The 14 Best Mexican Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen

1.Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 585 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $101Our pick

Spend about three hours at Rivera’s Kitchen Tulum, where Lily or Lupita guides you through tortillas, salsa, guacamole, tacos al pastor, dessert, and mezcal tasting. You cook in a local home, then share the meal with your hosts and fellow cooks. Groups are advertised as small, though the stated limit varies.

“Amazing experience! Had the best time learning about the food and had a really fun time making everything. Lupita was the best! 10/10 recommend!”

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2.Playa del Carmen Mexican Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 306 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $113

Join Chef Alma in Playa del Carmen for a three-hour, hands-on Mexican cooking class. Make tortillas, salsas, guacamole, rice, enchiladas, tamales, or other traditional dishes, then eat your meal. The English and Spanish class is limited to eight people and includes recipes to use at home.

“We had a great experience learning and gaining experience behind the cultural aspects of different foods here in Mexico. The chef and her daughter are an amazing team and it was easy for us to follow along and still gain new culinary skills. The food was very authentic and cooked in traditional clay dishes. We used simple ingredients and learned how to develop their flavours in unique ways. We even made our own tequila drinks the right way! I highly recommend this cooking class! For everyone of all ages and skills.”

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3.Mexican Cooking Class 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 151 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $105

At Co.Cos Culinary School in Playa del Carmen, Chef Coty leads hands-on one-course and three-course Mexican cooking classes in her home kitchen. You prepare your own food, learn about chiles and sauces, dine with drinks, and finish with a tequila and mezcal tasting.

“One of the best meals and best cooking class experiences I have ever had. Chef Coty is an excellent teacher and communicator. She is very knowledgeable and insightful. The way she thinks about how the tastes, textures, colors, and smells of the ingredients is very inspiring. The menu and ingredients change with every class and every season. Among the things we made were a tortilla soup and a shrimp-stuffed chile relleno. These were absolutely the best I've ever had. We also made a great flambe dessert and learned about tequila, mescal, bacanora, and pulque. I will take her class again the next time I return to Riviera Maya.”

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4.Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $120

Meet Chef Isa at DAC market in Playa del Carmen, choose a Mexican main dish, shop for fresh ingredients, then walk to her home kitchen. You will make salsas, two guacamoles, tortillas, a seasonal fruit drink, and lunch in a group of no more than eight.

“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.”

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5.Tulum: Mexican Cooking Class in Local Home

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 34 reviews · 3 hours · from $99

Join host Lily, also called Lilly, for a three-hour Mexican cooking class at her home in Tulum. Make salsa and tortillas from scratch, learn family recipes, taste mezcal, and sit down to a full meal with drinks. Spanish and English are spoken.

“!!! What a beautiful morning cooking !!! Today’s Mexican cooking class was bursting with energy, vibrancy, and colour. Lilly the host’s enthusiasm was infectious—she cooked with such joy and confidence, inviting us to taste as we prepared each dish. Every flavour had a purpose, and learning those connections made the recipes feel complete and alive. I left feeling enriched, inspired, and delighted by the whole experience. 5 stars!!!!!”

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6.Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Spend about four hours cooking in a real Playa del Carmen home with a bilingual host such as Lily or Luis Carlos. Prepare Mexican antojitos, tacos, beans, guacamole, and dessert, then share the meal with unlimited drinks. The group is capped at six and includes recipes and a food guide.

“Chef Louis Carlos provided a great experience. The outsoor setting was shady and breezy. There was a pool to cool off in. The food we prepared was simple, fresh and delicious. We had a lot of fun talking about the world in multiple languges. His passion for Mexican food and life really shows.”

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7.Playa del Carmen: Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Meet Chef Isa at DAC market at 11am, explore Mexican chiles and ingredients, then follow her to her home kitchen. In three hours, you’ll prepare dishes such as guacamole, tortillas, ceviche, mole chicken, birria tacos, or beef fajitas in a group of up to eight.

“My family and I were visiting Playa del Carmen and wanted a fun group activity. Isa’s cooking class was the perfect choice. We got to visit a local market and then learn how to make a variety of different dishes - including ceviches, green mole chicken, and even homemade tortillas - in Isa’s beautiful outdoor kitchen. She kept it interesting, enjoyable and we learned a lot. Would absolutely recommend!”

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8.Playa del Carmen: Mexican Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 3 - 5 hours · from $113

Join Chef Coty and Carlos at Co.Cos Culinary School near Playa del Carmen for a 3 to 5 hour Mexican cooking or cocktail class. Prepare fresh dishes, explore Mexican peppers, taste tequila and mezcal, and share the meal in English or Spanish. A taxi may be needed from central Playa.

“One of my trip highlights! the best food I’ve had in Mexico so far and an amazing group of people. Chef Coty is a very warm and friendly host who proudly shares the Mexican culture through her method of cooking. I learned a lot of new techniques and recipes. We all sat down around the table to enjoy the delicious ceviche Tambal starter at 8 or 9pm. The tequila and mezcal lesson / tasting was super helpful, feel a bit more empowered navigating the tequila tiendas. Highly recommend.”

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9.Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $140

Spend about three and a half hours cooking with Barbara, Valeria, or Eduardo in Tulum. You will make fresh salsas, ceviche, aguachile, tortillas, antojitos, and a main dish, then enjoy margaritas, tequila, mezcal, and the meal you prepared.

“Great experience. The team was well prepared. Lots of cooking and food. We had a great time. Go hungry as you eat everything you prepared.”

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10.Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $59Best value

Join Gilmer and Gael near Chemuyil for a four-hour small-group outing that combines a Mayan cooking lesson with bicycle rides to four local cenotes. Prepare cochinita pibil, snorkel in clear water, and finish with tacos at Gilmer’s home.

“Gilmer and Gael were fantastic hosts. They made this actually our favourite activity on our trip. It was personal and the communication throughout was amazing.”

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11.PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Meet Francisco at Town Hall Plaza for a 3.5-hour, hands-on class in a restaurant kitchen. Prepare aguas frescas, antojitos, tamales, mole, chiles rellenos, or a seafood and meat molcajete with help from Liliana and the kitchen team.

“Francisco is a smart and delightful host that created a fun experience of learning, sharing and tasting authentic Mexican cuisine.”

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12.Private Mayan Food Cooking Class, Cenote and Coba Ruins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Join guide Josué for a private day from Tulum to Tres Reyes. Help prepare tortillas and underground-cooked food with Lucy’s family, swim in a local cenote, then visit Coba by bicycle. Breakfast, lunch, drinks, transport, and air conditioning are included.

“When I asked our travel agent, who has been to Mexico over 35 times, for an authentic and personalized experience…this tour was precisely that…and surpassed our expectation tenfold. Our tour guide, Josué was prompt with every communication prior to and throughout the tour. He is extremely knowledgeable about the local areas and many archaeological sites and history of Mexico and it’s people. He is a kind person along with Lucy and her family who opened up their home and city to host the cooking and tasty feasts that we all prepared. The BEST experience in Mexico, I highly recommend this tour. You will not be disappointed!”

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13.PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $116

Meet Panchito, Francisco, or Lilia at Playa del Carmen’s Town Hall Plaza, then walk to a spacious restaurant kitchen. Over 3.5 hours, prepare aguas frescas, antojitos, tamales, chiles rellenos, and a generous molcajete feast in a small group of up to eight.

“They variety of food we made and was pleased it was traditional Mexican cooking. we got a good background of the Mexico and the culture. I would recommend this class as we really made a lot of food and even got to take some with us. Excellent experience.”

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14.Tulum: Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours · from $103

Meet at Tamarindos in Tulum Beach for a three-hour, small-group class led in English or Spanish. Prepare local dishes such as guacamole, ceviche, tacos, and tortillas, with chefs including José and Gabriel guiding the work before you sit down to eat together.

“Cours de cuisine vraiment intéressant, avec entrée (guacamole), plat (ceviche) et des tacos ainsi qu’un drink. Nous étions juste nous 4 avec le chef José et son collègue Gabriel. Professionnalisme et gentillesses, je recommande fortement ce cours.”

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