1. We are a family of foodies and we’re looking forward to learning to cook Mexican entrees and techniques to prepare delicious Mexican dishes. Almost none of that actually happens. 2. The salsa en molcajete and guacamole prep were simple and straightforward and informative. After that, not so much. 3. The guide was in a huge hurry to get ingredients on and off the grill, so the salsa was more difficult to prepare because some of the ingredients had not been adequately grilled. 3. The chilies with queso were okay, but we were given no information about even the types of chilies or cheese that were used. 4. The enchiladas were so bland. The enchilada sauce tasted canned and was not prepared in front of us. The chicken had no seasoning, not even salt. They were worse than the most awful fast food Mexican place in the U.S. so disappointed as we were really hoping to learn how to prepare an authentic enchilada sauce, even if time didn’t permit the entire preparation in a hands-on environment. 5. The dessert was prepared entirely by the guide, without even an explanation of ingredients used or the preparation that was done, The guide did try to engage with the guests, but he seemed mired in committing to trying to be funny, dancing, etc., than being a cooking instructor. His antics were tiring. The bus was in awful condition; worn out, dirty and HOT! The AC probably only worked for the driver; we were in the front seat and it was swelteringly hot. We thought we would be offered cold water when we boarded the bus, especially because it was so warm and we had a 30 minute journey. No such luck. While the driver had a bottle of water, we were not offered any until we reached the destination. The driver made an unscheduled stop at a convenience store in the last little village we drove through. He was gone a few minutes and we were hoping he’d return with ice water, but it was not meant to be. A real disappointment of a tour. The first Viator tour I would discourage people from taking.. While most (including us) are here on vacation we try to go on tours/experiences that would provide an experience we can all enjoy as our time is limited, this was one that felt like we could have spent our time better on something else. This is definitely not something that we have come to expect from viator.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- open concept bus
- Bottled water
- Tequila/Mezcal Tasting only to adults 18+
- lemon margaritas
- Lunch
Excludes
- towels
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- The Bus LEAVES at 10:30am NO EXCEPTIONS. The meeting point will be at a BIG MIRROR ON THE WALL located outside NIMA BAY which is across the street from V Marina.
Return
- The Bus LEAVES at 10:30am NO EXCEPTIONS. The meeting point will be at a BIG MIRROR ON THE WALL located outside NIMA BAY which is across the street from V Marina.
Itinerary
We will drive to to La Dulce Vista, where a spectacular jungle and river scenery await. Enjoy the fun of a beginner's enthusiast meal preparation with the freshest ingredients we bought to make local dishes such as a Mexican Salsa Molcajete, a mouthwatering Guacamole, and the Mexican classic: Chicken Enchiladas. (vegetarian version available) we will also do a Chile Jalapeño filled with shrimp and cheese and finish with some Platano Macho for dessert. We will continue with the tasting of our own artisanal Mezcal (the cousin of Tequila) along with our own brand of Tequilas (Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, Pink and Extra Aged) organically made in small batches. At the end of the experience, you can enjoy the swimming pool, jacuzzis, green areas, and Hammocks! A unique and tasty day to spend at a gorgeous hidden mountainside location. With an amazing atmosphere great food and long-lasting memories. *Must be over 18 years old to be able to do the Mezcal & Tequila tasting *BRING SWIMSUIT
Food Menus
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Please know that when you do this during the summer the can they have has little to no aircon. You will be passing by a rough road. We cane from Marina Vallarta and it took about 40-45 minutes to get to the venue. The staff were great and accommodating. Valeria did a very great job in teaching us how to cook salsa molcajete, salsa guacamole, chicken enchiladas and the platano dessert. However, she forgot to give us the recipe of everything. In case, Valeria come across this review please send the recipes to me at mayana_jocson@yahoo.com. It is very important that I get them so I can share with family. Thank you!
This was amazing! We book several excursions during our visits to PV and this one ranks in our top two! Val was so sweet and taught us some great cooking tips. Our driver (name?) was fun and kept us entertained. After our delicious lunch and drinks we had a dip in the resort style pool. The grounds of the ranch were beautiful and we wished to have stayed all day. We will be doing this again. Thank you for such a wonderful day.
Delicious! Valeria was a great host. After standing by the grill, the pool was nice and refreshing after we ate. Be prepared for a bumpy ride to and from, but definitely worth it. Highly recommend.
We had a lovely day with Miguel. I can’t say that we did any deep learning, but we had fun. Our 13 year old daughter wasn’t sure she was going to like it and thanked us multiple times during the lesson for the experience. The road to get to Dulce Vista is harrowing…but part of the real Mexican experience. Hahahahaha. We had all the drinks we could have, we enjoyed the food we prepared and had a relaxing chat under the cover until it was time to go home.
The meetup was easy to find. Valeria picked us up and we were driven to the Rancho resort. We first did a tequila tasting that was fun with Israel, really nice and happy guy. We moved on to our mexican cooking class in which we learned to make authentic salsa, guacamole, chicken enchiladas and fried plantains . Valeria is a great teacher and she is very funny and easy going. Following our outdoor class, we relaxed in the resort pool . It was really nice to just chill out and enjoy our unlimited margaritas.
It was excellent and we really enjoyed the menu. We had a small group of 4, and the chef was very good, and informative. The bus ride was fun except for the narrow roads, on the cliff to the resort.
We had a little trouble finding the pick up spot. We loved our experience. Valeria was an amazing teacher. We took the cooking class and left with yummy recipes. Great afternoon.
This was a fabulous activity. Valeria was great and made the cooking and prep a lot of fun for all. The food turned out delicious and our whole group enjoyed it. The location is definitely off the beaten path, but turned out to be a bit of an oasis and was really lovely. The one recommendation I have for the group there at La Dulce Vista is that they may have to invest in repairs to their bus (or a new one). There was no air conditioning and one of the seats had come partially loose. I can tell they are a small group that is working hard at their tours, so I hope they are able to get that upgraded! Don’t let that deter you, though! This was a lot of fun and a great way to spend the afternoon.
The tour, transportation, and facilities were all very nice, making the day smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. Valeria, our guide, was absolutely charming—her knowledge, enthusiasm, and attentive care made every stop more meaningful. She went out of her way to ensure everyone felt comfortable and engaged, adding a personal touch that elevated the experience. Lex, our driver, deserves equal recognition for his professionalism and skill. He handled the journey with ease, keeping us safe and relaxed throughout the day. His calm presence and courteous manner added to the overall sense of comfort. The staff and guides were consistently helpful and welcoming, creating a friendly atmosphere that made the tour feel special. I highly recommend booking this activity—it’s not only well organized, but also led by people who genuinely care about making your day memorable.
Such a great experience. Val was fantastic. I would have to caution that if you get motion sick, this is not the experience for you. The drive from PV to the experience is extremely twisty and bumpy and takes about 45 min.
Saul was our driver and instructor. He was so helpful and fun. My husband and I really enjoyed the class and the setting. We did learn some new tips and tricks on how to prepare Mexican food.
It was an overall good experience. The meetup point is not always accurate on Google maps, best to throw in Starbucks if you’re near the port and it’ll route you to where you need to go Bus to the excursion was run down, but not a huge deal either The cooking class was great, very attentive, The tour operator went above and beyond. Good for drinkers especially but being a non drinker it still was well worth it
It was a throwback to PV of old. A trip into the hills on a narrow hairpin road. Our host Valeria was awesome and made the day even better. We made salsa to our taste, enchilada and cheese stuffed jalapeño peppers. DELICIOUS. This was followed by plantain and condensed milk. Really good!!! I would recommend this excursion.
This was a really fun and authentic Mexican cuisine experience with Val, a very sweet, witty and tenacious young woman sharing her culinary experience passed on from generations.
The cooking class with Val was amazing at a beautiful resort! All the food was delicious and authentic and Val was so much fun!
This was a great experience! Valeria was such an amazing host! The food was delicious and fun to make! Bring a suit because you get time at a resort pool afterward!
This was such a cool day adventure. Val was an awesome instructor. We were lucky enough to be the only ones on the tour that Saturday so we had a fully private experience. Going into the mountains north of town to this cute boutique resort was a trip. Learning about the different types of Tequila was really cool too. Then getting cooking instructions next to the river was another experience. We would recommend this 11 times out of 10.
Getting there was an adventure! Got to see more rural parts of PV.. Food was good. The setting was beautiful!
We couldn’t have been luckier and had a private class with Saul. He was personable, funny, informative and we had the BEST time. The food was so fresh, the drinks were so good and we would absolutely come back.
Great day! Excellent communication about where to meet (10 minute drive from the cruise terminal), and they made sure to ask what time we needed to be back on the ship. The drive to the hotel/resort for the cooking class was about an hour but Fabrizio entertained us with interesting facts and jokes. We tasted several tequilas and they taught us the proper technique. Then we gathered in a lovely outdoor palapa with a view of the river, and Chufo (Saul) taught us how to make delicious salsa, guacamole, pork tostadas and chicken enchiladas. We also enjoyed the unlimited margaritas! Everything was fabulous and we were stuffed! We had a bit more than an hour afterward on the hotel property, so if you’d like to swim in the pool or go in the hot springs, bring a bathing suit.
We went on the cooking class and tequila tasting tour and had a great time. It was small and Val, our guide, was very personable and a lot of fun. The location was somewhat surreal in the middle of the jungle. We enjoyed the lesson, the tequila tasting and also the Margaritas while we sat by the pool. And we got stuck in traffic trying to get to the meeting point and our guide was very responsive it helped get us to the location for pickup.
We did the cooking experience with Val and Martin, not only were the views breathtaking but the food was amazing! Val and Martin were fun helpful and kind! Would highly recommend! The pool was also clean and lovely to swim in! I hope to come back again!
Bumpy roads and long way but wonderful experience with all team and destination gorgeous and worth the bumpy road. Cooking class super personable, very hands on. Enjoyed every minute. Very special chef, Roberto, fantastic and super entertaining. Now we have a new skill for life! Rewarding.
The cooking class with Valeria was a great experience. I was genuinely surprised that I could actually make all of the items but the instructions and recipes were awesome. The entire staff at the reception and the hotel pool are fun and friendly. Definitely take a swim suit because the pool is a real treat. And on top of all that is the delicious tequila tasting!
Having given 3 stars, I want to say that both the driver/chef and his companions were great. They were funny, entertaining and somewhat helpful where they could. The problem was the bus ride - the bus was old and dirty and had no airconditioning. The day was very hot and humid. Sitting in the bus could smell the fumes. The boutique hotel was quite pretty especially the area where the cooking class was, and the swimming pool area. The views were gorgeous with the river behind the hotel. Unfortunately everything was outside . There was no place decent inside for someone who did not want to swim or sit in the hot weather outside except a dingy place where the staff were. Cooking experience in general was great. However not much thought or consideration put into for someone who is a vegetarian. The chef tried and I do understand that when one is not a vegetarian, there are something’s that just dont come into mind , for instance cooking in the same pan where the meat is cooked into before. Anyways overall it was nice.
Victor was a great driver! Fabrizio (A.K.A "Sexy Legs) made the trip very educational and fun! We will be back!! Thanks Sexy Legs!
Lots of fun and worth the money. Roberto and Cesar made it a great experience. From the laughs, the cooking experience, the tequila tasting and the bus ride. Bring your swimsuit as the pool is beautiful. It is a day you will definitely not forget.
This trip was 🤌🏻🤌🏻 to start off the resort is the best little way off the beaten path place in the mountains by a river. Val and Martin were excellent guides and Val was a great hostess for the cooking class. Also Dulce vista tequila is the best I’ve ever had, each one better than the other, don’t remember the guy’s name, but he was a great host as well
This excursion was AMAZING! We loveddd Val. She was funny, sweet & thorough with teaching us and made the experience very enjoyable. It gave us such an authentic experience.
I was really excited about this tour but it didn’t turn out as expected. As other users mentioned, it’s a fairly long, uncomfortable van ride to the actual destination. Our driver even called it the “Mexican roller coaster”. Once you get there, you start with the tequila tasting, which was nice and informative. There are a few dogs on the property, one of which wandered into the tasting room as we were tasting the tequilas (this is something that would’ve been nice to have disclosed upfront). In addition, the “cooking class” is outside where there are tons of little insects that kept flying in the food and drinks we had (annoying) and I got bit several times. Although I enjoyed making the salsa and guacamole, everything else was premade in the indoor kitchen so it left much of the “cooking” to be desired. They are generous with the margaritas, but here is where things went left. Our driver told us to meet back at the van in 10 minutes, only to find out that the van was having mechanical issues. I became worried because as previously mentioned, the journey to this place was NOT a smooth one, and in fact I was a bit nervous that the van didn’t have enough power to make it through. There was a point on the way up when the engine light came up on the dash, then turned off. It didn’t appear that they had any backup vehicles to get us back to the meeting spot, so they kept telling us it would take more and more time to try and fix the van. We all grew even more worried. Mind you, this place is located fairly remotely in the mountains. They offer WiFi, but it was pretty sketchy. I even started sharing my location with a few friends because I started feeling trapped at this place. They tried to offer us more food and drinks, but I just wanted to get back to the resort safely. After an hour or more, they guide us to this pickup truck and tell us this is our ride back, only for the guy to drop us off at some random place and tell us we need to take Uber the rest of the way (they didn’t even guarantee our safety back to the meeting spot). This was extremely uncomfortable as we are travelers in a different country and trusted our safety and well-being in the hands of this company. Overall, this experience was NOT worth it. We did meet two great people in our group who honestly made the experience most pleasant. I wish the company would be more descriptive and offered some sort of compensation for the mishap of the vehicle. It felt as if they were trying to trap us there. Thankfully, with all of the alcohol served, we remained vigilant and coherent.
The experience was awesome. Roberto was a great instructor and host. Very knowledgable about cooking and we learned a lot. I highly recommend this experience.
Izzy, Jonathan and Milo were the best hosts! Great tequila tasting/class, 4 course cooking class, Margaritas that don’t run out, an oasis resort in the jungle, and even some private hot springs… this adventure had everything! Huge thank you to these three for making our experience nothing less than 5 stars! Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a different kind of adventure in PV!
My mom and I were in Puerto Vallarta for her birthday and we're both foodies so we figured a cooking class would be a fun activity on the day of her birthday. And what an adventure it was! Convenient and easy-to-find pickup/dropoff location where we met up with Cesar, Valeria, and Fabricio. They were so lovely and helpful throughout. Upon arrival at Dulce Vista, we enjoyed a tequila tasting. Everything was divine! Then Valeria led our cooking class and explained everything thoroughly and with humor. Everything we made and tasted was DELICIOUS! The entire staff at Dulce Vista were so kind and accommodating. My mom and I had a lovely time and highly recommend this cooking class for those looking for an authentic experience of the local cuisine.
It was an extraordinary experience. I will want to appreciate Valeria for giving us this beautiful experience.
The food was fun to make and the destination was great. The ride out was sketchy at best but we survived
Everything was amazing from the tasting to the cooking and the resort. Would definitely return again. The Chef and tour guide were very knowledgeable, and you could tell they loved their jobs.
Great tour guide. Harrowing 👀drive (those hairpin turns!) to the lovely venue. Good tequila tasting and fun cooking class. Thank you!
Cesar and Valeria were fantastic hosts! We loved the tequila tasting- super informative and fun. While the cooking is basic, it was great for my family that doesn’t do much cooking, and really fun to hear of different techniques. I learned a lot!!
The five of us had an enjoyable time. We started by meeting in the marina. Pick up location was close to Starbucks. Boarded an open air bus with lots of other fun seekers and traveled up to La Dulce Vista resort in the Sierra Madres. Started with Tequila tasting that a small batch and made from blue agave. Multiple types. From there, we learned how to make guacamole, salsa, chicken, enchiladas, and pork tostadas. Very immersive and interactive and good guides and chefs. Ended with about 45 minutes of free time and some surprises.
The trip was a wonderful experience. Val our chef was very knowledgeable and shared her culture so much with us. The driver Fabalito was funny, engaging and an excellent guide.
Juan Martin our driver was excellent. He took care of us and was on time. He was friendly and personable. Thank you, Juan Martin. Jonathan was an outstanding instructor. He was patient and made sure the guests were learning and understanding the cooking techniques. All the food was delicious. I highly recommend the cooking class. The setting was absolutely amazing. La Dulce Vista was an oasis. The owner was very friendly and answered all my questions. I give the entire experience 5 stars!!! Thank you!’
This was such a fun experience, we would definitely recommend it. Fabrizio and Martin were great and Martin was a great cooking instructor. We learned how to make some amazing, fresh foods and the resort we went to was so beautiful (La Dulce Vista). Our server Alex was great too, always on it and got us our margaritas anytime we asked, so quickly. And the tequila tastings were so good! We got to do some swimming in the resort after as well. Also, the resort had so many dogs and they were so friendly. They would just come up and sit on our feet or hang out with us at the table all the time. The road to the resort was a bit bumpy, and long, and the van had no AC so it was very very hot, but other than that, no complaints. It was the highlight of our vacation!
My daughter and I had an awesome time on the Mexican cooking class tour! Communication was clear. They were prompt picking us up and explained what to expect for the whole excursion. Had a bumpy scenic 30min drive to the resort up in the mountains which made it all the more authentic. The resort was a beautiful little oasis tucked away where you would never expect. We were greeted by the cutest little fur baby Canela who escorted us to the entrance. Tequila tasting was pretty short and sweet. No pressure to buy. Another fur baby Bigote joined us and hung out for our visit. They have 7 dogs total on site. If you don’t like dogs no worries. They are not all in your face unless you welcome it. It was just us and another fun couple. Caesar was our tour guide/cook and we loved him. So comical and personable. Shared lots of fun stories about his own life experiences. Bathrooms were clean and handwashing encouraged. We all made our own guac and salsa to eat with homemade chips. If you don’t like guac you can do pico instead. Caesar let us fry up our own tortillas on the grill to make our enchiladas. Then we constructed tostadas with all the fixings provided. Everything was yummy. Lots of useful cooking tips were given The margaritas were very freely flowing. They weren’t strong - just ask for more tequila. Spent some time dipping our feet in the pool before heading back. Shamefully I don’t quite remember that part too clearly compliments of the tequila lol Highly recommend this excursion and would do it again
My wife and I got to experience this wonderful tour, tasting and authentic cooking! I love tequila and my wife and I love cooking so it was the perfect trip for us. Our tour guide and cooking partner Val, was incredible. She told us quite a bit of history, how tequila is made, and then her own personal experiences and upbringings on how to properly cook the amazing food we cooked and ate. Val was incredible and should be requested if you would like to do this tour ! The hidden resort in the mountains was also a nice area to relax after the cooking and eating, letting us photograph and soak our feet in the pool. Highly recommend
Definitely recommend! Such a fun, engaging, and interactive experience! The guides were knowledgeable, personable, caring, and professional. Roberto was so much fun and very knowledgeable! The cooking class was in a setting that can’t be beat. Such a beautiful and tranquil place. I learned new things during the class. It was hands on an and not just a demonstration. I’ll be making this at home. I felt safe, cared for, and would go back again to try another activity. How can you beat tasting organic artisanal tequila and unlimited margaritas? You can’t, especially in a beautiful resort by the river in the mountains.
It was a great day! Fabrizio drove us into the sierra madre mountains to a resort. We had a private cooking class with the wonderful Valeria. She taught us how to make the best guacamole, salsa, tostados and enchiladas. Valeria was fun and charming and we had a blast! After the class we lounged by the pool until fabrizio picked us up and took us back.
The drive out to the facility was daunting at first, but when the hotel/venue was reached, it turned out to be a nice facility. Fernanda was great, the other employees were great. This was supposed to be a cooking class; we did not do any cooking. We learned how to make guacamole and salsa, but did not cook or learn to cook. The tequila tasting was okay; the gentleman who spoke was, at times, very difficult to understand. Overall a fun afternoon.
Fabricio was our guide for the cooking class and tequilia tasting and he did a wonderful job! On our drive up he took the time to share about what we were driving by and give us some background. He was super personable and made our experience very enjoyable. The drive to the cooking class is through the mountains and a somewhat bumpy so be aware if you get motion sick. A couple from our group sat in the front of the bus and did just fine. The only bad part about this was that you get off the bumpy bus ride and go straight into tequila tasting! The tequila tasting was a lot better than I was expecting it to go- and Fabricio even took a break in the middle to go get me some water when he realized my face getting red! The cooking portion was really fun- there was a large chunk of it that was done by the kitchen so we didn't truly make it all but we learned how to make salsa and guac which was good enough for me! The serving sizes were perfect and we got to eat as we went. My only tip is to save some of your salsa and guacamole to put on your food later and not eat it all with the chips. The margaritas were amazing and after the class we got to enjoy the pool which was a great ending to the day!
Lots of interesting cooking and tequila Long day but fun. Beautiful resort and scenery. Guide was great.
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