Isthmus Cooking Classes: Discover Unique Flavors and Experience Tehuana Culture

Join Betsaida in her hands-on cooking class in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and discover unique flavors from the Tehuana culture. Learn traditional dishes and explore the local market for fresh ingredients. No cooking skills required!

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 56J7+PM La Capellanía - Firstly, we’ll meet on a specific point, we’ll go to a local market to get the freshest ingredients that we’ll cook according to the day’s menu. Then, we’ll go to my house where I’ll teach you to make all the dishes from start to end. After that, we’ll eat & enjoy together all the food we cooked, we’ll enjoy it with…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Bottled water
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
  • Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Meal Options
  • Molotes de plátano
  • Garnachas
  • Lechecilla
Additional Information

Hi I’m Betsaida originally from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, I want to invite you to my house in a hands-on cooking class to get to know & discover unique flavors from the Isthmus gastronomy, while you learn about the Tehuanas & our culture.
I’ll teach you to cook the most traditional & outstanding dishes that I’ve learnt through generations in my…

Location
Jardín Carbajal
Calle Macedonio Alcalá
Cardín Carbajal is close to Santo Domingo Church, at the end of the pedestrian street to the north. We'll meet up and drop you off at the only fountain at Jardín Carbajal, I'll be carrying a beige or black tote bag.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(43 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Florianel807
Aug 15, 2025
Amazing cooking class ! - Amazing exeprience ! We highly recommend, we had a great time with Betsaida ! Thank you for sharing so much about traditions, dishes, customs !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fearless281768
May 10, 2025
The best cooking class ever! - The most complete and hands on cooking class we’ve ever taken! Betsaida was delightful, experienced, and gave attention to detail from the market to plating of the delicious meal! Her assistant was always there to assist to make for a smooth running class. Her beautiful kitchen took my breath away! It is a long day so would recommend for teenagers and older. We came away full of amazing food and a rich cultural experience. Recommend in every way!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightseer31213786777
Apr 18, 2025
Amazing Oaxaca cooking experience - My teenage daughter and I had an amazing day cooking Oaxacan food with Betsaida. Betsaida is an excellent host, cook, educator and cultural ambassador for Oaxaca. We learned a lot, cooked delicious food, had a wonderful fun time with the other participants and our host. The market tour at the beginning of the day was a great start to the experience and the atmosphere in the colorful kitchen was amazing. We highly recommended the tour to other travelers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Regan_r
Apr 3, 2025
Wonderful Class! Magnificent Teacher! - This was such an incredible experience. Betsy is an absolute doll - warm, inviting, and unquestionably an excellent chef. You walk into her incredible kitchen and it's like walking on to the set of a cooking show. It's so beautiful, incredibly appointed, and laid out so there's plenty of room for everyone. The menu selections (sent in advance so you can let her know what you'd like to cook -- appetizers, main course, dessert) were awesome, and you can find options for cooks with little to no experience in the kitchen all the way up to experienced. One member of our group is pescatarian, and she was very easily accommodated by Betsy's expertise (note that there are many vegetarian options on her menu as is - we just wanted tamales and she adapted her masa recipe to make it vegetarian!). All the members of our group were adults, so Betsy had plenty of beers & mezcal for us, as well as an incredible agua fresca (pepita & lima with chia seeds - refreshing and so delicious), and her delicious hot chocolate. It does get hot in the kitchen, so be sure to wear something comfortable. Also, you're on your feet, so wear comfy shoes. We loved it and we loved Betsy! When we come back we'd love to take this class again just so we can spend some more time with her and her sweet dogs! We love you, Betsy!!
Review provided by Viator
Tonypz9455zp
Feb 13, 2025
Really fun day and experience - Really fun class. She's both knowledgeable and enthusiastic with local taditional techniques. Market visit and menu options were a plus as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennac633
Feb 13, 2025
Absolutely worth it! - We had so much fun with this class.. The instructor is fabulous, and the food was wonderful.. Definitely worth the time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dcgirl79
Apr 9, 2024
the best way to spend my birthday! - this cooking class was a wonderful way to spend a day in oaxaca (and how i chose to spend my birthday this year)! betsaida was a fantastic host and teacher, educating us about all the ingredients that we picked up in the market. everything was colorful and delicious! she has the kitchen set up in stations that our class of 6 people (which is the max class size) rotated through - so we all got to do a little bit of everything. there were snacks and guacamole and salsa and drinks available throughout, plus we made and decorated empanadas and mole’. lots of fun, so much food. i highly recommend this class!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
163betseyh
Oct 30, 2023
Fantastic class/tour!! - There were alot of cooking classes to choose from in Oaxaca and I am so glad I selected this one! It was a fantastic experience, start to finish and Betsaida is an extremely vivacious, knowledgeable guide and cook. We met at the market where she expertly guided us in the purchase of ingredients for the meal we would make. She also helped me purchase local honey and Chiapas coffees. Back at the cooking kitchen, we (my husband and I and our 12 & 16 year old daughters) all very much enjoyed cooking mole, quesadillas, salsas, enchiladas, etc. My 12 year old even tried the snacks: chapulines and flying ants. My husband and I have taken quite a few community cooking classes in the US and this by far was a unique and informative experience, with new ingredients and techniques. I highly recommend any of Me Encanta Oaxaca's classes or tours as it will undoubtedly enrich your understanding and appreciation of Oaxacan culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Slf540
Aug 13, 2023
Great cooking class - We have taken many cooking classes in Oaxaca. Prior to the class, Betsy allowed us to choose a dish that we wanted to cook. We chose a plantain dish because we can get them in Texas. The class was attended by myself, my husband and a family of three from Norway. We worked on many dishes so when we were done we had a feast. Betsy gave easy to understand instructions, and we cooked in her outdoor kitchen. All of our dishes were great and we throughly enjoyed the class!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nina
Jul 31, 2023
Betsaida made our day - This was definitely our best day in Oaxaca. First we went together to the market to do some shopping for the cooking. Then Batsaida drove us all to her home where we made snacks and a three course meal. One of those was black mole. It was great fun, with very good guidance from Betsaida. Even our 16 year old daughter thought it was great. Definitely worth the time and money, and a memorable day from our trip to Mexico.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $115
up to 3 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).