Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

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

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Overview

Take a cooking class with a local chef and learn to make authentic Mexican dishes. The class begins with a discussion about the items on the lunch menu, then it’s off to a nearby market to shop for ingredients. Back in the classroom/kitchen, help prepare the meal as you learn about local cuisine and culinary techniques. Once the cooking is done, enjoy the home-cooked meal together.

Cooking class with a local
Small groups—maximum of 8 people
Market visit and recipes included
Lunch included

Sample Menu

Starter

Side Dishes

Prepare two traditional Mexican salsas, and two types of guacamole served with tortilla chips.

Main

Main Dish Options (choose one)

Mole Poblano w/ Chicken, Green Mole w/ Chicken, Pork or Fish (Mexico City)

Main

Main Dish Options

Tiikin Xic Fish (Yucatan), A la Talla Fish (Guerrero), Fish a la Veracruzana (Veracruz), Cochinita or Chicken Pibil (Yucatan)

Main

Main Dish Options

Tostadas w/ beef or fish (Mexico City), Fresh Fish Ceviche (Caribbean), Chicken Tinga (Mexico City), Tacos al Pastor (Mexico City)

Main

Main Dish Options

Chile Relleno w/ cheese or shrimp & cheese, Chiles en Nogada (Puebla) and only available in August.

What's Included

Lunch

All ingredients for cooking your meal (multi-course/ multi-dishes).
Bottled water

Bottled water and traditional Mexican aqua frescas will be provided.
Small-group cooking class - limited to 8 people.
Print out of recipes.

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transportation to/from class (although we are happy to provide info on how to get to class.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

DAC Verduras y Frutas
30 Avenida Nte. Manzana 34 Lote 10, entre Constituyentes y Calle 22, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
Please meet Isa at the local market before heading to her home kitchen. DAC is located on 30 Avenida Norte Mz 34 lote 10, entre Constituyentes y Calle 22, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R. After the market tour, Isa will transport you to her home kitchen.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.11:00 am

What To Expect

DAC Verduras y Frutas

Additional Info

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

Vegans & vegetarians welcome.
No children under the age of 8. Children 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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

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

Kelly_Z

This was an exceptional experience. It was fun, engaging, educational, enlightening, and we couldn’t praise its value enough. From shopping for peppers to practicing charring techniques to enjoying the meal, this was everything we’d hoped for. Absolutely loved it.

Reviews

4.8

based on 40 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Isa was unbelievable! She...

Donald_M, Jul 2026

Isa was unbelievable! She was very welcoming and very polite! She was very impressive showing us how to prepare various local foods

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you so much for your kind review. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time with Isa and that she made you feel so welcome. She loves sharing her passion for Mexican cuisine, and we’re glad you enjoyed learning how to prepare a variety of local dishes. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

Great experience!

Kevin_V, Mar 2026

We had such a great time cooking and learning about the food we made. Issa was so kind and gracious.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Kevin, thank you so much for your review. We’re glad to hear you had such a great time cooking and learning, and that Isa made the experience feel warm and welcoming. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share, and hope to see you again in the future.

Cooked and ate a...

Patricia_C, Mar 2026

Cooked and ate a delicious meal. Had a private class due to others cancelling because of the situation in Puerto Vallarta. Isa was wonderful, very informative and welcoming. Enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in her outside kitchen. Probably our best meal while in Playa.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Patricia, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re so glad you enjoyed the class with Isa and that the afternoon in her outdoor kitchen turned into such a special experience. It’s wonderful to hear that you found the class informative and welcoming, and that the meal was a highlight of your time in Playa. We truly appreciate you taking the time to leave your review, and hope to see you on your future visits to the Caribbean.

BEST part of our vacation!

Suzanne_R, Nov 2025

The BEST part of our vacation! One of our favorite travel traditions is taking a local cooking class wherever we go, and our experience with Chef Isa in Playa del Carmen was absolutely wonderful. Isa and her husband are both chefs who owned a restaurant for many years before deciding to focus on teaching cooking classes—something that allows her to share her love of Mexican cuisine while balancing family life. Our class started at a local market, where Isa walked us through the aisles explaining local ingredients and their uses. She took the time to show us different varieties of peppers, comparing how they look and taste when raw versus dried, and explaining how each adds a unique flavor to Mexican dishes. After gathering our ingredients, we walked to her, welcoming kitchen where Isa’s sweet mother-in-law joined us to help with the meal preparation. We each had our own cutting board and apron, and Isa quickly had us chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro—all while sharing cooking tips and bits of culinary history. We made several dishes, including a traditional guacamole and a creative version with pomegranate seeds and ginger that I can’t wait to recreate at home. We also prepared a flavorful green sauce (my husband’s favorite), a smoky roasted salsa, and the star of the meal—chicken tinga, cooked in several delicious variations. Everything we made was bursting with flavor, and by the end of the class, we were happily stuffed full of goodness. Isa’s English was excellent, her instructions were easy to follow, and her enthusiasm for teaching made the whole experience fun and relaxed. Her mother-in-law even served us a refreshing hibiscus tea that perfectly complemented the meal. Every bite was YUMMY, and the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for authentic Mexican cooking. We’ll definitely keep up our tradition of taking cooking classes on vacation—and Chef Isa’s class will be hard to beat! You can sign up with her directly for a cooking class at emily@cozumelchef.com. Thank you Chef Isa!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful and thoughtful review, Suzzane. We’re thrilled to hear that your class with Chef Isa became the highlight of your vacation, especially since cooking classes are part of your travel tradition. It’s great to know how much you enjoyed starting at the local market and learning about the ingredients that make Mexican cuisine so special. We’re delighted that Isa’s kitchen felt welcoming, that her mother-in-law added to the experience, and that you enjoyed having your own space to prep and cook. Hearing how much you loved the dishes truly means a lot. Isa puts so much heart into teaching, and we’re glad her enthusiasm, clear instruction, and hospitality made the class memorable for you. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We’re honored to be part of your travel tradition, and it’s wonderful to hear that Isa’s class will be hard to beat.

This was an exceptional...

Kelly_Z, Jul 2025

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Kelly, thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear the experience checked all the boxes: fun, educational, and delicious! From selecting the perfect peppers to learning new cooking techniques and savoring the final meal, it sounds like you embraced it all. We truly appreciate your praise and hope to welcome you again for another flavorful adventure!

Try something different!

Natalie_E, Feb 2025

My freind and I decided on this class, It was wonderful! Isa is lovely and very patient and knowledgable! We had four in class and it was great, the other two were fun, couldn’t have asked for anything better. The food was awesome and I feel I can incorporate many of the ideas into other recipes! We even had cactus and it was pretty good!

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Natalie, thank you for joining Isa’s class! We're so glad you and your friend had a wonderful time. Small group settings make for such a fun and interactive experience, and it’s great to hear you enjoyed both the food and the company. Trying new ingredients like cactus is always an adventure, and we love that you’re excited to incorporate what you learned into your own cooking. Hope to see you again for more delicious discoveries!

Great class. Lot of fun.

Robert_A, Jan 2025

It’s was a great teacher. At DAC she explained the different chiles and other ingredients. Her apartment is set up well for cooking and prepping ingredients. The recipes were wonderful and not difficult. The food was plentiful and delicious. We look forward to trying to repeat at home.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Robert, thank you so much for your kind words! We're very happy to hear you enjoyed learning about the different chiles and ingredients, and that the cooking experience was both fun and delicious. It's wonderful to know you're eager to recreate the recipes at home, we're sure you'll do great! We look forward to welcoming you again for another culinary adventure!

An cooking class not to be missed.

jon_b, Jan 2025

An excellent experience. A broad selection of local cuisine with the tour participants involved in all aspects of preparation and cooking of the food. And of course then there was the consumption of what we had created, which was icing on the cake! The chef was incredibly knowledgeable and personable.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Jon, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the hands-on experience of preparing and cooking a variety of authentic local dishes. Sharing the fruits of your labor is always the most rewarding part, and we're glad it was such a highlight for you. Our chefs love sharing their knowledge and passion, and it’s great to know you found the experience engaging and enjoyable. We hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure!

Excellent cooking experience!

Denise_R, Jan 2025

Loved the local market tour learning the local fruits and vegetables. Small group in local apartment cooking food.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Denise, thank you for your 5-star review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the market tour at the beginning. Cooking together in an intimate setting truly makes it special, and we’re thrilled you found it memorable. We hope to see you again for more culinary adventures in Cozumel!

Very fun experience...

Tiffany_H, Dec 2024

Very fun experience leaning how to make authentic Mexican food. We left full and happy. It takes a good chunk of the day (for us, it was approx 4 hours) so factor that in when booking. We did not have anything else planned for the day and it was perfect. Instructions to find meeting location was accurate and easy to navigate. Isa was very friendly and taught us about the various kinds of dried peppers. Def recommend this experience in Playa del Carmen.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Tiffany, thank you for your kind words and 5-star review! We’re so happy to hear you had a fun and fulfilling experience learning to make Mexican food with Isa. It's great to know that the instructions were helpful and that the timing worked well with your plans for the day. Isa is passionate about sharing her knowledge of Mexican ingredients and it’s wonderful to see that it enhanced your experience. Thanks for recommending this experience, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to Playa del Carmen!

Tortillas and more!

Suzanne_G, Nov 2024

Small group cooking class. Learned how to make tortillas and a variety of dishes. Fun and delicious!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Suzanne, Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re happy you enjoyed the small group setting and had fun learning how to make tortillas and other delicious dishes. It’s wonderful to hear you found it both enjoyable and tasty—exactly what we aim for! We’d love to have you join us again in the future.

Chef Isa presented a fabulous cooking class!

Sandie_D, Oct 2024

Chef Isa did an excellent job teaching us about Mexican food at the store and in her kitchen! The food was delicious!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Sandie, thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Chef Isa provided an excellent experience. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the delicious food and learned more about Mexican cuisine. We hope to see you again for more culinary adventures!

Awesome and delicious

Sheryl_F, Jul 2024

we had a wonderful time with Isa and learned so much! I am now a confident tortilla maker and looking forward to adding some of the foods we cooked into our family dinner rotations! This was a highlight of our trip, and one we won't forget! Thank you Isa!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Sheryl, thank you so much for your kind words and excellent review! We're very happy to hear you had a great time with Isa and learned a lot. It was a pleasure having you, and we’re glad this experience was a highlight of your trip.

Excellent! Don’t miss this.

Lonnie_S, Jul 2024

We had an awesome experience at this Mexican cooking class. Upon arrival our hostess greeted us in front of the building. Once we were all gathered we went to the third floor of the building where the class would be held. Heads up: the climb up the steps was grueling for a senior citizen such as myself. If one has any type of disability I would not recommend this activity due to the steps. We then went to a local market to purchase the supplies for the meal preparation. This was actually one of my favorite parts of the activity. Lots of locals at the market. Surely not a tourist type place. We returned to the venue and began preparing our lunch. Everyone was included in the preparation with many tasks to be undertaken. The hostess made sure no one was embarrassed if their task did not go well. My daughter is very high functioning autistic but I did not want her cooking tortillas over a hot stove. The rest of the group supported her and she ended up doing a super job with the tortillas! Finally it was time to eat. Our main dishes were chilis rellenos and tacos al pastor. Amazingly delicious! Plus we had prepared many side dishes which were outstanding. Upon our return to the US the hostess sent us recipes for the food we had prepared. Our hostess was charming and made sure everyone in the group was having a good time. I highly recommend this experience.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Hola Lonnie! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're glad that you had an awesome time at our cooking class with Isa. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the market visit and the hands-on meal preparation. We're glad your daughter had a positive experience with the group’s support. It's fantastic to know that you found the dishes delicious and enjoyed the recipes sent afterward, I'm sure you'll soon master the recipe yourselves. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

Amazing Class

Bret_G, Feb 2024

We had a blast with Chef Isa and crew! They took us to a local market and explained some of the ingredients that we would be using. The Mole Poblano and Chicken Pibil were amazing and she even gave us the recipe we used, which was her mother's recipe.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Bret, thank you for sharing your fantastic experience with Chef Isa and her crew! It's wonderful that you enjoyed the visit to the local market and the insightful explanations about the ingredients you used in the dishes. We're delighted to know that Chef Isa shared her mother's recipe with you! Your feedback means a lot to us, and we're so glad you enjoyed every aspect of your time with us. We hope to welcome you back for more culinary delights in the future!

Definitely book this experience! Wonderful!

Lisa_F, Dec 2023

Chef Isla was welcoming and so knowledgeable about the ingredients. She taught us how to use all the parts of each ingredient and understand the love Mayans have for cooking. It was an educational and fun experience shopping at the local market and then cooking with her and others like family.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Lisa, thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that Isa was not only welcoming but also exceptionally knowledgeable about the ingredients, she's the best! We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for more enriching culinary adventures!

Great Traditional Culinary Experience

Peter_G, Nov 2023

This was a great culinary experience. Wonderful hosts who carefully explained every part of the meal from buying fresh food at a local market to preparing the sauces and main meal. We enjoyed helping with several traditional Mexican dishes and then eating everything afterwards. This was a great afternoon that I would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thank you for sharing your wonderful culinary experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the process, from selecting fresh ingredients at the local market to preparing sauces and the main meal. Your recommendation is truly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable experiences. Thanks for choosing Cozumel Chef!

Cooking Class

Amanda_L, Aug 2022

The chefs were amazing - good time and great food! Lovely to learn how to cook authentic food from locals in a small group setting.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for your 5-star review! We're very happy to hear that you had a good time and enjoyed great food during your experience with us at Playa del Carmen. Our chefs truly appreciate your kind words. It's always a pleasure to share our culinary expertise, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more amazing food and memorable experiences in the future. Thanks for choosing Cozumel Chef!

Fabulous authentic cooking class

Danny_H, Jun 2022

Fantastic morning started by heading to a local market with Isa. She shared her knowledge of the local ingredients and showed us the produce that we would be using for the dish we chose (Chicken Tinga). Once back at the apartment we met her partner Pavel who also helps with the class. They show you how they want things chopped and then let you get hands on with everything, making various salsas and guacamoles and even learning to make fresh tacos. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the company as we got to enjoy the delicious authentic food we made. Can’t wait to entertain at home using the recipes provided. Couldn’t recommend this experience more!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your 5-star review and for sharing your fantastic experience with Cozumel Chef! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your morning with Isa and Pavel, exploring the local market, and creating delicious dishes like Chicken Tinga, salsas, guacamoles, and fresh tacos. We're thrilled that you had a great time and are excited to try the recipes at home. Your kind words mean the world to us, and we'd love to welcome you back anytime. Thanks for choosing Cozumel Chef, and until next time, happy cooking!

Awesome experience and awesome food

Henry_G, Mar 2020

Awesome class! The visit to the market and the cooking experience was awesome! The chef was really knowledgeable about the local ingredients and the food she made was amazing! This is a “must do” if you are visiting.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome experience with us at Cozumel Chef. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the market visit, the cooking experience, and the knowledge our chef shared about local ingredients. We're delighted that you found the food amazing, and we truly appreciate your kind words. We agree that it's a "must-do" when visiting, and we'd love to welcome you back for another fantastic culinary adventure in the future. Thanks for choosing Cozumel Chef!

Great Cooking Class

Trisha_W, Oct 2019

This was a fantastic in-home experience. We were introduced to the ingredients at the market and then our wonderful host showed us how to prepare a delicious meal! Highly recommended. The share the recipes with you via e-mail at the end.

Response from Host, Oct 2019

We are so glad that you join Chef Is in her home kitchen for the day. Thank you for joining us! We are happy to have made this a highlight to your trip and that you got a chance to taste Authentic Mexican Food. We do hope you get another chance to visit Playa. Happy cooking!!

It was like cooking with a friend

Beckie_E, May 2019

This is something we had always talked about when visiting other cultures with such strong emphasis on their food. It seemed that we were always going home and trying to recreate what we ate because we loved it so much. This time we thought we would go ahead and take a little cooking class that taught us how. And boy are we glad we did! Isa showed us how to pick out good avocados and introduced us to a new fruit we had never seen nor heard of before. She showed us how to make tortillas and had us doing it in no time. We talked while we chopped and created a wonderful meal and she was very generous with her knowledge and let us pick here brain. We had a very nice time and the food was delicious.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hola Beckie, thank you for sharing your cooking experience with us! It's fantastic to hear how Isa guided you through the process, from selecting avocados to creating tortillas, while generously sharing her culinary knowledge. We're thrilled that you had a very nice time, and the delicious meal you prepared together added to the enjoyment of the day. If you ever decide to join us again for more culinary adventures or have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Thanks for choosing Cozumel Chef!