The 15 Workshops & Classes in Puerto Vallarta That Earn Their Price

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Bean to Bar Chocolate Workshop in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 381 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $62

At ChocoMuseo Puerto Vallarta, a guide such as Rodrigo, Martin, Elias, or Zoar leads you through cacao’s Mexican roots, roasting, shell tea, hot chocolate, and hands-on chocolate making. You choose toppings for bars to take home. The small group is in English and welcomes ages five and up.

“Learned so much about cocoa from the Mayans to Europeans. We had my 91 yo mother-in-law who uses a walker & my Deaf, legally blind, developmentally delayed, mobility impaired adult daughter. The stairs to the 2nd floor has hand railings. There was AC. You sit on counter height stools. Zoar taught a great class, was so friendly & caring & we all had fun learning & shelling cocoa beans, making cocoa tea, various hot cocoa & chocolate bars. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Chocolate and truffles workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $62

At ChocoMuseo Puerto Vallarta, guides such as Rod, Zoar, and Rodrigo lead a hands-on class in English. You will learn about Mexican cacao, make flavored ganache, mold bonbons, prepare truffles, and take your chocolate home.

“Zoar was fantastic! We had so much fun and the truffles we were able to make ourselves and take home were incredible! A great bargain for the price!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Surf lessons in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $110

Okala Surf School picks you up, chooses the best beach for the day’s waves, and gives you a private surf lesson with boards, rash guards, snacks, and photos included. Instructors such as Kristhian, Jonathan, Diego, and Kalany teach beginners on beaches near Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit.

“It was amazing! They are awesome instructors. You should book it. It was easy to get picked up and the beach was gorgeous.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Surf Lesson Experience at Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $94

Learn to surf with a private instructor such as Edson, Jean Carlo, or Fernando, then choose between more beach time and a visit to Sayulita. Pickup from central Puerto Vallarta, boards, and rash guards are available, with morning or afternoon options.

“Me and my friend had a great surfing experience with Edson. We caught a lot of waves and enjoyed the company! I would highly recommend this trip with Edson 😊👍”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Fun 2 hr Surf Lessons in Punta de Mita

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Meet Alejandro, Alex Jr, or Diego at the beach in Punta de Mita for a private two-hour surf lesson. You’ll learn balance, pop-up technique, ocean safety, and wave selection, with boards and rash guards supplied. Lessons begin at 10am or 5pm.

“Alejandro was awesome the day we had planned our lessons there were no waves. So we rescheduled for a couple days later. I have been trying to surf for years, he had me up and surfing in 30 minutes. Very friendly respectful instructor.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Vallarta surf lesson with Pickup Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $120

You get a private, half-day surf lesson with pickup in Puerto Vallarta. Instructors such as Emilian, Emilio, Andru, and Joaquin explain technique, safety, and wave choice before about two hours in the water. The beach may be Nuevo Vallarta, Punta de Mita, or another suitable break.

“Emilian was an amazing teacher. We learned so much more than I expected given that it was our first time. My 13 yo son was doing a 360 on his board before our lesson was over. I would recommend this experience to anyone! Hands down so much fun and I'm so glad I participated in the lesson!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Puerto Vallarta premier Surf Lessons VSCO

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $90

Meet Leo and the Vallarta Surf Co. team for a five-hour beginner lesson from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta. Walk six minutes through jungle to a quiet sandy beach, learn pop-ups and timing, then practice small waves with boards, shade, snacks, water, and pickup included.

“I had a great time going on this surfing lesson, would highly recommend! My coach and the location were both great”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.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!””

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Surf Lesson in Sayulita

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $85

Meet Wildmex Surf & Adventure in central Sayulita for a private, English-language lesson built around your pace. You’ll learn board position, standing technique, and wave timing, with instructors such as Michael, Alex, Rodrigo, and Diego guiding beginners toward their first rides.

“Jonathan and Michael were great! Everyone in our family learned to surf! They were a lot of fun! Highly recommend. Close to the beach.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Surf Lesson in Sayulita’s Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $84

Meet at Wildmex’s blue shop for a 20-minute safety and surf basics briefing, then head to Sayulita’s sand-bottom beach break. Your bilingual instructor covers paddling, standing, stance, and wave timing. Board, rash guard, booties, and wetsuit top are included.

“We booked private surfing lessons for our family of 4 (kids aged 12 and 14). We had Lalo and Lalo as our instructors and they were awesome! They were patient, knowledgeable, and kind. They were extra fun with the kids too. We were all able to catch way more waves than we expected and had so much fun! We'd highly recommend Wildmex for surf lessons!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Puerto vallarta and Nayarit: surf lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $112

Kristhian and Jonathan of Okala Surf School teach private surf lessons at Nuevo Nayarit, La Lancha, or Litibu. You’ll practice paddling and pop-ups on the beach, then take your board into the water with one instructor for every one or two surfers. Gear, transport, snacks, and GoPro photos are included.

“La clase estuvo increíble, aprendimos mucho, súper bien explicada. Los instructores al pendiente en todo momento, muy amables y atentos. Definitivamente recomiendo la actividad.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Private Surf Lesson at La Lancha Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $104

Spend four hours learning to surf at La Lancha Beach near Punta Mita with an English or Spanish speaking ISA certified instructor. Choose from more than 300 boards, use provided gear, walk 10 minutes through jungle to the sand, and return to Sayulita by air-conditioned vehicle.

“I feel that we were misled. We had taken a 2 hr private lesson which was advertised as a 2 hour activity. Bus picked us up at Sayulita around 8 and took about 45' to get to the shop. Add in another 45' to change, get acquainted with the instructor, cart the surfboards over a busy highway and through a jungle with rickety single plank bridges (all part of the charm, no complaints) and then finally to the beach. Less than an hour for the actual surfing before it was time to head back. Beach was spectacular as was the water hence the stars. Lessons were perfunctory and in line…”

Check availability →Read our full review