Start your morning with a guided visit to Mérida’s bustling local market, where you’ll sample traditional breakfast favorites and shop for fresh ingredients. Then, step into a local family home for a hands-on cooking class and learn how to prepare a traditional three-course Yucatecan meal.

This authentic culinary experience offers a unique opportunity to discover the flavors, traditions, and stories that define Yucatán’s rich food culture. From local ingredients and time-honored recipes to meaningful cultural connections, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the cuisine and heritage of the region.

  Begin your day with a fascinating guided walking tour of Mérida’s vibrant main market, a place bursting with color, aromas, and life. As you explore the bustling aisles of Lucas de Gálvez Market, you’ll discover the seasonal fruits, spices, herbs, and fresh ingredients that form the foundation of traditional Yucatecan cuisine. Your guide will help you understand not only what locals cook with, but also where these ingredients come from and how they are cultivated or sourced.

Along the way, you’ll meet longtime vendors and hear their personal stories — many of them are proud keepers of family-run stalls that have served the community for generations. Their knowledge, friendliness, and passion bring the market to life and add a rich human connection to the culinary journey.

As you walk, you’ll also enjoy a light breakfast of popular local snacks and traditional morning dishes, offering you a delicious introduction to the region’s food culture.

With your ingredients freshly purchased, your guide will accompany you on local transportation to the home of a welcoming hostess. There, in the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of her kitchen, you’ll begin a hands-on cooking class that offers far more than just recipes.

Under her guidance, you’ll learn to prepare a traditional 3-course Yucatecan meal — from scratch. As you chop, stir, and season, you’ll uncover the stories and traditions behind each dish, gaining insight into their cultural and historical significance.

Finally, you’ll sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve created, savoring not just the food, but the shared experience and deeper connection to Yucatán’s culinary heritage.

• 9:00 AM – Meet your guide at Iglesia de la Tercera Orden
• 9:10 AM – Walk through the historic center and Plaza Grande
• 9:30 AM – Explore Lucas de Gálvez Market, shop for ingredients & enjoy a light breakfast
• 10:45 AM – Transfer by local bus to your host’s home
• 11:15 AM – Begin your hands-on cooking class with your local host
• 12:30 PM – Sit down and enjoy the 3-course meal you prepared
• 1:30 PM – Transfer back to your accommodation or original meeting point
• 2:00 PM – Arrive at drop-off location