Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School offers an immersive culinary experience in Playa del Carmen, where participants learn traditional Mexican cooking from a seasoned local chef. This class is organized through Cozumel Chef and has been one of the most highly rated cooking experiences in the region.
The experience begins with a visit to the local DAC market, where you explore vibrant produce stalls, learn about key Mexican ingredients, and select what you’ll later use in the kitchen. From there, the group returns to Isa’s home kitchen for a hands-on cooking session tailored to all skill levels.
Participants learn about and use classic Mexican kitchen tools such as molcajetes (stone mortar and pestle), tortilla presses, cazuelas (clay pots), and molinillos (wooden whisk), while preparing a traditional Mexican lunch from scratch. Typical dishes include fresh tortillas, multiple salsas, guacamoles, and a choice of main courses like mole poblano, tikin-xic fish, chicken pibil, ceviche, or tacos al pastor.
Classes are small (maximum 8 participants) and personal, designed to feel almost like a private class with Chef Isa, who brings over a decade of culinary experience and a deep connection to Mexican food traditions. There’s even an optional tequila or mezcal lesson available.
This is more than a cooking class — it’s a cultural journey into Mexican cuisine and local foodways right in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
Please check all Riviera Maya cooking classes in the Cooking classes category on RivieraMayaHotSpots.
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Sheri Heasllip
in the last week100% recommend! This was the highlight of our trip. From meeting Isa at a local market and learning about spices, citrus and peppers to shopping for our ingredients together, the entire experience felt authentic, informative, and thoughtfully curated. The class itself was held in Isa’s home—both in her beautiful backyard kitchen and indoors when the sun was at its peak. The environment was warm and welcoming, and the small group made it feel intimate and fun. Isa and her team were fantastic—her passion and expertise were phenomenal, matched only by her kindness. Everything ran seamlessly, and sharing the meal we created together made it even more memorable. I could not recommend this enough!
Telen Harper
in the last weekMy husband and I along with 3 other travellers attended Isabel’s cooking class in March. We had a tour at the local market where she showed us the wide range of chillies used in Mexican cooking. Then, she transported us to her home kitchen where we prepared 2 dishes: a green mole chicken and chicken pibil. Both were delicious! I very much enjoyed the conversations amongst us, learning about Mexican culinary cultures and sharing experiences with our new found friends from Minnesota.
aron Shelstad
3 weeks agoMy partner and I had an excellent time at Isa’s cooking class and would recommend it to anyone.
Guillaume Ménard
3 weeks agoGreat experience. Isa is a great host and is very talented. We are very happy with our day and the recipe that we cooked together!
Tegan Ciappara
a month agoIsa’s cooking class was nothing but exceptional! If you’re in Playa Del Carmen, please book this in! Her outdoor kitchen was beautiful and such a perfect spot to create some magic! She was so kind and patient with the group, and the meals tasted incredible. She was so happy to answer all of our questions, a very authentic experience indeed. Thank you Isa!