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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Leo

Mérida, Mexico

USD
$95 per person

Shared market tour and authentic Yucatecan cooking class in Mérida

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Leo

Leo is very passionate about cooking, baking and traveling around the country. She is a homemaker and has always cooked for her family, it is something she really enjoys. Leo is now excited to share her skills and passion with travelers visiting Merida. She is also a micro entrepreneur; who bakes desserts and sells it at the market. Leo learned to cook from her mother and her grandmother, and inherited the family recipes from them. This Merida cooking experience is ideal for anyone looking to learn more about Mexican history and culture through food.

Your Merida cooking class is co-hosted by Leo, our culinary expert, alongside an English-speaking guide to ensure smooth communication. Leo shares her deep knowledge of traditional cooking while our guides offer insights into the history and cultural influences shaping each dish. Together, they craft an engaging and informative culinary journey. Our diverse guide team, may include professionals who graduated in tourism, a travel consultant, a chef, all of whom love to meet new people. You can expect a deep cultural immersion, while experiencing the diverse flavors of Mexican cuisine!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) Meet your friendly, English-speaking guide in downtown Merida and walk together for 10 minutes to Mercado Lucas de Galvez. The iconic Mercado Lucas de Gálvez is one of the main markets in Merida. Almost everything you can think of is on offer – fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, condiments, clothes, local handicrafts etc. Walk around the market with your guide and be introduced to local, seasonal produce while you interact with the vendors and learn about the gastronomy of the region. Taste a few local fruits and buy a few ingredients from the market, before you catch the local bus (public transportation) to Leo’s modest home, for your cooking class. Leo’s home is 25 minutes from the market in a small village. Upon arrival she will welcome you to her home kitchen, where you will cook a traditional Yucatecan meal together.

In you 2-hour Yucatecan cooking class in Merida, learn to make three dishes from scratch. This is a hands-on cooking class where you will master traditional cooking techniques and transform fresh ingredients into delightful preparations. Leo will guide you every step of the way, while the guide shares stories and cultural insights that bring the history behind each dish to life. The three dishes that you will learn to cook in your Merida cooking class are an appetizer, empanadas or guacamole or sikil pak (roasted tomato and pumpkin seed dip); a main dish, pollo pibil (pibil style chicken) or papadzules (similar to enchiladas) or calabaza frita (fried pumpkin) and dessert, coconut cream. After cooking, sit down at the dining table to share the meal you helped prepare, which will be served with water, lemonade or horchata (refreshing Mexican drink made with ground rice, milk and cinnamon) or pineapple juice or beer.

Please note the menu may change, it is seasonal and depends on the availability of ingredients at the market, it is also pre-selected by Leo based on your dietary restrictions. At the end of the experience, your guide will accompany you by taxi or local bus back to the meeting location (Hotel Caribe), a 20 minute journey.

Notes: Leo can accommodate a vegetarian or vegan diet, if informed in advance, while booking your Mérida cooking experience online. Unlike most Traveling Spoon experiences, this is a small group, shared class (not private). Leo wants you to know that she had a dog, Pelusa.

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 2 Appetizers
  • 1 Main dish
  • 1 Dessert
  • A glass of juice or beer

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Mérida Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
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Leo

$95 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 Not offered
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 Not offered
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-3:00pm

Meet Leo

Leo is very passionate about cooking, baking and traveling around the country. She is a homemaker and has always cooked for her family, it is something she really enjoys. Leo is now excited to share her skills and passion with travelers visiting Merida. She is also a micro entrepreneur; who bakes desserts and sells it at the market. Leo learned to cook from her mother and her grandmother, and inherited the family recipes from them. This Merida cooking experience is ideal for anyone looking to learn more about Mexican history and culture through food.

Your Merida cooking class is co-hosted by Leo, our culinary expert, alongside an English-speaking guide to ensure smooth communication. Leo shares her deep knowledge of traditional cooking while our guides offer insights into the history and cultural influences shaping each dish. Together, they craft an engaging and informative culinary journey. Our diverse guide team, may include professionals who graduated in tourism, a travel consultant, a chef, all of whom love to meet new people. You can expect a deep cultural immersion, while experiencing the diverse flavors of Mexican cuisine!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) Meet your friendly, English-speaking guide in downtown Merida and walk together for 10 minutes to Mercado Lucas de Galvez. The iconic Mercado Lucas de Gálvez is one of the main markets in Merida. Almost everything you can think of is on offer – fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, condiments, clothes, local handicrafts etc. Walk around the market with your guide and be introduced to local, seasonal produce while you interact with the vendors and learn about the gastronomy of the region. Taste a few local fruits and buy a few ingredients from the market, before you catch the local bus (public transportation) to Leo’s modest home, for your cooking class. Leo’s home is 25 minutes from the market in a small village. Upon arrival she will welcome you to her home kitchen, where you will cook a traditional Yucatecan meal together.

In you 2-hour Yucatecan cooking class in Merida, learn to make three dishes from scratch. This is a hands-on cooking class where you will master traditional cooking techniques and transform fresh ingredients into delightful preparations. Leo will guide you every step of the way, while the guide shares stories and cultural insights that bring the history behind each dish to life. The three dishes that you will learn to cook in your Merida cooking class are an appetizer, empanadas or guacamole or sikil pak (roasted tomato and pumpkin seed dip); a main dish, pollo pibil (pibil style chicken) or papadzules (similar to enchiladas) or calabaza frita (fried pumpkin) and dessert, coconut cream. After cooking, sit down at the dining table to share the meal you helped prepare, which will be served with water, lemonade or horchata (refreshing Mexican drink made with ground rice, milk and cinnamon) or pineapple juice or beer.

Please note the menu may change, it is seasonal and depends on the availability of ingredients at the market, it is also pre-selected by Leo based on your dietary restrictions. At the end of the experience, your guide will accompany you by taxi or local bus back to the meeting location (Hotel Caribe), a 20 minute journey.

Notes: Leo can accommodate a vegetarian or vegan diet, if informed in advance, while booking your Mérida cooking experience online. Unlike most Traveling Spoon experiences, this is a small group, shared class (not private). Leo wants you to know that she had a dog, Pelusa.

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 2 Appetizers
  • 1 Main dish
  • 1 Dessert
  • A glass of juice or beer

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Mérida Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 Not offered
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $95 Not offered
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-3:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.