Salsa & Salsa cooking lessons + Beach day

Badge of Excellence

Costa Maya, Mexico

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

Why travelers loved this

4.4

· Robyn_W ·

Mar 2026

Eric was an amazing chef! We had so much fun and learned a lot! The salsas and guacamole were delicious! We had fun learning to salsa dance too, and to top it off their beach area was great! Highly recommend!♥️

· Janet_C ·

Feb 2026

It was a great excursion! Eric , our instructor was very informative and made the experience fun and delicious! We made salsa and guacamole and got to eat it too! Definitely recommend this excursion!

Overview

Sample Menu

Starter

Guacamole & Salsa!

the dishes will be prepared with fresh vegetables and some of our garden, prepare to learn Mexican roots and a fantastic experience

Main

Mango Margaritas!

Welcome to the fun + authentic Mexican food and drinks!

What's Included

Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
Alcoholic Beverages

2 hours of open bar
Snacks

Guacamole & Sauces Class
Full use of beach club facilities.

Tips
Transportation back to the Cruise Port (4 dlls per person)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Poncho's
avenida mahahual manzana 25 lote 9 sobre malecon de, 77976 Mahahual, Q.R., Mexico

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
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
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

Whitney_S

This is such an amazing experience!! Totally worth it. This is the best salsa and guacamole I’ve had, and I made it myself! 🤩 I definitely look forward to re-enacting my skills at home. Poncho and all his staff were so friendly and helpful. Open bar for two hours was nice. We got to sit on the beach while having drinks and making our dips. The ingredients were fresh. I would recommend this experience to anyone . 10/10 ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND! Perfect experience, def try for yourself.

Reviews

4.4

based on 143 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great salsa lesson, but No Salsa Dance

PatriciaHultz, Mar 2026

Our group booked the Salsa & Guacamole Beach Tour in Costa Maya and unfortunately the experience did not match the description or expectations. We arrived at 10:00 a.m. for our scheduled 10–2 tour and were immediately told the staff had no idea we had reservations. Shortly after being seated, we were informed another group of four would be arriving and asked to wait before beginning. Later we were told yet another group of four had reservations they also did not know about, so we were again asked to wait. Because of this, the salsa-making portion of the class did not begin until over an hour after the scheduled start time. The tour description mentioned a two-hour open bar, but drink service was extremely slow. Cups were limited, so after finishing a very small beer it could take over 30 minutes to receive another drink. Basic supplies were also limited. At one point a table of eight people had to share a single knife to cut avocados during the guacamole lesson. After the cooking portion ended, our group of twelve waited nearly an hour expecting the salsa dance lesson that was advertised. We asked several times and were repeatedly told it would begin shortly. Eventually we had to leave around 3:30 to return to our cruise ship, and as we were leaving we were told the dancing would start in about 15 minutes. Unfortunately we could not stay. To be fair, the salsa and guacamole lesson itself was enjoyable once it finally began. However, the overall experience felt very disorganized and unprepared for a group that had clearly made reservations in advance. Between the long delays, slow drink service, missing supplies, and the dance lesson never happening, the tour was not worth the price we paid and did not deliver what was advertised.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Patricia, Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your experience. We truly value all feedback, as it helps us improve and provide better service to our guests. First and foremost, I would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you and your group experienced during your visit. What you described does not reflect the level of organization, service, and experience that we aim to deliver. We deeply regret the confusion regarding your reservation upon arrival, as well as the delays in starting the activities. This is certainly not the standard we strive for, and we are currently reviewing our internal communication and check-in procedures to ensure situations like this do not happen again. Regarding the wait times, limited supplies, and slow beverage service, we understand how this impacted your overall experience. We are already addressing these operational gaps with our team to improve timing, resource allocation, and service flow—especially when managing multiple groups. We are especially sorry that the salsa dance lesson, which was part of the advertised experience, did not take place during your visit. We understand how disappointing this must have been, particularly given your schedule constraints, and we take full responsibility for not meeting expectations in this regard. That said, we truly appreciate your kind words about the salsa and guacamole lesson itself, and we are glad that portion was enjoyable once it began. Your feedback has been shared with our management and operations teams, and we are taking concrete steps to ensure a more seamless and enjoyable experience for future guests. If you are open to it, we would appreciate the opportunity to make this right. Please feel free to contact us directly so we can personally follow up with you. Thank you again for your honest feedback, and we hope to have the chance to provide you with the experience you originally expected. Warm regards, Stephanie Guest Experience Manager

Expensive Salsa

kharmon, Mar 2026

This experience is outdoors with constant interruptions by paddlers. The company didn't seem prepared to host the event the day we arrived, nor did they expect 2 other groups of 4 were coming. Throughout the day we experienced constant delays with our drink orders and even the food supplies required to make our salsa and guacamole. Being directly on the beach and the actual making of the salsa were the only redeeming qualities of this excursion. We even patiently waited for the salsa dancing to begin, but since the other 8 guests weren't interested in dancing, it appeared that the salsa dancing class was put on the back burner. As we were leaving, way past our scheduled time, the operator continued to offer services if we wait just a few more minutes. The restrooms were also less than desirable.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear kharmon, Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent experience with us. We truly appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your visit. We are very sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. What you described regarding delays in service, limited supplies, and overall organization is not the standard we aim to provide, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. We would like to clarify that our experience takes place in a natural beach setting, which can occasionally include external elements such as other visitors in the area. That said, we completely understand how interruptions may have impacted your enjoyment, and we are actively working on improving the flow and setup of the experience to create a more seamless environment for our guests. Regarding the salsa dancing portion, we regret that it did not take place as expected during your visit. While we always aim to adapt the experience to the group’s dynamic, we understand that this activity is part of what was advertised, and we are reinforcing our processes to ensure all key components are delivered consistently. We also take your comments about restroom conditions and service timing very seriously, and these have been shared with our operations team for immediate improvement. We truly appreciate your positive note about the beach setting and the salsa-making activity, and we are glad that part of the experience stood out. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us, and we are committed to making the necessary improvements. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much better and more complete experience in the future. Warm regards, Stephanie Guest Experience Manager

Erik made cooking fun and educational!!!!

Robyn_W, Mar 2026

It was a great excursion!...

Janet_C, Feb 2026

It was a great excursion! Eric , our instructor was very informative and made the experience fun and delicious! We made salsa and guacamole and got to eat it too! Definitely recommend this excursion!

It was a lot of fun! Eric...

carolyn_p, Feb 2026

It was a lot of fun! Eric our instructor was wonderful! The only drawback was the roaming locals selling their goods. I understand they are trying to make a living but it did take away from the experience.

Better than we expected

Annamarie_V, Feb 2026

We were worried about this excursion, some the reviews were not good . But we gave it a try !! So glad we did , it was so much fun !!! Learned how to make salsa , guacamole and salsa dance . The drinks were very good and actually had alcohol in them !!! We were a party of 8 friends ( couples ) and we all had a blast !!! Thank you for a great time

Made salsa but no salsa dancing

Michelle_C, Jan 2026

The experience was fun , however a little misleading. Chef Eric and his helpers were amazing , helpful and very knowledgeable and provided a great time. The reason I only gave this 4 stars is because of several reasons. 1 being there was no salsa dancing at all and 2 there were so many people crowding our table trying to sell all their merchandise. I understand that is the way the locals make their wages, however it was constant and at times overwhelming. If there would be a way to have the vendors come around after the class that would have been much more relaxing and the Viator needs to update the description of this excursion. It is only making salsa , guac amd you have 2 hours of unlimited certain drinks (margaritas , etc M which were very good) The area where we were to do the class was somewhat crowded overall we had fun , just disappointed that there was no salsa dancing as described in the Viator description

Poncho’s Beach Bar was...

Amy_S, Oct 2025

Poncho’s Beach Bar was Awesome! Delicious food making and great hospitality by the staff and Poncho himself, we will definitely be back!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Salsa & Salsa cooking class and your time at Poncho’s Beach Bar. Our team and Poncho himself truly appreciate your visit. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Pancho & Crew made it happen!!

Thomas_P, Aug 2025

Pancho & Angel made this experience worth ever dollar we spent! The weather cooperated with a nice breeze and comfortable temps. Water temp was perfect. Making and eating oir salsa and guacamole was both fun and interesting. Finishing with a salsa dancing lesson was the cherry on top for our day. Getting to and from Port by taxi was affordable and easy to accomplish with zero hassle both ways. Again, can't say enough about our experience!

Loved It!!!!! 😍

Whitney_S, Aug 2025

Bamboozled

Shay_L, Aug 2025

This activity, if we can call it that was absolutely awful. When we arrived, we were taken to a small table on the beach. No introductions were given. Ingredients, chips, and utensils were set out. We sat for a while and a man came and stated to add a tomato, garlic, and onion and walked away. We never saw him again. A while later another man came out and asked if we wanted Margarita's and that we had 2 hours of open bar. He also asked if we wanted him to bring out his speaker for music. Little did we know it would start with maybe 2 or 3 Latin songs and then switch over to Michael Jackson songs. Our activity became self guided because the guy also disappeared for a long time. Luckily 3 of us had did salsa and salsa elsewhere so we knew what to tell the other 3 in our party. Finally, the guy returns and he has drinks. I will not call them margaritas because I have no idea what those awful drinks were. The guy disappeared again with no instructions. Then, he returned with avocado and onions and says that it is for guacamole. He says how to cut the onion and avocado and disappears again. He never gave instructions to add the salsa to the guacamole. He finally returned to ask if we wanted something off the menu or more margaritas. A 3rd person walks up and says once you guys are done, we will do some salsa dancing. Needless to say, he never returned. My sister ordered ceviche. She received it and he disappeared again. We were so disappointed and just had to sit and wait for anyone to return to our table to even get the check. We decided to leave because this clearly wasn't the activity described on Viator. As we prepared to pay the check and order a taxi, the 2nd guy returns aggressively saying you know a tip is not included in the original price, you asked for margaritas and I got them for you (the nerve). We hadn't even had an opportunity to pay for food and even leave a tip. Aside from that, the experience was absolutely horrid and we paid over $400 in total for the experience. This experience felt like a scam. It should be labeled salsa no salsa, the self guided experience. My advice is to save your money and your time. 0 stars, do not recommend. This has probably been my worst experience through Viator which is shocking because my experiences are typically good.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Shay, We are truly sorry to hear about your experience and we feel deeply embarrassed that your visit turned out this way. This is not what we want for our guests, and we sincerely apologize that you did not receive the warm, guided, and enjoyable activity you expected and deserved. We honestly don’t know what happened that day, but your feedback makes it clear that we failed in providing the level of service we promise. Please know that we are already reviewing this situation with our team to make sure it never happens again. Your time and trust mean a lot to us, and it saddens us to know we disappointed you. With sincere apologies,

Scammers- STAY AWAY! No salsa dancing

gibbonscineve, Jul 2025

The title says salsa and salsa cooking class + beach day. We never received any salsa dancing class as is listed in the title. This provider is definitely trying to prey and hunt on the tourist looking for the shore listed excursion experience which includes the dancing lesson. When asked, we were told no dancing lessons. The instructor went to find dancing street performers for us to pay an additional fee for learning. There was no teaching, history, or lessons during the salsa making class either just a half way walk through of the steps. We were not offered any snorkeling equipment for the beach day. When looking at Google reviews, others have warned that this provider and restaurant are scammers and to stay away. I would not recommend anyone booking this experience. Looking for a refund.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Guest, We are truly sorry to hear about your experience. Please accept our sincere apologies, as this is far from the level of service and hospitality we want to provide. We regret that your visit did not match the description of the experience, and we understand how frustrating and disappointing this must have been for you and your group. We honestly do not know what went wrong that day, but your feedback makes it clear that we failed to deliver the activity as promised. We are already addressing this matter internally with our team to ensure that such a situation never happens again. With our sincere apologies,

Salsa Sensation!

Grace_F, Jul 2025

Ponchos restaurant salsa and salsa class was amazing! The staff is so kind and accommodating. When my family and I arrived we were the only ones there, which was a surprise, but the staff were very quick to make us feel welcomed. We were very pleasantly surprised by the experience. The salsa and guacamole was amazing and the experience is very flexible to fit whatever your family wants. They brought out as many drinks as we wanted. I would highly recommend asking your instructor about the area. It was so interesting to hear about Costa Maya outside of the cruise port! We also had their red snapper Mayan style and it was out of this world amazing. Noah and Poncho were an amazing hosts. My whole family would highly recommend this experience.

Salsa fun

Amy_L, May 2025

We really enjoyed this tour. We ended up only doing the cooking part and cancelled the beach part / dancing. This was because we had too much sun on the previous day & were afraid to get more sun. However, the cooking class was fun. We made salsa, guac and she even taught us how to make margaritas the "proper" way. Their instructions on where to meet up were easy to follow. It was a unique experience.

Great Family Tour

NIRUPA_R, May 2025

Really nice few hours with the family making salsa, learning some salsa steps and taking a quick dip.

Salsa and Guacamole

Maria_S, May 2025

The excursion takes place at Poncho’s Restaurant. If arriving at the port, you need to make your way to the Taxi stand and take a cab for about 10 minutes to the restaurant. We had a fun experience with Eric, our instructor, who taught us how to make his family’s salsa and guacamole. Six of us participated along with another family of 4. Each group had its own table. After making the 2 dishes we purchased some fish which was cooked and prepared for us. There is an opportunity to take part in salsa dancing classes. We did not participate in this portion, but the other family did and appeared to be having fun. It was an enjoyable time.

An authentic experience...

Melissa_T, Apr 2025

An authentic experience with great people! Fresh ingredients to make salsa and guac. Eric was amazing.

Perfect day

Deborah_F, Apr 2025

It was a bit scary not knowing where we going at first but it turned out amazing. Had to tell the driver who took us to beach club the fare there was included. The guacamole and the salsa making was fun. There is beach time too. Learning the Salsa dance was entertaining. We got a massage right there on the beach as well. It was amazing and totally worth the $40.00 for 30 min. We got back to port early enough to enjoy some shopping. Would highly recommend this.

We really enjoyed...

Erika_R, Mar 2025

We really enjoyed ourselves it was nice and peaceful. Got confused about the transportation but everything work out. The food was soooooo delicious

Great experience

Patricia_F, Mar 2025

Eric was wonderful. The salsa and guacamole turned out great. I was we’ll taken care of during this venture!

Hard to find the driver...

Abby_R, Mar 2025

Hard to find the driver to get to excursion, but such a good experience! You are definitely on an “island time” schedule which is great if you don’t have tight time restraints. Overall super fun!

A Fun & Unique Experience

Bruce_M, Mar 2025

A very unique and fun experience. Eric, our host was amazing, his culinary skills and knowledge was amazing. The beach setting was great. If you would like something a little different this is it

It was a great way to...

Jeanette_R, Mar 2025

It was a great way to spend a couple hours. Learning how to make salsa and guacamole the right way. It was fun and hands on. Our chef Uleses (not proper spelling) was very knowledgeable and demonstrated in a way that was easy to learn. A1

Salsa and guac lesson was...

wmx4bd5kct, Feb 2025

Salsa and guac lesson was pretty good. Beach break was fine no towels provided. The bathroom was a bit run down but clean. The bad part was the salsa “lesson” they got a random street vendor to dance with us and it really was not a lesson. I felt uncomfortable and quickly left but the waiter demanded a tip. all in all I would not recommend this tour

Great Small Group Experience

Michael_D, Feb 2025

Fun event right on the beach with people that really know how to make salsa and guacamole. Getting out of the Costa Maya Port was a little difficult. But you just need to find the taxi area and have them take you to the Pancho's Bar and Restaurant about 2 miles away. It's right on the beach. Pancho paid the taxi driver for our trip there.

This was an amazing...

Michael_M, Feb 2025

This was an amazing afternoon for us! We did this with our 13 yo boy and 10 yo girls and all of us had a great time. It was a very relaxing afternoon. Eric was our guide and he was incredible! Friendly, outgoing, and so kind. We had trouble finding the meeting point and were 45min late. Eric was still waiting for us and was so patient and told us not to worry, that he was here to give us a great day. We didn’t feel rushed at all. Drinks, salsa, and guacamole were delicious. Salsa lesson was fun too! However, it was Eric that made the day so special. Thank you Eric and Poncho!

Great day!!

Bryan_M, Feb 2025

We made the freshest salsa and guacamole I’ve ever had!! Eric was the best!! We also enjoyed shopping at the little shops.

A great experience if they limited bookings for excellent service

Sarah_T, Feb 2025

This is a beautiful beach class where you assemble prepared ingredients. The day we went it seemed unorganized and overbooked. We paid for 4 adults to do the class, and they only had supplies for 2 when we arrived. Also, we were not able to eat our creations without chips...and they were hard to come by. The free drinks were slow coming. I wish they would set time slots for this and limit those they have staff and supplies to serve. We headed back to the ship before the dance lesson was arranged. We asked about it for several times. The staff was working hard, but there were just too many bookings to serve.

Amazing day in Mexico!

Andjay_B, Feb 2025

A little confusing to start - where to meet your guide, but once we got that figured out the rest of the day was AMAZING! Met great people and Eric, our guide and chef/dancer was fantastic!