Top Oaxaca Cooking Classes

Oaxaca City 2 Hour Small Group Traditional Chocolate Making Class

This experience organized by @Etnofood and @EspacioMezcal (Instagram) is unique because it is hosted by young members of a social enterprise focused on promoting mezcal culture. The hosts are children, volunteers, or members of the mezcal cooperative, all aiming to foster mezcal culture and encourage the consumption of local products. The experience is truly one-of-a-kind because, as hosts, we want to share the culture of mezcal through an immersive journey of flavors and knowledge, set in a specialized mezcal bar with a curated collection designed to enjoy mezcal as a unique beverage. For more information, visit our website: www.etnofood.org

Tasting of Organic Mezcales

1 hourFree Cancellation

Tasting of Oaxacan honeys Taste the sweetness of Oaxacan honeys! In Nunduve you can taste different local honeys while talking about the interesting world of bees. Enjoy a unique, interesting and very sweet experience! We’ll start with a presentation and introduction to the world of bees and honey. You’ll be surprised by everything you don’t already know about these topics! Next, we’ll talk about the most important characteristics of honey sensory analysis and try six different honeys, learning not only about their characteristics, but also about their origins and history. We will conclude by answering all your questions with a coffee or drink of your choice I am a honey and bee biologist with 10 years of experience. We would love you to be part of this experience!

Oaxacan Honey Tasting

Receive personalized attention on this private full-day tour of Hierve el Agua and Teotitlan del Valle. After being met at your hotel you'll be taken to Hierve el Agua to enjoy three hours of hiking, swimming, and admiring the views of the petrified waterfalls. After, enjoy a mezcal pick-me-up at a distillery, then head to the markets of Teotitlan del Valle, where you can learn about (and buy) traditional handicrafts.

Private Tour to Hierve el Agua, Mezcal Tasting, and Textiles

8 hoursFree Cancellation

In this experience you will live an adventure full of flavor, tradition and fun around cocoa and chocolate. First you will know the fruit of cocoa and discover where the chocolate comes from. You will learn how it grows, its importance in Oaxaca and why it has been so special for generations. Then you will participate in the brewing process, starting with cocoa roasting, where you can see, smell and feel how the transformation of the bean begins. Later on, you will experience grinding, knowing the texture and aroma of freshly ground cocoa. Then the most fun part will come: create your own Oaxacan style chocolate, molding it and giving it your special touch. Finally, you will prepare a delicious traditional chocolate drink and enjoy the taste of your own creation. It is an experience designed especially for children, full of learning, culture and unforgettable moments.

Oaxaca Special experience for children

1 hourFree Cancellation

$107$102

Premium Mezcal Tasting and Class

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Creating your own tlayuda in our gastronomic experience is a journey of unique and personalized flavor. From the moment you select the ingredients to the moment you taste your creation, you are immersed in a fusion of tradition and creativity. The base of the tlayuda, a large, crunchy tortilla, becomes the canvas for your tastes. You can choose from a variety of meats, local cheeses like Quesillo, and fresh vegetables. By roasting it, our expert team gives it that smoky and crunchy touch that defines tlayuda, while you enjoy our selected drinks, from rich coffees to craft beers. This process is not just a meal, but a celebration of Oaxacan culinary culture, adapted to your palate. In the end, sitting in our cozy cafeteria or terrace, each bite is a reflection of your preferences, uniting the traditional with the personal in an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Private 2-Hour Tlayuda Preparation Class

Learn the techniques for creating your own chocolate bars in this workshop. Discover the art of making your own chocolate bars. No previous experience is needed. Walk the cocoa processing process with a European style method. Explore a variety of flavors and tools essential to this practice. It begins with an introduction to the world of cocoa, delving into its origins and varieties, highlighting the individual qualities of each type and its traditional flavors. Learn about the process of transforming roasted beans into bars. Participate in the tempering process, explained step by step by your instructor. Shape the chocolate at your own pace and design it to your liking. Then enjoy a unique cocoa snack, made especially for you by the staff. The experience includes everything you need to create your own Oaxacan chocolate bar and finally, receive a package to take your creation home.

Create your own Oaxacan chocolate bar

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

$143$136

The ancient Zapotec city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monte Alban sits about 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) west of Oaxaca. With this tour, explore the hilltop archaeological site with a guide and enjoy views overlooking the Oaxaca Valley. That leaves enough time to visit the artisan towns of Arrazola, Cuilapam de Guerrero, and San Bartolo Coyotepec. Plus, round-trip transportation from your hotel in downtown Oaxaca is included.

Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Pottery: Oaxaca Essential Day Tour

Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Pottery: Oaxaca Essential Day Tour

8 hoursFree Cancellation

The experience represents a journey through Oaxacan culture, with the guide of the Sommelier/Mezcologist originally from Oaxaca you can know about the magic of the most representative spirit drink in Oaxaca as well as know about its origin through stories, legend, traditions and facts that have been invested about this drink, so you will try five different types of mezcals that will be paired spectacularly with five different dishes which are made with typical moles of the region, traditional food in Oaxaca is cultural heritage of humanity and the moles Oaxacan are a whole Persian experience, you will also know the secrets and techniques to cook them in a traditional way and thus learn a little more how you live, drink and eat in this beautiful tourist destination full of flavor and tradition.

Oaxacan Mezcal and Pairing Tasting

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

$83$79

Mezcal was medicine long before it was a drink. Sit down with a traditional Mixteca healer in the soothing setting of her private garden, and step into the hidden world of Mexican healing traditions, where mezcal is far more than a spirit. In this immersive sensory experience, you’ll learn how mezcal is used in traditional Mexican medicine and awaken your senses with four distinct herbal elixirs, handcrafted from native plants. Hold your chosen mezcal in your hands and notice what it awakens within you and how it feels in your body. Then your healer shares what it says about you. You’ll leave relaxed, with a deeper understanding of Oaxaca’s traditional medicine and mezcal’s cultural meaning, plus a feeling and memory you won’t find on any tour. Limited to 10 guests, so everyone is seen by the healer. Few places in the world offer this.

Oaxaca Indigenous Medicine Herbal Mezcal Sensory Learning Class

Oaxaca Indigenous Medicine Herbal Mezcal Sensory Learning Class

OAXACA CULTURAL FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.

$83$79

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Must-Dos in Oaxaca

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The ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

What are people saying about Oaxaca

Alexandra_M, Nov 2026

So much fun and so many flavors, highly recommend!

Our guide Ellie was amazing! She was super knowledgeable and engaging, not only did we learn about the food we were eating but the places we were going, the past and present of the city, fun facts about the architecture (including where a scene in the movie Nacho Libre was filmed!) and some history of the ancient cultures that collided to create the food we had the pleasure of trying! If you're worried about 6 hours being too long, trust me it flies by. We had a fun group with other travelers who were super kind and added to the experience, but Ellie led the way and created personal connections with all of us! The food is delicious, my favorites were the tamales, tyludas, and a drink called Tejate which is chocolatey, nutty, and very refreshing. At one part in the tour they give you a large variety of organic local fruits to try most of which I had never even heard of, it was super cool to get to try so many. It's also just a great way to get to know the city, the city is so beautiful and there are SOOO many things to do and look at it was nice to have someone lead the way who knows what's best! Thanks again Ellie and to the rest of the crew that made the food tour so enjoyable!!

Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes

Brian_G, Oct 2026

Don’t miss this!

Truly one of the highlights of my trip. Adhey and her family were kind, fun, helpful, informative and patient. The recipes we learned were delicious, authentic, and entirely possible to replicate at home (though without the awesome setup she has at her house). The entire experience was a delight. We cooked, ate, drank, sang songs, and learned about the beautiful Mixtec and Zapotec culinary traditions. Everyone who visits Oaxaca should take this class!

Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour

514janetted, Sep 2026

Greattttttttttt

We had an incredible time, it was the happiest day of my life and the employees were very friendly and attentive, Caleb and Jessie I think they were called, and the people from the bike tour were very good people, I congratulate them... the only thing is that they should maintain the arrival areas and paint them so they look nicer and more attractive, that attracts people, the areas should be clean so they don't look deteriorated, but other than that the tour was ufffffff greattttttttttttttt

Prepare an Oaxacan Mole by a Traditional Cook

Kenneth_R, Sep 2026

Excellent experience!!

This was an excellent experience. It was a cool cooking class and you go to the local market to get the fresh ingredients. My host was excellent she was very personable and knowledgeable and the food we made came out excellent. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone!!

Mole & Tortilla class, Market Tour, mezcal tasting | Quinta Brava

Gregory_K, Sep 2026

A Wonderful Oaxaca Cooking Experience!!

A wonderful way to spend a morning in Oaxaca. Miguel and Jose are so kind, teaching you every step, from making homemade tortillas all the way to mole. They offer as much or as little info as you want. A favorite experience of ours in Mexico! The setting is a beautiful outdoor kitchen and garden with two of the sweetest dogs for additional company!

Oaxacan Cooking Class with Local Chef

Linda_N, Sep 2026

Traditional Mexican Cooking Class

Chef was completely prepared and had everything prepped and ready for us to start cooking. All of the food was delicious! We learned about traditional cooking methods and how to make all the dishes from scratch. We got to enjoy our meal afterward. We had a wonderful experience and left feeling full and satisfied!

Traditional Cooking Class with Minerva Lopez

Natalia_M, Sep 2026

Highlight of the trip

We had high expectations for this tour and they were absolutely exceeded. The market tour was very informational and we even got to see where maiz is processed. The cooking experience in Minerva Lopez’s home was absolutely incredible since she has so much knowledge to share. Overall a major highlight of our trip and we hope to return soon!

Tule, Mitla & Hierve el Agua Full-Day Tour with Certified Guide

Inspiration783421, Aug 2026

Excellent service!!!

Excellent tour, I highly recommend it, there is time to do everything, see everything, the price already included admission to the places, the transport van is perfect with USB-C connections, spacious, comfortable, in excellent condition. You can take amazing photos, Hierve el Agua is incredible, definitely go down to the base of the waterfall. If you have time and want to, bring clothes to get into the pools, (the water is cold). The guide Edelmira is the best, super attentive, kind, and very knowledgeable. A lot of human warmth. 10/10

Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class

Teresa_B, Jun 2026

A Great cooking class deep in a Oaxacan neighborhood

This is a very interesting afternoon of going to a real market in a non-touristy corner of Oaxaca. Quetie (sp?) shopped with us, identified unfamiliar fruits for us, and then let us back to the big kitchen where in a friendly and clear way she instructed us and how to make a wonderful vegetarian soup with corn and spinach and how to make delicious tortillas by hand and mamelas and quesadillas. Diego concocted a fantastic mango with mescal cocktail. My daughter and I loved it and have already gone shopping at our local Mexican store back in Chicago to try to re-create the menu. We appreciated these hard-working and friendly young people of Oaxaca who shared their culture and skills very generously with us. I highly recommend them.

Tour de medio día a monte albán

Lawrence_N, Mar 2026

Wow! Well worth it!

Roberto was our excellent driver with Moses our excellent tour guide. Moses is fluent in Spanish and English. He is very knowledgeable and his explanations very informative. Moses also has a great sense of humour. A terrific half day tour which allowed us plenty of time to explore. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.