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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Sofia (Cruise)

Mérida, Mexico

USD
$129-$169 per person

Merida Shore Excursion: Yucatecan Cooking Class with Port Transfers

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

Meet Sofia (Cruise)

Born in Mérida, Sofia delights in preparing local Yucatecan and Mayan dishes that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yucatán Peninsula. An accomplished home cook, she learned to cook from her mother and grandmother, carrying forward a family tradition of flavorful, authentic cuisine. For the past 20 years, Sofia has welcomed travelers to her home through her Mérida home-stay, and you may meet some of her past guests during your visit. She loves hosting and takes great joy in sharing her Yucatecan culture through food and conversation, creating a warm and memorable experience for every visitor.

As Sofia says: “I've been receiving guests at home for more than 20 years, and each one of them takes a bit of my heart with them, but they also leave a bit of theirs!”

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.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Travel inland from the port in Progreso and immerse yourself in Mexican culture through food with a hands-on cooking class in Mérida hosted in a local home. This Merida shore excursion offers an authentic taste of Yucatán cuisine and a unique opportunity to learn directly from a passionate local. Step into the home of Sofia, who delights in sharing her cooking, culture, and traditions. There’s no better way to discover the flavors and stories of the region than with a host who loves what she does—you’ll remember this experience forever. In your Mérida cooking class, you’ll work side by side with Sofia in her kitchen to prepare traditional Yucatecan dishes from scratch. Dishes may include sikilpak (ground pumpkin seed dip), codzitos (Yucatecan appetizers), empanadas de chaya, panuchos, salbutes (tortillas with shredded chicken, lettuce, and onion), or tacos al pastor. No lesson in Yucatecan cuisine would be complete without the famous fiery habanero salsa. Once the dishes are ready, sit down and enjoy the meal you helped create, accompanied by a local Yucatán beer. Sofia is happy to accommodate vegetarian diets—please inform her when you book so she can prepare accordingly. Her home is also a homestay, so while your Traveling Spoon experience is private, there may be other guests present. Please note that Sofia’s home does not have air-conditioning, so it may be warm during the summer months.

Notes: Your Progreso Merida shore excursion includes a private, hands-on Yucatecan cooking class, a glass of local Yucatán alcohol, and port pick-up and drop-off. Sofia will meet you at the Auto Progreso shuttle terminal, drive you to her home in Chelem, and return you to the terminal at the end of your culinary experience.

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.
  • Please choose ONE from the below options, which will be served with a glass of local beer and salsas
  • Menu 1: Appetizer: Sikilpak (Mayan pumpkin seed dip), Guacamole, Codzitos (Yucatecan appetizer) + Main: Panuchos y Salbut (tortilla with shredded chicken and garnished with lettuce and onion) + Dessert: Mousse de Mango
  • Menu 2: Appetizer: Sikilpak (Mayan pumpkin seed dip), Empanada de Chaya, Tortitas de Chaya + Main: Tacos al Pastor + Dessert: Crema de Coco
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Sofia did an incredible job of introducing me to both Mayan and Yucatecan cuisine. Every dish we made was steeped in tradition and history. I loved making my own tortilla chips and dips, as well as trying lesser-known dishes like spiced fish steamed in banana leaves. Everything we made was mouth watering, and Sofia offered cooking tricks and tips every step of the way. She truly loves Yucatecan culture, and is always happy to talk about its history, its traditions and, best of all, its food!

Heather, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.95 (86)
Sophia was great! She welcomed us into her home and gave us a great overview of her family's history. She then took us to the market and to the Tortilleria to watch them make tortillas using a machine. We then went to her house and cooked all of the recipes listed in the description and then some. She was fantastic and it was great to spend the day with her. She provided us all with the recipes and images of the food we made so we can make them again at home.
- katie April 25, 2026
Thank you, Sofia, for such a wonderful day! We chose relleno negro as the main dish. She showed us a few different ways of serving the dish, including in tacos and making our own salbutes. We opted for the market tour and learned about traditional ingredients used for the dishes we made. It was very fun learning to cook everything in her home kitchen. And we were absolutely stuffed from the feast she helped prepare. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, authentic experience.
- carrie March 22, 2026
Our cooking class with Doña Sofia was a truly remarkable experience during our stay in Merida. It was just my wife and I, and we were treated to not only a thorough lesson on the history, ingredients, and cooking method of multiple Yucatecan specialties (sikil pak, pollo pibil, codzitos, guacamole, calabaza frita, +), but also Doña Sofia's rich storytelling and life experiences along the way. We started at 11am, and the lesson, stories, and finally dinner went through all the way to 7pm. So - it was an all-day thing, and we are very thankful for Sofia spending the time with us. We were also able to try some of the local artisanal beer and a Mayan liqueur called Xtabentun. Our experience ended not only with excellent recipes that we will surely try again at home, but also memories that we will remember as a highlight of our three-week Merida trip.
- tyler February 26, 2026
I spent all day cooking with Sofia and it was one of the best experiences of my two weeks in Mérida. We made seven or eight dishes — I honestly lost count — and every single one was delicious. Sofia is a fantastic cook and a clear, patient teacher. She explains techniques in a way that actually makes sense, and I learned so much about authentic Yucatecan food. She also shares the history behind the dishes, along with parts of her own story that influenced her cooking. It gave the class much more depth than just following recipes. She speaks both English and Spanish. I was in Mexico to improve my Spanish, so we spoke mostly Spanish during the class, so it pretty much turned into a full immersion experience. In fact, this was the most impactful immersion experience I had during my entire trip. But if you need her to speak English, that’s great too. At the end of the day, we sat down to a beautifully set table and ate everything we had prepared. It was such a satisfying way to finish — and the food was excellent. I recommend this excursion without hesitation. Thanks, Sofia!
- sheris February 24, 2026
We really enjoyed our class experience with Sofia. She is knowledgeable and interesting, the food was delicious, and it was great to do a class in a home kitchen setting.
- tom February 22, 2026
Read More

Sofia (Cruise)

$129-$169 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
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $129 Not offered
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $129 Not offered
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm

Meet Sofia (Cruise)

Born in Mérida, Sofia delights in preparing local Yucatecan and Mayan dishes that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yucatán Peninsula. An accomplished home cook, she learned to cook from her mother and grandmother, carrying forward a family tradition of flavorful, authentic cuisine. For the past 20 years, Sofia has welcomed travelers to her home through her Mérida home-stay, and you may meet some of her past guests during your visit. She loves hosting and takes great joy in sharing her Yucatecan culture through food and conversation, creating a warm and memorable experience for every visitor.

As Sofia says: “I've been receiving guests at home for more than 20 years, and each one of them takes a bit of my heart with them, but they also leave a bit of theirs!”

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.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Travel inland from the port in Progreso and immerse yourself in Mexican culture through food with a hands-on cooking class in Mérida hosted in a local home. This Merida shore excursion offers an authentic taste of Yucatán cuisine and a unique opportunity to learn directly from a passionate local. Step into the home of Sofia, who delights in sharing her cooking, culture, and traditions. There’s no better way to discover the flavors and stories of the region than with a host who loves what she does—you’ll remember this experience forever. In your Mérida cooking class, you’ll work side by side with Sofia in her kitchen to prepare traditional Yucatecan dishes from scratch. Dishes may include sikilpak (ground pumpkin seed dip), codzitos (Yucatecan appetizers), empanadas de chaya, panuchos, salbutes (tortillas with shredded chicken, lettuce, and onion), or tacos al pastor. No lesson in Yucatecan cuisine would be complete without the famous fiery habanero salsa. Once the dishes are ready, sit down and enjoy the meal you helped create, accompanied by a local Yucatán beer. Sofia is happy to accommodate vegetarian diets—please inform her when you book so she can prepare accordingly. Her home is also a homestay, so while your Traveling Spoon experience is private, there may be other guests present. Please note that Sofia’s home does not have air-conditioning, so it may be warm during the summer months.

Notes: Your Progreso Merida shore excursion includes a private, hands-on Yucatecan cooking class, a glass of local Yucatán alcohol, and port pick-up and drop-off. Sofia will meet you at the Auto Progreso shuttle terminal, drive you to her home in Chelem, and return you to the terminal at the end of your culinary experience.

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.
  • Please choose ONE from the below options, which will be served with a glass of local beer and salsas
  • Menu 1: Appetizer: Sikilpak (Mayan pumpkin seed dip), Guacamole, Codzitos (Yucatecan appetizer) + Main: Panuchos y Salbut (tortilla with shredded chicken and garnished with lettuce and onion) + Dessert: Mousse de Mango
  • Menu 2: Appetizer: Sikilpak (Mayan pumpkin seed dip), Empanada de Chaya, Tortitas de Chaya + Main: Tacos al Pastor + Dessert: Crema de Coco
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Sofia did an incredible job of introducing me to both Mayan and Yucatecan cuisine. Every dish we made was steeped in tradition and history. I loved making my own tortilla chips and dips, as well as trying lesser-known dishes like spiced fish steamed in banana leaves. Everything we made was mouth watering, and Sofia offered cooking tricks and tips every step of the way. She truly loves Yucatecan culture, and is always happy to talk about its history, its traditions and, best of all, its food!

Heather, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.95 (86)
Sophia was great! She welcomed us into her home and gave us a great overview of her family's history. She then took us to the market and to the Tortilleria to watch them make tortillas using a machine. We then went to her house and cooked all of the recipes listed in the description and then some. She was fantastic and it was great to spend the day with her. She provided us all with the recipes and images of the food we made so we can make them again at home.
- katie April 25, 2026
Thank you, Sofia, for such a wonderful day! We chose relleno negro as the main dish. She showed us a few different ways of serving the dish, including in tacos and making our own salbutes. We opted for the market tour and learned about traditional ingredients used for the dishes we made. It was very fun learning to cook everything in her home kitchen. And we were absolutely stuffed from the feast she helped prepare. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, authentic experience.
- carrie March 22, 2026
Our cooking class with Doña Sofia was a truly remarkable experience during our stay in Merida. It was just my wife and I, and we were treated to not only a thorough lesson on the history, ingredients, and cooking method of multiple Yucatecan specialties (sikil pak, pollo pibil, codzitos, guacamole, calabaza frita, +), but also Doña Sofia's rich storytelling and life experiences along the way. We started at 11am, and the lesson, stories, and finally dinner went through all the way to 7pm. So - it was an all-day thing, and we are very thankful for Sofia spending the time with us. We were also able to try some of the local artisanal beer and a Mayan liqueur called Xtabentun. Our experience ended not only with excellent recipes that we will surely try again at home, but also memories that we will remember as a highlight of our three-week Merida trip.
- tyler February 26, 2026
I spent all day cooking with Sofia and it was one of the best experiences of my two weeks in Mérida. We made seven or eight dishes — I honestly lost count — and every single one was delicious. Sofia is a fantastic cook and a clear, patient teacher. She explains techniques in a way that actually makes sense, and I learned so much about authentic Yucatecan food. She also shares the history behind the dishes, along with parts of her own story that influenced her cooking. It gave the class much more depth than just following recipes. She speaks both English and Spanish. I was in Mexico to improve my Spanish, so we spoke mostly Spanish during the class, so it pretty much turned into a full immersion experience. In fact, this was the most impactful immersion experience I had during my entire trip. But if you need her to speak English, that’s great too. At the end of the day, we sat down to a beautifully set table and ate everything we had prepared. It was such a satisfying way to finish — and the food was excellent. I recommend this excursion without hesitation. Thanks, Sofia!
- sheris February 24, 2026
We really enjoyed our class experience with Sofia. She is knowledgeable and interesting, the food was delicious, and it was great to do a class in a home kitchen setting.
- tom February 22, 2026
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $129 Not offered
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $169 $129 Not offered
Alcohol
 $0 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm
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 4% 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.