Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Panajachel, Guatemala
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Find out what’s bubbling in the typical Guatemalan kitchen during this 4-hour cooking class near Lake Atitlan. Spend your session gaining a hands-on understanding of three Guatemalan dishes, discovering the blend of Mayan and Spanish colonial flavors that give this Central American cuisine its unique taste. You’ll finish class by enjoying a tasty lunch of the dishes you prepared, and recipe book to recreate the dishes in the future. Optional upgrades featuring private lessons and visits to the market are also available.
- Take a Mayan cooking class near Panjachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan
- Get hands-on experience preparing three typical Guatemalan dishes
- Learn about the unique blend of Mayan and Spanish colonial influences on Guatemalan cuisine
- Enjoy the fruits of your labor during a tasty lunch of the dishes you prepared
- Includes a recipe book so you can recreate your favorites later
Sample Menu
Starter
Tamalitos
small tamales served with a sauce.
Main
Pepian
The most traditional of all Guatemala dishes. Uses a blend of 13 ingredients in the sauce. Can be served with chicken or veggie style using tofu.
What's Included
- Gourmet lunch, that you help preparing
- Instruction and the opportunity to enjoy the dishes you prepare
- A printed copy of the recipes you prepared
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala
Address: Calle Principal Santa Cruz La Laguna, Solola, 07008 Guatemala Directions: Meet us at the CECAP building in Santa Cruz La Laguna. From the boat dock in Santa Cruz, walk to take a taxi up the road to the village. The CECAP building is easy to find. Dates: Monday thru Friday
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Los Elementos Adventure Center
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wheelchair accessible
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Clayton_B
We had an amazing time at the cooking class. The chef was patient and informative. It was very fun learning about the local ingredients and indigenous techniques used in the different courses. The class is taught at a woman owned nonprofit vocational school that provides training and job placement for local people. We ate at the fabulous restaurant and purchased some things made on site to support this effort as well. I highly recommend taking this class!
Reviews
5.0
based on 30 reviews
Corey_S, Feb 2026
It was an authentic experience and the instructor was very kind and patient. The food was also delicious!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much! 😊
We’re happy to hear you had an authentic experience and enjoyed the class. We’ll share your kind words with the instructor—and we’re glad you loved the food too!
Vadim_G, Jan 2026
Interesting, if a little somber and not as fun as other cooking classes we’ve done elsewhere. The team has done a great job plating what we cooked - that was unique. Seeing our dishes plated with artistic flair was super cool.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback!
We’re glad you enjoyed the presentation and plating—that’s something we love to make special and memorable! We also appreciate your perspective, as each cooking experience can feel a bit different depending on the style and focus.
Your comments help us continue improving, and we hope to have you join us again for another experience in the future
Clayton_B, Dec 2025
We had an amazing time at the cooking class. The chef was patient and informative. It was very fun learning about the local ingredients and indigenous techniques used in the different courses. The class is taught at a woman owned nonprofit vocational school that provides training and job placement for local people. We ate at the fabulous restaurant and purchased some things made on site to support this effort as well. I highly recommend taking this class!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words!
We’re really happy to hear you had a great and meaningful experience with our team. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed it, and we truly appreciate your recommendation.
We hope to welcome you again for another adventure soon
Julie_S, Aug 2025
Favorite experience of our trip! Alicia and Vanessa were so kind, knowledgeable and friendly. We learned not just how to cook Mayan cuisine, but also about their culture.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! ❤️ Alicia will be absolutely thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed the experience. We’re honored by your enthusiastic recommendation.
We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon. If there’s anything you’d like next time or any questions at all, feel free to reach out!
Hannah_B, Jun 2025
Alicia is truly the sweetest woman in town. It was an incredible experience and we cannot recommend it more highly!! Sign up sign up sign up!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! ❤️ Alicia will be absolutely thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed the experience. We’re honored by your enthusiastic recommendation.
We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon. If there’s anything you’d like next time or any questions at all, feel free to reach out!
Chris_C, Jun 2025
I highly recommend La Casa de Alicia. Alicia & her family were incredibly amazing and welcoming. If you’re looking for a cooking class, just a short boat ride from Panajachel, I highly recommend booking with Alicia.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for recommending the cooking class—your kind words mean a lot! Alicia and her family have such a genuine way of making every guest feel like part of their home. It’s great to hear that the cooking class, just a short boat ride from Panajachel, left such a positive impression.
Holly_B, May 2025
Fun cooking class, tasty fresh food, friendly and informative host!
My mom and I really enjoyed the experience
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our team is happy that you enjoyed the class and your visit to Santa Cruz La Laguna. We hope to see you again soon,
Joana_S, May 2025
This was such a fun experience! I would recommend anyone visiting Lake Atitlan to try. Our class had 5 people and everyone was able to participate in every step of the process. We were able to pick out what dish we wanted to make & the food came out so tasty. We made a main dish, dessert & they even served fresh homemade juice. Alice & her son were so hospitable and made the experience that much better. We were able to feel fully immersed in the culture, which is always the most beautiful aspect of traveling!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback. Our team is happy that you enjoyed the class and
your visit to Santa Cruz La Laguna. We hope to see you again soon,
Rebecca_H, Mar 2025
Alicia (and family) were very welcoming into their home and shop. We enjoyed learning to make a traditional recipe and it was one of our favorite meals of the trip! We were also introduced to Rosa de Jamaica. This activity is highly recommended.
Jazmean_W, Mar 2025
Alicia was absolutely wonderful! The food was so fresh and tasted so delicious. And Jared was so helpful with translating between Spanish and English. I definitely recommend anyone who is in Santa Cruz to go and enjoy having a nice lunch/dinner
Thomas_V, Nov 2024
Amazing class! Multiple options for traditional dishes to make. Alicia is great and her son was translating perfectly from Spanish to English. We loved this class, food was delicious!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your positive feedback, and for supporting our local families in their business.
BrianPica, Nov 2024
10/10 experience! The food was delicious and it was very hands on! Two of her boys were also very helpful explaining in English when stuff got lost in translation. Highly recommend!
Tia_C, May 2024
We felt very lucky to go to her home and taste her delicious cooking! We had so much fun and it was a wonderful experience. We were running late and Alicia and Vanessa waited for us. We never got a recipe unfortunately.
Brad_E, May 2024
Alfredo and Jessica led our class and helped us make a delicious dinner that was then served to us in their restaurant. We made tortillas, a corn appetizer, chicken and vegetable sauce served with rice, and a chocolate dessert with plantains. Alfredo involved all participants, was able to communicate well in english, answered any questions, and made sure we had an overall exceptional experience. Highly recommend!
Karl_S, Mar 2024
Alicia’s cooking class was awesome. She is so friendly, and easy to talk to about everything. We loved learning all about the food we were preparing and the culture and history it comes from. Sharing the meal we made with her and her husband was a highlight. Definitely recommend.
Summer_K, Jul 2023
We absolutely LOVED our cooking class with Alicia and our translator Macie. It felt like having lunch with friends, and our meal was delicious! Alicia taught us traditional cooking techniques and even served us coffee grown in her own garden! We learned a lot about the local area, customs, people, and history. Would absolutely recommend this experience if you are visiting Lake Atitlan!
Ricardo_M, Dec 2022
Getting to Santa Cruz la Laguna was a bit of a challenge! regardless, I took a private boat from Panajachel , then a tuk-tuk from the docks to the cook’s home, the tour organizer was very helpful and communicative, the chef/instructor was super helpful and patient with us and everything was well worth it! The kitchen is very nice, she tough us how to make tortillas from scratch! After all the food is cooked, you get to enjoy it by eating with a beautiful view of the lake and volcanoes!
Emily M, Feb 2018
Great experience, learned a lot about the Mayan culture while making some delicious food. Easy place to find with beautiful views.
Lina_L, Jan 2025
Fue una experiencia maravillosa. Alicia es muy amable y enseña con tanto amor. Su casa impecable, amé sus ollas de barro, las quería todas para mi casa, y la comida deliciosa. También su hijo hizo un trabajo increíble en su labor de traductor con las personas que no hablaban español. Realmente quería vivir una experiencia autentica en Guatemala y siento que la pude vivir en la casa de Alicia.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Muchas gracias por tus comentarios positivos. Lo compartiré con Alicia y su hijo.
From $65.50
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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