Playa del Carmen: Mexican Cooking & Local Market Tour with Chef Alma
5.0
227 Ratings
Playa del Carmen
Immerse yourself in the flavors of Mexico with a local market tour and cooking class in Playa del Carmen. Explore spice markets, learn traditional recipes, and indulge in delicious Mexican cuisine.
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Calle 24 Norte - Meet your Master Chef and start a day of cultural and culinary immersion, you will discover the authentic local neighborhoods of Playa del Carmen while you shop and visit the local markets for the produces and ingredients that you will need to cook the recipes of the day.
What's Included
  • Cooking class by Master Chef
  • All ingredients provided
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Snacks included
  • Lunch provided
  • Opportunity for food tasting
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meal Options
  • Guacamole - Learn to cook Salsas, Guacamole and the best of the traditional Mexican recipes
Additional Information

Start your gastronomical journey under the expert guidance of Chef Alma, visiting various Local Spice Markets to gather all the fresh ingredients required for the day’s dishes and salsas. Search for unique spices and local products to infuse the authentic flavors.

Once the ingredients are selected and purchased, the next stop is Chef’s home where you’ll participate in a hands-on cooking session. The chef, along with her family, will unfold the secret family recipes as well as some of the most popular traditional Mexican dishes.

Get the hands-on experience of making your own corn tortillas, learn various cooking techniques, and immerse yourself in the preparation of some of the tastiest and most iconic dishes of Mexican cuisine.

The icing on the cake: You get to savor what you cook during the class.

Experience all this in the true spirit of ‘Mi Casa es su Casa’ (my house is your house).

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Language: English & Spanish
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Please Let us know about Food Allergies, Food restrictions or Mobility issues
Location
Electrica y Plomeria Silva
50 Avenida Norte
Please ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of "SILVA" store; Chef Alma will be waiting for you right there.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(227 Ratings)
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Katherine_s
Mar 22, 2024
Absolutely Fabulous Food & Fun - Alma and team were fabulous at fulfilling and exceeding expectations. We were a family of four with kids 6 & 9 years old. They ensured everything was engaging and enjoyable for the kids and indulged my husband and I in history and culture. The food was absolutely fabulous and the margaritas were top notch! Everyone enjoyed the stroll through the neighborhood to get the items for the meal as well as the cooking experience. It's obvious Alma has inveated a lot of time and energy into curating the perfect menu and itinerary. Highly recommend, especially as a family activity.
Review provided by Viator
Craig_k
Mar 20, 2024
Sign up now for full bellies and full hearts - Our teenage son picked this experience, and initially my husband and I were skeptical about cooking in a “stranger’s” house, but in just a few short hours, it felt like Alma and Lilly (our knowledgeable and wonderful chefs) were family. We began by meeting at a plumbing store. Don’t’ worry - it’s just a good landmark to meetup. We had a brief walk to Chef Alma’s home and learned a bit about the history of Playa Del Carmen. We were then ready to explore the town a bit. We saw a local tortilla maker and gained an immense appreciation for the art of making quality, delicious, fresh tortillas. Then we headed to a local convenience store to get a sense of the local neighborhood. And we ended at the premium produce market to see the local ingredients and meet the store’s cat! Then we headed home to start cooking. We learned the fundamental flavors to Mexican cuisine. Everyone had a job from crushing peppers with mortar, to chopping veggies, to making our own fresh tortillas - we all got involved in making our special lunch. One of our party was a vegetarian, and Chef Alma had no trouble in accommodating the dietary differences. We left our day with full bellies and full hearts, happy to have shared our cultures. What a beautiful way to experience this area firsthand!
Review provided by Viator
Juliefv6319zm
Mar 19, 2024
Greta day! - This was a highlight of our trip. Alma and her Tia were incredible teachers/hosts and we had a wonderful experience. We can’t wait to try the recipes at home!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timarel
Mar 7, 2024
Highly recommended - What a fun and amazing experience. Alma and her Aunt were amazing hosts taking us to the market and then teaching us all how to make an amazing meal from scratch. By far BEST experience and highly recommended!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K440urchristyr
Mar 3, 2024
Always a great time and lots to eat and learn - I can't believe that we have not written a review previously because Chef Alma has been nothing short of wonderful. It just always slips our mind once we return to reality. This was our fourth class with Alma and each one has been different and we could not be happier. We started taking classes in May of 2022 when we made street tacos and learned about Playa Del Carmen. Alma is very personable and speaks exceptional English. This year was our second class with Alma and her Tia Lily and the two have such a wonderful dynamic. We also took two classes in which Alma had a friend helping. The class is amazing, it is interactive and informative. You will visit a Mexican market and Tortilleria and maybe more. So far, we have done 4 out of the 5 menus and everything has been amazing. We have used her recipes to create some delicious items at home. Be prepared to eat when you take this class. Alma is able to accommodate to food allergies and spice tolerance. If you would like to have a great time cooking while possibly meeting some fun new people, all the while learning about Mexican Culture this is a fantastic experience. We will be back next year... The taco tour is also amazing, just make sure you come hungry!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andre_g
Feb 15, 2024
Highly recommended - Alma was a perfect host and her cooking instruction were easy to follow and interesting to learn. Enjoy your class
Review provided by Viator
K_p
Feb 10, 2024
Great local cooking experience - Alma shared the history of the growth of Playa del Carmen, and her day to day life here. The menu we prepared was simple and easy to replicate back home.
Review provided by Viator
Marla_r
Feb 9, 2024
Great experience! - Really wonderful and interesting to spend the morning with Alma and Lilly. We even learned to make tortillas!
Review provided by Viator
Cwalker1105
Feb 6, 2024
Fantastic cooking class with local expert - Chef Alma was very energetic , informative, personable and provided a great experience in her beautiful kitchen! We walked to a local tortilla maker, the local produce market and then came back to her kitchen to cook some amazing salsas, tacos and margaritas. It was a great experience that we highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
163annmarief
Feb 11, 2024
Too Expensive - It was nice but way too expensive at $148 per person (for advertised 5 hours). We made guacomole, salsa and tortillas. The teachers really made the rest. It was a smaller group and we were finished in 4 hours. But that was with a TON of going off topic. Beautiful table setting... very clean kitchen. I can't say enough that these ladies were delightful, but way too much chatting. 3 hours at $75 per person makes me sense.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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