Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School is the first culinary school teaching cooking classes in the heart of down town Playa del Carmen. Isa's cooking classes are dedicated to the art of classic traditional Mexican cuisine. The school is is located in a home kitchen close to the local market where you will visit and learn about Mexican ingredients (as well as purchase some of the ingredients you will need for your class). In this class you will create a well-rounded, multi-dish lunch in a small class setting (no more than 8 students in class). Classes are hands-on and some demonstration, so be prepared to work! Chef Isa (and/ or Chef Pavel, Isa's cooking partner and husbad) is not only a cooking class teacher, she is also a professional chef with over 10 years of cooking experience. She/ he is thrilled to share their knowledge on cooking techniques in addition to teaching you how to make authentic Mexican dishes.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen lasts about 3 hours.
Prices start at $120 per person for this Playa del Carmen experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, starting at 11:00 AM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Please meet Isa at the local market before heading to her home kitchen. DAC is located on 30 Avenida Norte Mz 34 lote 10, entre Constituyentes y Calle 22, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R. After the market tour, Isa will transport you to her home kitchen. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN, ES.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller No children under the age of 8. Children 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 41 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Cozumel Chef.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Isa was wonderful. Her cooking is incredible and she gave us lots of tips and tricks to recreate our chicken mole and guacamole. I cannot wait to make the guacamole with pomegranate again. So unique and so delicious. Isa is so personable and so know that I would definitely return for another meal. You couldn’t ask for a more gracious hostess.
Isa was unbelievable! She was very welcoming and very polite! She was very impressive showing us how to prepare various local foods
Thank you so much for your kind review. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time with Isa and that she made you feel so welcome. She loves sharing her passion for Mexican cuisine, and we’re glad you enjoyed learning how to prepare a variety of local dishes. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
What a wonderful, fun experience! My husband and I learned so much in our class. Isa was a great teacher, a wonderful Chef, and you can tell she really enjoys cooking. She explained the steps and helped us create the dish we selected to make. Isa answered our questions and was very informative of all the fresh ingredients we used. She also gave us other ideas and ways to use the same ingredients. We will be taking another class with her next time we are visiting the area. Sharing the meal at the end was a perfect ending.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that you and your husband had such a fun and memorable experience with Isa. It’s great to know her passion for cooking, teaching, and sharing knowledge about fresh ingredients made the class so enjoyable. We’re especially happy that sharing the meal together at the end was the perfect finish to your experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another class in the future.
I am so glad I booked this class. Isa is so knowledgeable and passionate about flavors and cooking. I learned so much. From the market to the kitchen she took her time to explain everything. We made 3 ceviches, 2 guacamoles, tortillas from scratch. She had a great playlist and we enjoyed a wonderful meal together after. I highly recommend this experience.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed the experience with Isa, from the market visit to the hands-on time in the kitchen. It’s great to know you appreciated her knowledge, passion, and the variety of dishes you prepared together. We love that the music and shared meal made it even more memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation, and would love to welcome you back on your future visits.
We had such a great time cooking and learning about the food we made. Issa was so kind and gracious.
Kevin, thank you so much for your review. We’re glad to hear you had such a great time cooking and learning, and that Isa made the experience feel warm and welcoming. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share, and hope to see you again in the future.
Cooked and ate a delicious meal. Had a private class due to others cancelling because of the situation in Puerto Vallarta. Isa was wonderful, very informative and welcoming. Enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in her outside kitchen. Probably our best meal while in Playa.
Patricia, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re so glad you enjoyed the class with Isa and that the afternoon in her outdoor kitchen turned into such a special experience. It’s wonderful to hear that you found the class informative and welcoming, and that the meal was a highlight of your time in Playa. We truly appreciate you taking the time to leave your review, and hope to see you on your future visits to the Caribbean.
OMG! ❤️ what a wonderful and fun experience. Isabelle is a professional cook from Mexico, it’s unreal the amount of information we obtained in our three hour session with her. She not only provided us with recipes, but this session is hands-on. In an outdoor kitchen setting, everything is fresh and clean. This activity is an absolute must for anyone and everyone. 100% satisfied, thank you Chef Isabelle 🙋♂️🙋♀️. Daniel Chénier and Line Cousineau from Gatineau Quebec Canada 🇨🇦
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Daniel and Line. We’re delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your time with Chef Isa and that the class was both fun and informative. She truly loves sharing her knowledge, recipes, and passion for Mexican cooking in a hands-on setting. We’re glad the outdoor kitchen experience made it even more special. Thank you again for joining us and for your kind recommendation. We hope to see you again on your future visits to the Caribbean.
Although I was almost an hour late due to my relying on the NCL time zone which is different from the local time zone, they accommodated me giving me my own cooking class. I enjoyed the class and the food was delicious. I appreciate the warmth and the descriptions of how food is prepared by the Mayans. I am not sure if I can replicate all of them due to some of the ingredients but I will try. I thought the lime soup was outstanding.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We’re really glad everything worked out and that you were still able to enjoy such a special class, even with the time mix-up. It’s wonderful to hear you felt welcomed and appreciated learning about the Mayan approach to cooking. We’re especially happy that the lime soup stood out for you. We hope you have fun experimenting with the recipes at home, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to leave your review.
The BEST part of our vacation! One of our favorite travel traditions is taking a local cooking class wherever we go, and our experience with Chef Isa in Playa del Carmen was absolutely wonderful. Isa and her husband are both chefs who owned a restaurant for many years before deciding to focus on teaching cooking classes—something that allows her to share her love of Mexican cuisine while balancing family life. Our class started at a local market, where Isa walked us through the aisles explaining local ingredients and their uses. She took the time to show us different varieties of peppers, comparing how they look and taste when raw versus dried, and explaining how each adds a unique flavor to Mexican dishes. After gathering our ingredients, we walked to her, welcoming kitchen where Isa’s sweet mother-in-law joined us to help with the meal preparation. We each had our own cutting board and apron, and Isa quickly had us chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro—all while sharing cooking tips and bits of culinary history. We made several dishes, including a traditional guacamole and a creative version with pomegranate seeds and ginger that I can’t wait to recreate at home. We also prepared a flavorful green sauce (my husband’s favorite), a smoky roasted salsa, and the star of the meal—chicken tinga, cooked in several delicious variations. Everything we made was bursting with flavor, and by the end of the class, we were happily stuffed full of goodness. Isa’s English was excellent, her instructions were easy to follow, and her enthusiasm for teaching made the whole experience fun and relaxed. Her mother-in-law even served us a refreshing hibiscus tea that perfectly complemented the meal. Every bite was YUMMY, and the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for authentic Mexican cooking. We’ll definitely keep up our tradition of taking cooking classes on vacation—and Chef Isa’s class will be hard to beat! You can sign up with her directly for a cooking class at emily@cozumelchef.com. Thank you Chef Isa!
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful and thoughtful review, Suzzane. We’re thrilled to hear that your class with Chef Isa became the highlight of your vacation, especially since cooking classes are part of your travel tradition. It’s great to know how much you enjoyed starting at the local market and learning about the ingredients that make Mexican cuisine so special. We’re delighted that Isa’s kitchen felt welcoming, that her mother-in-law added to the experience, and that you enjoyed having your own space to prep and cook. Hearing how much you loved the dishes truly means a lot. Isa puts so much heart into teaching, and we’re glad her enthusiasm, clear instruction, and hospitality made the class memorable for you. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We’re honored to be part of your travel tradition, and it’s wonderful to hear that Isa’s class will be hard to beat.
This was an exceptional experience. It was fun, engaging, educational, enlightening, and we couldn’t praise its value enough. From shopping for peppers to practicing charring techniques to enjoying the meal, this was everything we’d hoped for. Absolutely loved it.
Kelly, thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear the experience checked all the boxes: fun, educational, and delicious! From selecting the perfect peppers to learning new cooking techniques and savoring the final meal, it sounds like you embraced it all. We truly appreciate your praise and hope to welcome you again for another flavorful adventure!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen | 3 hours | 4.9 (41) | $120 | |
 Playa del Carmen Mexican Cooking Class | 3 hours | 5.0 (332) | $106 | View |
 Authentic Beachfront Mexican Cooking Class Cafe Jaguar Costa Maya | 2 hours | 5.0 (146) | $79 | View |
 Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day | 8 hours | 4.9 (192) | $89 | View |
 Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel | 2h 45min | 4.8 (365) | $61 | View |
 Tasty Mexican Cooking Class with Feast in Riviera Maya | 6 hours | 4.9 (102) | $150 | View |
 Mexican Cooking Class 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting | 5 hours | 4.9 (157) | $105 | View |