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
(47 Ratings)
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Mehdibb4460aa
Oct 27, 2025
Unforgettable - We spent part of our honeymoon in Mexico, and our day with Me Encanta Oaxaca was our absolute favorite experience of the entire trip. We booked the private class and spent almost the whole day with Betsaida cooking, eating, drinking, talking about our cultures, and just laughing together. It never felt rushed or touristy, it felt like being welcomed into someone’s home and family. The food we made was incredible (and there was a lot of it), but what really made it special was Betsaida herself. She’s a wonderful teacher, warm, funny and genuinely interested in sharing Oaxacan culture, not just recipes. Very highly recommend. If you’re in Oaxaca, do this. It’s honestly unforgettable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karenwilsons
Oct 14, 2025
Best-Ever Cooking Experience - Me Encanta is a must do experience in Oaxaca! Bethsaida is an exceptional chef and teacher. From purchasing fresh herbs and meal ingredients from market venders to making green mole and other delicious authentic dishes, including cafe de olla, the entire day was unforgettable. It was the highlight of our visit to Oaxaca! I can’t recommend it more highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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 !
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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
From $116
up to 3 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).