Taste Of The Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class And Market Visit

Brilliant experience. The market was chaotic and vibrant, the guide informative and the cook managed the 6 of us in her kitchen perfectly. The bonus was a great meal with great company.

We had a wonderful tour with Romina. We loved the tour of the market and trying different foods, while learning about local ingredients. The bus ride was fun too - it made us want to keep using public transit during our stay! The cooking class in a local family’s house was also amazing. It was great to learn how to make every dish, and Romina translated for us when needed, since our Spanish isn’t the best. The food was delicious and it was really nice to share the meal together. I can’t recommend this tour enough. We also got to know Romina and ask as many questions as we wanted about Merida and other things to do in town. She really made the tour special. If you’re interested in local food and cooking, you will love this tour!

This experience was absolutely amazing from start to finish! I had so much fun and truly loved every part of it, from exploring the local market to the cooking class. The market tour was fantastic, with delicious tastings along the way, a lovely walk around the area, and interesting stories about Mexican history and culture. The cooking class was definitely one of the highlights. The food was absolutely delicious, and I especially loved being welcomed into Romina’s home. Romina and her family were incredibly warm and welcoming and made us feel like part of the family from the very beginning. If you want to experience not only the food but also the warmth, hospitality, and authenticity of Mexican culture, I couldn’t recommend this experience enough. 10/10 — an experience I will definitely remember and highly recommend to anyone! 🇲🇽❤️

We had such an amazing time on this tour. Angie was an amazing guide who taught us all about the local history and delicacies whilst we walked around the market. She went above and beyond! Our host and cooking teacher was also lovely, we cooked multiple local dishes and the food was incredible! We would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Merida.

Angie was the perfect guide to talk to, funny and very informative. We visited the local food market and got many information on Yucatán’s meals. After that we drove to a local place where we cooked supa de Lima and empanadas with Mirle. Shared many things about our countries and cultures. All in all a very enjoyable day!

Luz is a wonderful guide who has an exceptional ability to sense what a family is looking for. She turns a simple market visit into a truly memorable experience, sharing her knowledge in a lively and engaging way. The cooking session at home was just as special—an experience filled with warmth, flavor, and joy. It was truly unforgettable.

This felt like as close to an authentic experience as you will get with a tour company. Diego was our tour guide and he was very thorough and kind. He contacted us a day prior to the tour with very clear directions and expectations, met us on time, guided us through the markets, interpreted during our time at Leonor’s home, and answered numerous questions. The pricing was reasonable for us as a couple; it included our market tastings, bus ride, ingredients to cook, an Uber to our next location in Mérida, and a digital cookbook. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or a larger group, this is definitely an experience you should have! The experience lasted about 6 hours total; during which we visited 2 markets, tasted local fruits, lechón taco, various spices and freshly made tortillas, and then made a full Yucatecan meal—complete from appetizer/starter to dessert. I look forward to trying some of the recipes when we get home. Thank you Diego and Leonor for your kindness, hospitality and giving us an insider look into Yucatecan culture and cuisine!

We had a fantastic experience on this tour, and so much of that was thanks to our guide, Diego. He was friendly, knowledgeable, funny, and incredibly engaging from start to finish. Diego took us through a couple of markets, including the huge and wonderfully chaotic Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. Along the way, he introduced us to fruits we had never tried before, let us sample delicious cochinita pibil from a market stall, and guided us through the market as we purchased ingredients for our cooking class. Even though this wasn’t technically a history tour, Diego shared fascinating insights about Mérida’s history and the history of the market, which made the experience feel even richer. After the market visit, we hopped on a Va y Ven bus (my first time riding one, but definitely not my last) and headed to the home of Doña Leo. She walked us through the preparation of a mouthwatering meal that included chicken pibil, chaya empanadas, and more. Everything was absolutely delicious, even for a slightly picky eater like me. Diego and Doña Leo were gracious, patient, and welcoming throughout the entire experience. We spent about six hours with Diego, but the time flew by because he kept us entertained and engaged the whole way. As a bonus, Diego also helped me with my Spanish, even though that wasn’t part of the tour at all. I’m always grateful for corrections and encouragement as I try to improve, and he was kind enough to help. Overall, this was a wonderful tour with a great guide, a delicious meal, and a truly memorable experience. 10 out of 10, highly recommend — and thank you, Diego! Read more about - Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit - https://www.viator.com/tours/Merida/Taste-of-Yucatan-Merida-Cooking-Class/d5195-34253P3?m=65553&nid=VR.228e448d-bede-4642-a5fa-3db9fd0e840e.VT_EMAIL_TRV?mcid=56757

We had a fantastic time!! We saw parts of the Market in Merida we would have never navigated on our own and the cooking experience with Elenor in her home was truly something we will remember for a long time. Romina was a friendly and knowledgable guide through it all. We were well cared for, well fed, and had a really special day!

We had a fantastic experience on this tour, and so much of that was thanks to our guide, Diego. He was friendly, knowledgeable, funny, and incredibly engaging from start to finish. Diego took us through a couple of markets, including the huge and wonderfully chaotic Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. Along the way, he introduced us to fruits we had never tried before, let us sample delicious cochinita pibil from a market stall, and guided us through the market as we purchased ingredients for our cooking class. Even though this wasn’t technically a history tour, Diego shared fascinating insights about Mérida’s history and the history of the market, which made the experience feel even richer. After the market visit, we hopped on a Va y Ven bus (my first time riding one, but definitely not my last) and headed to the home of Doña Leo. She walked us through the preparation of a mouthwatering meal that included chicken pibil, chaya empanadas, and more. Everything was absolutely delicious, even for a slightly picky eater like me. Diego and Doña Leo were gracious, patient, and welcoming throughout the entire experience. We spent about six hours with Diego, but the time flew by because he kept us entertained and engaged the whole way. As a bonus, Diego also helped me with my Spanish, even though that wasn’t part of the tour at all. I’m always grateful for corrections and encouragement as I try to improve, and he was kind enough to help. Overall, this was a wonderful tour with a great guide, a delicious meal, and a truly memorable experience. 10 out of 10, highly recommend — and thank you, Diego!

Diego was an amazing tour guide. Very wise, knowledgeable, and very funny. This was truly an incredible experience that highly benefits from a knowledgeable local tour guide. We would never have been able to navigate the local market on our own and try so many local specialties, not to mention the extremely special experience of learning how to cook traditional Yucatecan food from a local.

This tour is one of the best tours you can take while in Merida, MX. If you are truly looking for an authentic experience of the food, culture, and everyday life of the local people of Merida, this is the one you want to take. Our tour guide Raminia was the VERY BEST. So patient and took time to explain how the ingredients are prepared and why they are used in typical Yucatecan dishes. She was fabulous as well as our hostess Berta. She and her family opened up their home to us for a special culinary experience. We were very grateful. And of course, the final product, the meal, was absolutely great. Highly recommend this tour!

We got so much more than we hoped for! Gisell is an amazing tour guide who really told us (and let us taste!) all of the ins and outs of the Merida city life. Not only did we do an extended market tour, she also told us quite a bit about the historic buildings in the old centre. The market tour was comprehensive, funny and more complete than I could give a tour of my hometown market. We got to taste so many different and delicious flavours. And the cooking class didn't even begin yet! Dorcas (our host for the cooking class) is the sweetest and most enthusiastic Mexican woman you'll meet. She really welcomes you to her own home and lets you use her kitchen to make the most wonderful 3 course meal. Not only did the food come out great (we chose the chicken, which was a perfect tender dish), she also provides great company with a lot of laughs. Through it all, Gisell provided a perfect translation from Spanish to English in a way we could really engage in a conversation. 10/10 experience my wife and I would recommend to anyone visiting Merida!

We got so much more than we hoped for! Gisell is an amazing tour guide who really told us (and let us taste!) all of the ins and outs of the Merida city life. Not only did we do an extended market tour, she also told us quite a bit about the historic buildings in the old centre. The market tour was comprehensive, funny and more complete than I could give a tour of my hometown market. We got to taste so many different and delicious flavours. And the cooking class didn't even begin yet! Dorcas (our host for the cooking class) is the sweetest and most enthusiastic Mexican woman you'll meet. She really welcomes you to her own home and lets you use her kitchen to make the most wonderful 3 course meal. Not only did the food come out great (we chose the chicken, which was a perfect tender dish), she also provides great company with a lot of laughs. Through it all, Gisell provided a perfect translation from Spanish to English in a way we could really engage in a conversation. 10/10 experience my wife and I would recommend to anyone visiting Merida!

Quite an unforgettable experience! From the market visit to the hands-on cooking, every moment was bursting with color, flavor and fun. Zulma (our guide) was an absolute gem, patient, knowledgeable and friendly. She didn’t just guide us but immersed us in the local food culture. The dishes were made at home at a local house with a local woman and very delicious...our taste buds where very happy! It truly felt like a worry-free, all-in-one adventure where we learned a lot. Highly recommended to tour with Zulma

Not a culinary or good experience for people who cook. Too long Too slow No details regarding use of public transportation provided Awkward to leave

We did the cooking class which included also explanations at different points in our way to the market, which I didn’t expect! The size of the group was small, 3 households or 6 people, which was quite nice. We were taken to the Lucas de Gálvez market and we ate tacos and had local drinks and fruits! We were explained the different ingredients we were buying and we tasted spice mixes and candies. After the market tour we were taken to the host’s home and we cooked multiple dishes. I have to say it was the most wonderful immersive cooking class we’ve done to understand a culture. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend it! Thank you, Luz for being our wonderful guide :)

Very fun experience to shop in the market, tasting and buying food, fruit and spices! Giselle was a great guide and Mercedes was a gracious welcoming us into her home and teaching us how to prepare some local dishes. We would recommend this experience. And we were given nice bags to carry the food to Mercedes home and to keep as souvenirs.

Fantastic guide..great experience

After meeting near the Plaza Grande, we strolled towards the market, while our guide, Luz, who was very friendly and informative, told us about the buildings and sites along the way. The market Lucas de Galvez is a heady and intoxicating mix of colourful sights, smells and sounds. As we gathered the ingredients for our meal we were invited to taste a wonderful variety of food, fruits, spices and sweets, all of which were delicious and unique. After the market, a short bus ride took us to a local family home, where we were warmly welcomed. We then had hands on instructions how to prepare a number of traditional dishes and salsas, all of which was extremely fascinating. The meal itself was absolutely delicious and full of unique flavours. Overall a great experience and highly recommended to anyone interested in the traditional local cuisine.

We had a fabulous time with Diego and made our trip all the more meaningful. It was really special and the food was delicious.

My husband and I joined this cooking experience on February 25th, along with a lovely couple from Great Britain and another from Germany, and it turned out to be one of the absolute highlights of our time in the Yucatán. I’m not usually drawn to organized activities, but this one caught my attention because it promised something genuinely authentic—and it exceeded every expectation. Booking the tour was effortless, and communication through WhatsApp with our exceptional guide, Zulma from Adventures Mexico, was clear and thoughtful. She checked in advance for dietary restrictions and sent precise meeting details via Google Maps. On the morning of the tour, the public transport system was running slower than usual, and we arrived a little late. Zulma was incredibly patient and went out of her way to help us reconnect with the group without missing a beat. Our first stop was the vibrant Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. What an experience—bursting with colors, aromas, sounds, and the energy of daily Yucatecan life. Zulma guided us with such care, always making sure we were safe and within sight, and her warm relationships with the vendors allowed us to sample, touch, and photograph everything freely. Her explanations brought each section of the market to life. After gathering the ingredients for our meal, we took the Va‑y‑Ven bus to the home of Dorcas (I hope I am spelling her name correctly!), where we would prepare our feast. Being welcomed into her home was a privilege in itself. Despite our limited Spanish, Dorcas and Zulma worked seamlessly together—chef and sous‑chef, host and interpreter—to guide us through preparing a traditional three‑course Yucatecan meal. In about 90 minutes, we had created a delicious spread and sat down together to enjoy it. Sharing this experience with two other wonderful couples made it even more memorable; the laughter and camaraderie flowed as easily as the conversation. Dorcas was warm, skilled, funny, and endlessly welcoming—she had us laughing throughout the afternoon. Zulma was the perfect guide: friendly, patient, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to ensuring everyone felt comfortable and engaged. I truly cannot imagine a better duo. This was, without question, the most authentic cultural tour experience I have ever had while travelling outside of Canada. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who loves food, culture, and genuine connection with local people. Thank you, Zulma, Dorcas, and Adventures Mexico, for an unforgettable day that we will cherish for years to come.

Romina was an awesome guide! After our small group sampled some lechón tacos, we set off purchasing the meats, veggies, and uniquely yucatecan spices for our lunch. Followed by a comfortable 1-hour bus ride (with AC!) which was a godsend for the Merida heat. Her equally lovely mom greeted us at their home kitchen. With her guidance, we pulled off a menu consisting of cheese-filled empanadas, a tomato-squash seed dip, chicken pibil, and finished off with a coconut cream dessert. This was such fun - I’m still thinking about the food we made a week later!

If you want a genuine and fun experience in Merida, this is the one to book. We had the most wonderful time in the market trying local fruits, and gained so much knowledge on the culture and food of the Yucatan. Our cooking instructor was patient, kind, and an amazing teacher for us. I couldn’t recommend this enough!

This is a truly amazing experience. Thanks to our guide and hostess for sharing their knowledge and expertise. It’s a wonderful way to learn plus taste the fresh fruit, produce and condiments sold in the Merida market. It was tremendous to learn and to prepare the delicious traditional meal.

We were a group of only four people, which I really liked because it made the experience feel very personal and relaxed. It wasn’t crowded or rushed, and we had enough time to ask questions and truly enjoy every moment. What I appreciated the most was the opportunity to see how real Mexican people live. It felt authentic and gave me a deeper understanding of the culture beyond the typical tourist experience. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a more genuine and personal insight into local life. Luz did a perfect job.

What a fun an immersive experience. Diego was the best guide every step of the way. We wandered through the market and he patiently answered all our questions. We sampled different items that we would not have experienced on our own. The market experience in and of itself was worth the fee. We then boarded a comfortable local bus for a thirty minute ride to the outskirts of the city to meet our chef instructor. The ride was comfortable and we got to see lots of the city. Our teacher, Millie, was very experienced and guided us through the cooking of several Yucatan dishes, with Diego interpreting along the way. We learned so much that we plan to recreate the menu when we return. The experience was one for the best cooking classes we've had and it was truly a memorable adventure!

The most amazing experience! We will carry the memories we made this day with us forever. The guide, Luz, took us to the local market and made an adventure out of showing, explaining and encouraging us to taste things we wouldn't even know to ask for. With knowledge, patience and care she answered all of our questions as well as took into account personal diets, which was much appreciated. She brought us to the home of Dorkas, a lovely spirited woman who taught us how to cook the most delicious Yucatan meal. We had an absolutely wonderful time with our host, guide and the other guests. There was time for a drink, appetizer, main dishes, dessert, and a lot of laughter and story telling. We left with our bellies and hearts full. Luz and Dorkas, a heartfelt thanks for making our day so special! 🫶

We enjoyed spending wonderful day with Zulma and the host family learning how to make traditional Mayan dishes using ingredients we bought at the market. Food was delicious.

It’s a lot of food … but absolutely worth it. The trip thru the market and cooking in an host home an experience.

OMG we had such a nice time. Luz took us through the market and explained the local Yucatan flavours. We tasted spices and hibiscus tea. We took public transit to our hostess Dorkas' home where we cooked our Yucatan lunch. Both Luz and Dorkas were so warm. Our fellow travelers were vegetarians which I think we benefited from with more vegan options. Yum! It was so nice to all be sitting around her table and enjoying our time together, strangers from different corners of the world. I will totally recommend to my family and friends.

Fantastic cultural and culinary experience with our intrepid and very knowledgeable guide Zulma. We sourced all our food ingredients at the market then prepared and ate them at our hostess Mercedes’ home.

The whole experience was wonderful. We joint another couple from Canada. We enjoyed buying the ingredients in the market together and the preparation. The final result was very tasty. Zulma is a great guide and very attentive to the people.

Amazing experience, really unique and felt very personal, the family and our guide were so welcoming and took great care of us as well as teaching us a lot. Would definitely recommend to anybody

Our Taste of the Yucatán experience with Romina as our guide was an incredible experience. We loved the market and the food tasting there. Romina is very engaging and informative. After the market we went to the home of the host for cooking. The cook was Romina’s mom and she is not only a wonderful cook but also a charming hostess. We would highly recommend the tour with Romona and her mom.

Wonderful experience! We learned so much about the culinary culture of Yucatan and had fun doing so! We would do it again!

This was an awesome experience. Our guide Luz was very informative and pleasant. We purchased the ingredients for the dishes at the local market and then prepared them in a host family’s home. Our host Berta was excellent. The experience was well organized. The meal delicious. We enjoyed the process and the food.

It was educational and fun! A chance to shop in a market with Zulma to explain the produce, to taste great food and see corn tortillas being made!

This was a great cooking class and market tour. I highly recommend this experience if you want to expand your cultural / cooking knowledge and skills.

Was a fabulous experience Romina began with an excellent market tour but she also accommodated my request to find Mexican chocolate mixers and chocolate cakes. Her mother was our chef and we were invited to activitely participate in the cooking . The food was wonderful and her home very welcoming- highly recommend!!

A wonderful tour of the food market with Diego. Followed by an enjoyable cooking lesson in a small group of 5 people. I loved learning about the different fruits vegetables and spices Highly recommend

Very cool experience if you’re into food. We started with a visit to a local market, our guide, Luz, shared many interesting facts about Mexican cuisine. Cooking in a Mexican home was great too.

Great tour of market, our guide spoke excellent English and was very informative. Cooking in a family home was also very interesting and we got a whole lot prepared for a big lunch. Highly recommended!

5 12 hours went so fast. We started out in the huge and fascinating market to get the groceries we needed. Our instructor let us taste different spices and condiments. It was so interesting. Then we went to cook. Sharing tasks was fun and being able to always see how everything else was getting done was easy. It was a nice sized space for our class of 9 students. I couldn’t believe it when it was time to get to eat the meal of what we made together. It was full of unique and delicious flavors and I knew I wasn’t in Ohio anymore. Our group was excellent and fun to work with. Rachel rice

The cooking class was absolutely fantastic and great fun from start to finish. A real highlight was shopping for the ingredients together in a genuine local Mexican store, which made the experience feel truly authentic. Our guide Luz shared fascinating insights into Mexican culture, traditions, spices and local ingredients, explaining everything in a clear and engaging way with a great sense of humor. The cooking class itself, led by Luz and Mercedes, was exceptional. Both actively cooked with us, explained every step in detail and created a relaxed, fun and welcoming atmosphere. We enjoyed a delicious homemade lemonade, and the food we prepared was outstanding. It was especially nice that the spices we purchased were used directly in the dishes, and we received a recipe to take home. A perfectly organized experience combining culture, flavor and fun. Highly recommended!

What a great experience. Diego met us in the morning and provided a thorough market tour. He took the time to show us the market and allow us to sample the local fruits and spices. It was a great experience. After shopping in the market, we went to Mercedes’ house where we learned how to cook the traditional dishes. It was a fun and enjoyable experience, Mercedes and Diego were exceptional hosts, and the food was delicious. This cooking tour exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended!

Fun day? The trip to the market was an experience all in itself. Sampled a couple specially foods, fresh produce, pastes and the fresh meat market was a site all on ours own. There host was very welcoming in her home. We participated in the preparation and helped with the cooking. The dinner was excellent. We were with two other couples from different countries and the interactive experience together was memorable. A fantastic way to share a day.

Interactive, educational on local life and fun. Our host was exceptional, allowing all of us to participate in the prep and cooking. Very friendly and proud to share their family recipe. Very clean, organized and pleasant experience. We had been to the market prior, although the "fresh meat" section was new to us. Summary, it's an event! Sulma is a very good guide. Attentive and she managed 6 people, and their questions very well. Positive recommendation to Sulma.

An excellent experience. Our guide Zulma was personable and informative, and kept things engaging and interesting. We had a great time visiting the market and cooking an array of traditional Yucatán dishes, in a (welcoming) family's home.