Delicious and authentic food made during a culinary vacation on the Riviera Maya.

Enjoying an authentic cooking classes with a famous local chef of the region.

A delicious feast prepared during one of your cooking classes.

Pre-Columbian ruins in Mexico

Traditional mole on a culinary tour of Mexico.

Enjoying delicious Mexican tacos during a culinary vacation in Mexico with The International Kitchen.

Bedroom bedroom at the chef's casita in Puerto Morelos.

Interior of the chef's casita in Valladolid.

Outdoor table at the chef's casita in Valladolid.

Patio and splash pool at the chef's casita in Valladolid.

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Overview

Cooking on the Riviera Maya

Mexican cuisine is one of the most well-known and complex cuisines in the world, full of rich flavors, abundant fruits and vegetables, and centuries-old traditions. The Riviera Maya is one of the most beautiful areas in Mexico, where you can enjoy the beauty and warm weather of this amazing area. Yours will be an intimate and authentic experience exploring Mexican cuisine and culture. There are also many activities offered nearby: jet skiing, scuba diving/snorkeling, zip-lining, horseback riding, golf, swimming (even with dolphins!), spa services, as well as nearby Mayan ruins to explore. Come learn how to cook authentic Mexican food at Puerto Morelos and Valladolid in a private cooking school with Chef Ale, and rest assured you will be the best Mexican chef in your home at the end of this experience!

Trip Details

Your cooking classes will be with Chef Alejandra or one of her chef collaborators. Chef Ale loves the culture, food, fiestas, holidays, and celebrations of Mexico. She believes she was born in a kitchen because cooking comes naturally for her! Her two grandmothers were amazing cooks who taught her all about Mexican traditions, and she grew up cooking with them and learning about spices, scents, and amazing flavors. She has been a part of every aspect of the the food industry, but after studying the Culianry Arts in Mexico City she decided to teach others the secrets of her native cuisine. Your classes will focus on a variety of authentic Mexican dishes according to the them of the day: such as tamales of the countryside, coastal cuisine, corn masas, the cuisine of central Mexico, Yucatecan recipes, and more. One class will be a special cooking experience with a Mayan cook featuring traditional Mayan recipes.

Sample week follows. Please note the order of activities is subject to change.

Day One

Arrival at Cancun International Airport.
Transfer to your boutique hotel by private car.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome Mexican dinner at a local restaurant with one of the chefs or a local culinary guide.
Overnight.

Day Two

Breakfast
Enjoy a local food tour led by a professional chef, who will take you on a unique culinary journey through the best gastronomy in the area.
Lunch in town.
End the evening with a tequila and mezcal tasting while you dine on antojitos at the cooking school. (Antojitos aka ‘appetizers’ included, but if you want dinner out it is at your own cost.)
Overnight.

Day Three

Breakfast.
Enjoy your first cooking class at the culinary school.
Lunch based on your efforts, a full array of Mexican dishes, beverages included. And don’t forget the famous Mexican “sobremesa,” or after-meal socializing!
Travel to Valladolid and check into your boutique accommodations.
Meet with your resident chef for dinner.
Overnight in chef Ale’s boutique casita in Rancho Palchalhal in Valladolid.

Day Four

Breakfast.
Pick up in the morning and enjoy a tour of the colonial city of Valladolid. Learn about the Melipona bee and try the famous smoked meats in the town of Temozon.
Typical lunch of Mayan food and swimming in a Cenote.
Join your resident chef for dinner.
Overnight.

Day Five

Breakfast
Enjoy a unique culinary experience in the Yaxunah Mayan community. Interact and cook along with the best traditional Mayan cook in Yucatan. Chef Rosalia Chay and her Mayan family will teach you how to make tortillas, cook in a “pib” (buried oven) and eat in a Traditional Mayan home at this village immersed in the jungle. You will try the best Cochinita Pibil, Tamales Colados and tortillas.
While the food is in the pib, you will visit the Yaxunah archaeological site of Chichen Itza.
Return to your casita in Valladolid, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure, with a light dinner either in town or at your accommodation.
Overnight.

Day Six

Breakfast.
Meet your chef for a market visit to pick the ingredients for your Mexican cooking class.
Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
Afternoon at leisure
In the evening, you will take a walk to see a video image show at the San Barnardino convent, followed by drinks at the Calzada de los Frailes. You will have a chance to visit the plaza nearby and try local street food such as churros and marquesitas.
Return to Puerto Morelos, dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight.

Day Seven

Breakfast.
Today is beach day! Enjoy a full day at Isla Mujeres with drinks and snacks provided at the beach club.
Return to the Casita.
This evening, dinner on your own in Puerto Morelos.
Overnight.