Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Antigua, Guatemala

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua

Antigua, Central Highlands

5.0

(482)

Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua

from $90

Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour

Antigua, Central Highlands

5.0

(161)

Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour

from $98

San Antonio Aguascalientes Weaving Tour from Antigua

Antigua, Central Highlands

5.0

(9)

San Antonio Aguascalientes Weaving Tour from Antigua

from $89

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

About 20-minutes from Antigua, the peaceful town of Parramos is a world away from the bustling streets of Guatemala’s tourist capital, which makes it the perfect place for a family-led cooking class in a local home. A great way to immerse yourself in the rich flavors of Guatemalan cuisine, this small-group cooking class also gives you the chance to learn more about Guatemalan culture and stories.

Visit the beautiful town of Parramos near Antigua
Learn how to cook pepian, a traditional Guatemalan dish
Immerse yourself in Guatemalan culture with a family-run cooking class
Guaranteed small-group class with no more than 10 students

Sample Menu

Main

Pepian

Ceremonial dish declared cultural heritage of Guatemala, served in special events such as weddings and brotherhoods.

Starter

Tortillas

Corn tortillas made by hand

Dessert

Guatemalan traditional dessert

This dessert is representative of the fusion between Spanish and Mayan gastronomies.

What's Included

Lunch

Depending on the reservation time it can be lunch or dinner
Kitchen utensils
All the ingredients for cooking
Recipe

Private transportation

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Post Office
H746+RVG, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
El guia estará esperando por usted en correos de Antigua guatemala, usted observará al otro lado de la calle Pollo Campero.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Justyn_A

This was an amazing experience! Axel was great! He told us a lot about Guatemala history and the markets. Everything we ate was delicious. Elsa was an amazing host as she let us in to her home. I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Antigua.

Reviews

5.0

based on 39 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Something you must do!

Justyn_A, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are truly delighted to hear that you had such an amazing experience. It means a lot to know that you enjoyed learning about Guatemala’s history and local markets, and that the food was a highlight of your visit. Elsa will be especially happy to hear your kind words. Opening her home and sharing traditions with our guests is something she does with great love, and it’s always rewarding to know that visitors feel that warmth and authenticity. Your recommendation means a great deal to us. We feel very fortunate to share these cultural experiences with travelers visiting Antigua, and we hope to welcome you back to Guatemala again someday. Warm regards, The B1 Experience Team

Pepian Cooking Classe

Elizabeth_B, Nov 2025

We had the absolute best time cooking with the family! We cooked authentic food and had great coffee and conversations

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Once again, thank you for choosing us and for the incredible 5-star rating. Your feedback motivates us to keep raising the bar and sets the standard for excellence in everything we do.

Outstanding!

Sarah_D, Jun 2022

This was by far the best experience we had in Antigua. Our guide met us as arranged and took us on a brief tour/overview of the town square of Parramos before heading to a local family's home. There, we met the family matriarch, who explained what we would be cooking. Throughout the afternoon, we were free to ask many questions about her life and the way of life of other indigenous people in the area. Throughout this time our guide interpreted for us as needed. When the meal was finished cooking, we all sat down and enjoyed the best meal we've had in all of Central America! Highly Recommend!

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Thank you so much, we hope you return to Guatemala soon.

Cooking with a local family

Buffy_P, Mar 2022

This really was a worthwhile experience. Our tour guide/translator was wonderful communicating where to meet us. I originally did not realize it was in a neighboring community I thought it was in Antigua. But was a short $5 Uber ride away. We met our tour guide, he was wonderful and friendly. I thought we would tour the town or a market but we went directly to the home where we would make dinner. Be prepared and I do not mean this in a negative way but you are making dinner in the home of a local Guatemalan family. The poverty is staggering. They are wonderful welcoming and kind. I felt somewhat uncomfortable however that may simply be my own guilt/privledge/fear of exploiting a family. We made an absolutely wonderful meal. However again uncomfortable knowing there was a multi generational family living there and only we were sitting to eat this meal normally reserved for weddings and special occasions. I left a hefty tip as I did with all my experiences in Guatemala. Every time I was able to put money directly into the hands of the local people I did. Overall I recommend. Have the right mindset and necessary conversations with families/children prior to the experience. My kids having traveled throughout Latin America were unfazed.

Response from Host, Apr 2022

We know that poverty is a great scourge in our society, we work with community tourism and based on principles of equality, to reduce the poverty gap, we work with different families and we are a source of decent work for these people, especially housewives. home, they need a source of income. Thank you for your comment, we believe in a project that helps and at the same time shows a Guatemalan reality that you will hardly find in other companies. Once again thanks to your reservation we can be the engine of change in our society.

Amazing Experience

llsa_L, Jun 2021

This class exceeded my groups expectations. We spent 3 hours with Janeth learning about her and working alongside her to cut vegetables, roast peppers over a wood stove, skin the chicken, make tortillas and more. The translator was thorough and we were able to ask all kinds of questions. We even had a short tour of the town square and market before the class.

Response from Host, Jun 2021

For us it is a happiness to share our culture, gastronomy, experience, but above all to share life experiences with our visitors, we work to empower women and make them feel proud of what they do. Thanks for helping us improve, we hope you come back soon

The best fish I’ve had in Guatemala

LOGAN_F, Dec 2020

It was such a delightful experience. To get to know the family, to see how to cook a traditional dish, and of course to share it. The family was wonderful.

Response from Host, Dec 2020

Thank you for choosing us. We hope to see you again in this beautiful country. There are many experiences waiting for you in Guatemala.

AMAZING FOOD AMAZING EXPERIENCE AMAZING PEOPLE!

Michelle_T, Feb 2020

This tour was amazing!!! I asked so many questions before the tour even started and I booked last minute but they were able to accommodate me. When I arrived, I was greeted promptly by Delmy, she's so sweet! We had a short walk from the park and went to Cristina's house to cook. I was a little late but they were happy to see me. We cooked for about 2 hours and I learned how to make vegetarian pepian and the culture and history behind the dish-I even learned how to make tortillas! We also made hibiscus tea. After we set the table and exchanged stories and I learned more about Guatemalan culture and their daily lives. This was such a memorable experience and these are the most kind, hard working and thoughtful people you'll meet in Guatemala. I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS WORKSHOP!

Response from Host, Apr 2021

Thank you so much for your comments. It was our honor to have you in this cooking class.

Best Mayan cooking class authentic village of Paramos by antigua

Annika_S, Jan 2020

If you want a truly authentic non-touristy Guatemalan experience this is it. This small local company aims at keeping local culture alive via small scale tourism In the form of cooking classes, coffee plantation tours, textile and market tours etc etc...These people live in the small town of Paremos nearby Antigua and the money goes back to this local community. My experience was a cooking class. The owner herself came to Antigua to pick me up and together we went via “chicken bus” for half an hour to her hometown Paremos. In this very typical small Guatemalan town where not even one tourist could be found I took a cooking class at her friends house. Her friend of Mayan heritage and her daughter demonstrated, and I was able to participate as much as I wanted, how to prepare this very tasty low-fat chicken/veggie stew. Making handmade tortillas Guatemalan style was also a lot of fun. Everything was purchased at the local farmers market, filtered water used for hibiscus tea, and a wood fired stove was used to prepare the meal which was later served on traditional clay dishes. A typical Sunday family dinner or wedding meal I was told. If you are someone who normally enjoy chain restaurants/hotels and are comfortable with the overpriced tourist restaurants in the town of Antigua where local people can not afford eating this is maybe not for you but if you want a slice of the “real Guatemala” in the setting of an authentic family home then this is the best experience you can find around Antigua. I should add that the price is the best you’ll find as well. Thank you B1 Experience for a wonderful day.