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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aron Shelstad
in the last weekMy partner and I had an excellent time at Isa’s cooking class and would recommend it to anyone.
Guillaume Ménard
in the last weekGreat 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 week 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!
Gary W
2 weeks agoIsa is an excellent chef, and we had a wonderful time cooking two Mexican dishes and different versions of guacamole. We did a Mexican mole and Mayan style whole fish. We also made fresh tortillas with blue corn which was different. The venue was an outside kitchen at her home, which made for a better experience. Highly recommend.
Jo Djossa
2 weeks agoWe had such a great time with Isa! The experience started at the market, where she selected fresh ingredients and introduced us to some we weren’t familiar with. She was patient and happy to answer all our questions, even about items we weren’t using in the class. During the session, we made three different kinds of guacamole, two guacasalsas, green mole with chicken and grilled shrimp, and even tortillas from scratch! Isa is warm, hospitable, and very knowledgeable. She created a welcoming environment and made the whole experience feel both educational and relaxed. I’d highly recommend this class to anyone looking for a fun and enjoyable cooking experience. I would absolutely take it again!