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Cooking Class: Mexican Fusion in Puerto Vallarta
5.0
244 Ratings
Puerto Vallarta
Experience a private culinary adventure in Puerto Vallarta! Join chef Manu on a market visit, where you’ll discover the best local ingredients. Then, learn to cook authentic Mexican dishes with a modern twist in Manu’s charming home.
Experience a private culinary adventure in Puerto Vallarta! Join chef Manu on a market visit, where you’ll discover the best local ingredients. Then, learn to cook authentic Mexican dishes with a modern twist in Manu’s charming home.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Puerto Vallarta - Meet Manu at the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, just an eight-minute drive from his home. Together, explore the vibrant stalls and immerse yourself in the lively sounds, aromas, and colors of a traditional Mexican market. Visit fruit and vegetable stands, a tortilleria (tortilla factory), a carnicería (butcher), and a pescadería…
- Puerto Vallarta - Meet Manu at the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, just an eight-minute drive from his home. Together, explore the vibrant stalls and immerse yourself in the lively sounds, aromas, and colors of a traditional Mexican market. Visit fruit and vegetable stands, a tortilleria (tortilla factory), a carnicería (butcher), and a pescadería (fish market), learning how to select the finest ingredients from each.
- Puerto Vallarta - After your cooking class, take an 8-minute drive to Manu’s home and enter his inviting kitchen for an authentic Puerto Vallarta cooking class. Together, prepare a traditional Mexican meal using time-honored techniques and fresh, local ingredients.
During this interactive cooking experience, learn to make three delightful dishes. Possible recipes include a tangy ceviche made with the day’s freshest catch, savory panela enchiladas with genuine Mexican cheese, and shrimp, octopus, or mushrooms al ajillo. Spend about an hour cooking before sitting down with Manu to savor the meal you’ve crafted together.
Not a seafood enthusiast? No worries, simply inform Manu a few days in advance, and he’ll arrange a custom menu featuring meat or vegetarian options to match your tastes.
What's Included
- Private market tour and cooking class with host Manuel
- Local beer or wine
- Private market tour and cooking class with host Manuel
- Local beer or wine
Additional Information
Learn to cook with a local chef in Puerto Vallarta during this private culinary experience! Your host for the day is Manu, a professionally trained chef who loves to create innovative, modern fusions of classic Mexican dishes. Manu will take you to the local market and show you his favorite vendors. After doing a bit of shopping you’ll return to his…
Learn to cook with a local chef in Puerto Vallarta during this private culinary experience! Your host for the day is Manu, a professionally trained chef who loves to create innovative, modern fusions of classic Mexican dishes. Manu will take you to the local market and show you his favorite vendors. After doing a bit of shopping you’ll return to his home and cook a meal together. Manu will teach you to prepare traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist, dishes you can replicate in your own kitchen at home. Enjoy the meal together in Manu’s home, a small but typical home in central Puerto Vallarta.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking - Manu is happy to accommodate them.
- Please note: this is not a professional cooking class, rather an experience to visit a local home to meet a local chef and share culture and cuisine together.
- Your experience ends at your host’s home.
- Manu has a small and friendly lapdog but he’s happy to keep him in a separate room during your experience.
Location
San Salvador 604
San Salvador
Meet your host Manuel at the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre (Address: San Salvador 604 in 5 de Diciembre neighborhood.). Exact address can be found in your ticket upon booking confirmation. Your experience ends at your host's home.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(244 Ratings)
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K1209nvnancyc
Mar 9, 2026
Cooking with Manu in Puerto Vallarta - My husband and I had a special experience today. We took a private cooking class with Manuel Zuliaga in Puerto Vallarta after reading so many positive reviews on Trip Advisor. He is a trained chef and a good teacher.We met Manu at a Mexican market and discussed options for the class. We decided on a fish dish with a smokey sauce and guacamole. Also we chose a delicious shrimp dish and made salsa verde . At the market Manu was so knowledgeable about some of the peppers and vegetables unfamiliar to us. Back at Manu’s home, we not only enjoyed an outstanding lunch but learned new techniques to use at our home when we recreate this meal. He made the class very fun and relaxing and he is sending me the recipes . We highly recommend this cooking class . You won be disappointed!
Pat and Nancy Carroll
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_s
Feb 24, 2026
Lovely meal and guide! - We had a wonderful day with Manu! We loved going to the market and seeing and learning about all the local produce and seafood. We appreciated being able to choose our two dishes, and that Manu adhered diligently to our allergies. The two dishes Manu made for us were EXCELLENT. Manu was charismatic and welcomed us into his home with his little dog Max. We did think that we would be involved in the actual prep and cooking, but perhaps that was my fault for not reading more of the reviews in advance. Overall, we really enjoyed the afternoon!
Review provided by Viator
Gayw2026
Feb 15, 2026
Great market trip--excellent cooking demonstration--personable guide--terrific dishes! - We both had an excellent time wandering through a local market to select seafood and fresh produce. Manu was extremely knowledgeable about all the local dishes and ingredients; we learned a great deal about peppers, limes, unknown vegetables, and the fresh seafood being packed for shipment out to the restaurants. The actual class at his home was both delightful and educational, and the dishes oh-so-tasty. Learned new techniques, had a great conversation with the very personable guide, and felt we both had a most wonderful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simone_c
Feb 6, 2026
This was such a cool... - This was such a cool experience! We met up with Manu at the market, which had no other tourists in sight. He asked us a bit about what dishes we like, and curated a menu on the spot. After that, we shopped for ingredients at the market, and he explained some of the nuances of the different seafood and groceries there. After that we went back to his place, which was absolutely charming! And best of all, we met his sweet dog, Max! Manu cooked for us while explaining the steps of the recipes, and we all chatted (very easy conversation). We learned so much from this talented chef and would absolutely recommend the experience!!
Review provided by Viator
Cathy_h
Feb 5, 2026
Beyond expectations - We knew this would be a great experience based on the stellar reviews Manu has received for this class. Here are just a few extra tidbits. The market was spotless, the fish and produce fresh and plentiful, and our chef and the vendors like family. Manu’s culinary skills are world class. Ingredients simple with some unique herbs and spices added, preparation creative and masterful, and conversation open and friendly. The time flew by. It is no wonder that many of this chef’s students are repeat customers!
Review provided by Viator
Edgars_a
Feb 3, 2026
The market tour and... - The market tour and cooking class with Manu was EXCELLENT. He gave a wide range of options for us to select the meal we wanted and the final creation was DELICIOUS.
We learned a lot: from local shopping in Puerto Vallarta, to knife skills, to do's and don'ts with hot peppers, how best to cut fish etc.
Review provided by Viator
Trek45737628721
Jan 20, 2026
AMAZING EXPERIENCE - This is our third year with Manu and he continues to provide an amazing experience with his great personality and his extraordinary culinary knowledge and techniques. He meets us at the market and starts the incredible experience explaining the different fish and flavors while suggesting a meme and adapting it to your preferences. He then welcomes you into his home and proceeds to explain his methods and interjects cultural elements to his cuisine as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Louisek468
Jan 15, 2026
Fantastic Experience! - Steven and I had a once in a lifetime experience with Manuel. We’ve actually done this at least twice, but it’s beyond wonderful!
It’s a market visit to shop for the ingredients that Manuel prepares privately in his home and it is a cooking class like no other!
I’ve included some pictures from the Mercado. The place has virtually everything and more.
Manu had the fishmonger filet and trim a Sea Bass and a Yellow Bellied Snapper for our “class” and we continued to gather ingredients for the dishes.
I was too busy enjoying the guacamole that Manu made especially for me (because I cannot eat onions). He uses celery and cucumber to imitate the texture and flavor in the guacamole.
Deeeeeeeeelicios!!!
He prepared a Mayan Pescado Recado Negro (Wow!!!) and a Veracruz Pescado with a Tomato based sauce that was amazing.
It was truly an experience I will never forget. Manu is a genius, a fabulous host and chef.
If you have an opportunity to visit Puerto Vallarta, I highly recommend you book a private foodie experience with Manu…you may even get a chance to meet the real star of the afternoon, Manu’s chihuahua, Max!
🐾🤩
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_s
Jan 6, 2026
¡Muy Rico! Best Tour! - Fantastic market, cooking, and cultural tour! Manu is a delightful chef, who charmed his way around the market and patiently answered all sorts of our questions (there are seven types of snapper! Guajillo chiles have a tendency to turn bitter!)
He then taught us to cook two dishes, enchiladas with rajas and a fantastic ceviche. We met his adorable dog, talked about the history of Al pastor, and had a really lovely time. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Kathleenc427
Dec 9, 2025
Great Market Tour and Cooking Class! - This was a great experience for us! We met Manu at the market where we selected fresh ingredients for our lunch. After shopping, he drove us to his home and showed us how to make delicious green salsa, Chicken Enchiladas with red sauce and Mahi Mahi with Vera Cruz style sauce. We loved Manu’s laid back approach to creating authentic Mexican dishes using the freshest ingredients. Just natural, locally sourced items made the foods light and healthy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
