan Home

114 Reviews 4.90 out of 5 stars Based on 114 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 97% of reviewers | Merida, Mexico

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On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.

4 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 1 more
Spanish

Overview

Step inside the kitchen with Sofia for an authentic, hands-on cooking lesson of Yucatecan and Mayan delicacies. Sofia prepares traditional Yucatecan dishes such as sikil pak (traditional pumpkin seed dip), sopa de lima (chicken soup with lime) or 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).

Sofia will teach you to prepare traditional recipes from scratch so be prepared to get your hands dirty. You will learn to prepare an authentic Yucatecan meal that includes a fiery habanero salsa. Enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare with your host (and her family on occasion) in her modest home in Merida. Please note that Sofia runs a homestay so while your experience will be private, there may be other guests present in her home. Enjoy this private, authentic, immersive Yucatecan food experience with a local!

What's Included

  • Alcoholic beverages Two glasses of local Yucatán beer (or non-alcoholic beverages)
  • Private Yucatecan cooking class in Mérida with your host, Sofia
  • Home-cooked Yucatecan meal
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (unless the transfer upgrade option is selected)
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
OR
Meeting point

C. 17ᴬ 102A
Bulevares de Chuburná, 97205 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Join Sofia, a lifelong Mérida resident, for an authentic Yucatecan cooking class in her home and discover the flavors and traditions behind one of Mexico's most distinctive regional cuisines. Using family recipes passed down through generations, you'll learn to prepare traditional Yucatán dishes from scratch while gaining insight into local culinary traditions.

During this hands-on cooking and dining experience, Sofia will guide you through the preparation of a traditional meal while sharing stories about local ingredients, family traditions, and everyday life in Yucatán. Depending on the menu selected, you may prepare tacos al pastor or a tasting of traditional Yucatecan street foods such as panuchos, salbutes, and empanadas. After cooking together, sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare in a relaxed, family-style setting.

More than a cooking class, this is an opportunity to connect with a local family, experience genuine Yucatecan hospitality. Sofia has been welcoming guests into her home for more than 20 years and is passionate about preserving and sharing her region's culinary traditions. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • 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.
  • Guests interested in a more in-depth master class that includes preparing traditional dishes such as pollo pibil or sopa de lima may request this option in advance. Please note that it extends the experience by approximately 2 hours or more.
  • Sofia's home does not have air-conditioning. During warmer months, the kitchen can become hot while cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Private Mérida Cooking Class in a Local Yucatecan Home?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the adventure start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the adventure start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the adventure start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the adventure local time (CST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-7626P40

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.90
114 reviews

Average 4.90 out of 5 stars based on 114 adventurer reviews collected by Top10Adventures® and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
110
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
2
1 star
1

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Alcoholic beveragesTwo glasses of local Yucatán beer (or non-alcoholic beverages)
  • Private Yucatecan cooking class in Mérida with your host, Sofia
  • Home-cooked Yucatecan meal
  • Hands-on cooking instruction using traditional family recipes
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (unless the transfer upgrade option is selected)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This is not a professional cooking school or chef-led culinary course. Rather, it is an opportunity to visit an 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.
  • Guests interested in a more in-depth master class that includes preparing traditional dishes such as pollo pibil or sopa de lima may request this option in advance. Please note that it extends the experience by approximately 2 hours or more.
  • Sofia's home does not have air-conditioning. During warmer months, the kitchen can become hot while cooking.
  • For added convenience, choose the tour option with transfers, which includes round-trip transportation between your Merida hotel or vacation rental and Sofia's home.

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the adventure for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the adventure start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the adventure start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the adventure start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the adventure local time (CST).

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