The 7 Best Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta

1.Puerto Vallarta Cooking Class Experience with Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 698 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $144Our pick

Meet Chef Enrique at Mercado Palmar de Aramara, choose fresh ingredients, visit a tortilla factory, and cook in his home with a group of no more than eight. Daily menus range from al pastor tacos and mole to seafood, tamales, and birria, with vegetarian and gluten-free adjustments available.

“Very fun experience from start to finish. Thanks for the great hospitality and fun cooking experience.”

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2.Private Market Tour & Cooking Class in Puerto Vallarta with Manu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 241 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $139

Meet chef Manu at Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, choose fresh ingredients, and learn to prepare a personalized Mexican meal in his home. This private three-hour experience includes market shopping, hands-on cooking, lunch or supper, and options for seafood lovers, vegetarians, children, and most dietary needs.

“We had a great time on our tour. We learned about how to pick certain foods from the market and the preparation of everything. The food was delicious and we had a great repport with Manuel. Loved his wry sense of humor. Thank you very much.💝 We had a very pleasant yummy experience.”

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3.Mexican Cooking Experience & Unlimited Margaritas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $97

Join guides such as Valeria, Roberto, Martin, or César for a five-hour trip from Marina Vallarta to La Dulce Vista. Make salsa, guacamole, enchiladas, stuffed jalapeños, and plantains, then taste tequila and mezcal before pool time. Bring a swimsuit and expect a bumpy mountain ride.

“The five of us had an enjoyable time. We started by meeting in the marina. Pick up location was close to Starbucks. Boarded an open air bus with lots of other fun seekers and traveled up to La Dulce Vista resort in the Sierra Madres. Started with Tequila tasting that a small batch and made from blue agave. Multiple types. From there, we learned how to make guacamole, salsa, chicken, enchiladas, and pork tostadas. Very immersive and interactive and good guides and chefs. Ended with about 45 minutes of free time and some surprises.”

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4.Authentic Cooking Class in Puerto Vallarta with Local Chef, Manu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $119

Join professionally trained chef Manu for a private, two-hour cooking experience in his Puerto Vallarta home. Prepare dishes such as ceviche, sopes, smoked marlin tacos, and plantains, then share the meal with local beer. Vegetarian menus and dietary changes are available with advance notice.

“Such a great experience! The blend of spices, peppers and other fresh ingredients made it a fantastic experience. Locally fresh caught fish and shrimp were so delicious. Chef Manu has fantastic knife skills too!”

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5.Make your own Mole Poblano in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $87Best value

At ChocoMuseo Puerto Vallarta, you’ll visit a local market with guides such as Zoar, Martin, or Elias, select chiles and cacao, then prepare mole from more than 25 ingredients. The three-hour class includes lunch, a fruit drink, and a jar of your sauce to take home.

“We had a great time. Elias and Rodrigo were amazing and the mole came out so good. Don't miss this workshop if you ever go to Puerto Vallarta 😋”

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6.Mole Poblano Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 20 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Spend three hours with a small group of up to five, shopping for chiles and fresh ingredients at a local market before making Mole Poblano at ChocoMuseo Puerto Vallarta. Instructors such as Zoar and Martin guide you through the process, from toasted spices and cacao to a shared meal and a jar of mole to take home.

“Superb! Everything was well organized in a wonderful setting. We had a knowledgeable and fun instructor who answered every question and had us actually prepare the mole under her direction. She was great. I highly recommend this workshop but be prepared to be a participant, not just an onlooker. And the final product was “muy bueno!””

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7.Cook Like a Local: Vallarta Market & Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $113

Meet Chef Julio and his family near Puerto Vallarta’s Malecón, walk through the local market, and cook mole, chile relleno, ceviche, tortillas, guacamole, and salsas on a rooftop terrace. This private, English-language class lasts about five hours and includes digital recipes.

“We learned so much about Mexican cooking from how to pivk fruits annd vegetable to how to make corn tortillas and mola sauce from sratch.”

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