Step into the heart of one of Mexico’s most meaningful traditions with this seasonal Día de los Muertos cooking class and cultural experience, offered only on select dates during the year. This is more than just a culinary activity — it’s an invitation to celebrate life, honor the memory of loved ones, and connect deeply with Yucatecan culture through food, ritual, and storytelling.

Your journey begins in Mérida’s historic center, where you’ll meet your local guide and take a short walk to the city’s main altar. Surrounded by marigolds, incense, and heartfelt offerings, you’ll receive an introduction to the significance of this deeply spiritual holiday — a time when families lovingly welcome back the souls of those who have passed.

Next, you’ll head into the lively Lucas de Gálvez Market, where tradition comes alive in color, scent, and flavor. As you explore the bustling aisles, you’ll gather fresh ingredients not only for your cooking class, but also for the ofrenda (altar) you’ll help build later in the day. Enjoy a light breakfast of pan de muerto and hot chocolate — a comforting ritual that has united Mexican families for generations during this season of remembrance.

From the market, your guide will accompany you by local transportation to the welcoming home of your host, where an intimate and enriching experience awaits. Together, you’ll create a traditional ofrenda — an altar adorned with candles, marigolds, food, and photos — and you are warmly invited to bring a picture of a departed loved one or pet to honor their memory.

Then, you’ll roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class, where you’ll learn to prepare a heartfelt 3-course Yucatecan meal, including the iconic pib (mukbil pollo) — a ceremonial dish made especially for Day of the Dead. This large tamal, traditionally baked underground, is deeply symbolic and made only once a year as an offering to both the living and the dead. As you cook, your host will share the stories, symbolism, and soul behind each dish — from the spices that evoke memory to the techniques passed down through generations.

After preparing your meal, you’ll sit down together at the table to enjoy the dishes you’ve made, surrounded by the aroma of home-cooked food and the quiet presence of remembrance. It’s a unique blend of celebration and reflection, laughter and nostalgia — a feast for both the senses and the soul.

This seasonal experience is designed to leave a lasting impression — not only on your palate, but on your heart.

• 8:30 AM – Meet your guide at Iglesia de la Tercera Orden
• 8:40 AM – Walk through the Plaza Grande and visit the city’s main Day of the Dead altar for a meaningful introduction to the tradition
• 9:10 AM – Explore Lucas de Gálvez Market: shop for fresh ingredients for the meal and items for the altar, and enjoy a traditional light breakfast of pan de muerto and hot chocolate
• 10:45 AM – Transfer by local bus to your host’s home
• 11:15 AM – Begin your immersive cooking class and help set up a traditional ofrenda (altar) to honor departed loved ones  
• 13:30 PM – Sit down and enjoy the delicious 3-course meal you prepared – Including the Mucbipollo “PIB”
• 14:15 PM – Transfer back to your accommodation or original meeting point
• 14: 45 PM – Arrive at drop-off location