Top Things to do in Southern Mexico
Top Hotels in Southern Mexico
Countries
10 Classes & Workshops in Southern Mexico That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Southern Mexico, Southern Mexico including La Casa de los Sabores Cooking School, Oaxaca Profundo Sessions, Alma de Mi Tierra, Chiles&Chocolate Cooking Classes, Amigos del Sol Spanish School, Espanol Interactivo Language School, Oaxaca International :: Spanish School, Oaxaca Cooking Classes La Cocina Oaxaquena, El Sabor Zapoteco, Oaxaca Cultural Navigator.
Restaurants in Southern Mexico
1. La Casa de los Sabores Cooking School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 221 reviews
Many people who come to Oaxaca want to know more about the wonderful unique food from this region especially the variety of "mole" sauces, the banana leaf-wrapped tamales and the vast array of soups, all using typical Oaxacan ingredients.Experienced chef and owner of La Olla, Pilar Cabrera, offers you the opportunity to learn, hands-on, the complex cuisine of Oaxaca. Pilar´s cooking classes, held in La Casa de Los Sabores (House of Flavors), are set in her spacious, newly remodeled traditionally styled Oaxacan kitchen. In a warm and inviting atmosphere, you will learn to create the traditional Oaxacan dishes of your choice, made famous throughout Mexico and spreading worldwide. Shared and private classes include an explanation about the ingredients, a tour to the local market, hand-made meal preparation, mezcal tasting and, of course, the five course meal you prepared which you get to enjoy at the end of the class. Pilar will teach you her family´s generations-old cooking secrets so you can learn and enjoy a Oaxacan culinary legacy.
Reviewed By Grandmajoan
After going to a local market to purchase ingredients, learn about the foods of the area, and eating an absolutely delicious (and messy)mole negro tamale, we returned to the apartment where we prepared our luncheon under expert guidance. The whole experience was memorable and have been regaling/boring my friends with the experience along with showing them all of the photos I took.
2. Oaxaca Profundo Sessions
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
Oaxaca Profundo Sessions is a regenerative travel organization that focuses on inviting guests into the deep history, the cultural flavours, and the spiritual ecology of Oaxacan food and drink. Our sessions focus on intercultural learning, community building, and the local grassroots of Oaxaca.
3. Alma de Mi Tierra
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 185 reviews
Alma de Mi Tierra offers day cookery classes. Nora Valencia is a native of Oaxaca and passes on time-honored recipes and techniques and some new ones of her own to her enthusiastic students. Almost 20 years experience in instructing classes has led Nora to be filmed by the BBC, French TV, Japanese Special live broadcast as well as numerous chefs form the U.S. Nora is also a federally certified tour guide who enjoy leading her gastronomical and textile tours. Nora is also conducting online cooking classes lasting from 60-90 minutes. Please contact us for more information and to reserve.
Reviewed By Valkryss - Sarasota, United States
Oaxaca is a little known gem tucked between 2 mountain ranges. The history, the culture and the food are fantastic! There are many things to do there one of which is joining an authentic Oaxacan cooking class. Nora Valencia of Alma de Mi Tierra Cooking School is the best! She shares time honored tradional recipes in a beautiful setting. It was delightful, I highly recommend!
4. Chiles&Chocolate Cooking Classes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 284 reviews
Chiles & Chocolate cooking classes offer a delicious culinary and cultural experience that explores a variety of Mexican cuisine. Our hands-on classes ensure you will leave prepared to recreate the dishes when you get home. There is no better way to get to know a place than through its food.
Reviewed By LauraP10273 - Ottawa, Canada
This was my first class with Jane (Juanita) and I would recommend it to any food lovers visiting Huatulco. She offers several classes; this one focused on seafood. We tried some really fun and different things, such as cooking shrimp in a toaster oven, and adding mayonnaise and apples to ceviche (both were great). I loved that there were lots of hands-on activities—this is definitely not a “sit back and watch” class. I also really liked that we learned a bit about the history of the region as we cooked. Jane moved here from Canada many years ago and knows so much about the area. At the end, we enjoyed the tasty results on a bright yellow table on a flower-fringed patio. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning. Note: The school is about a half-hour drive from the main hotel/condo/marina area in Santa Cruz Huatulco, but you don’t need a car; Jane arranges taxis for any guests who need transportation. I’d advise taking her up on that even if you have a car, as the school is on a narrow road that I suspect is tricky to find even with a GPS.
5. Amigos del Sol Spanish School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 253 reviews
6. Espanol Interactivo Language School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 177 reviews
At Español Interactivo Language School, we focus on teaching you Spanish and developing your conversational skills. Unlike some other schools, we don't distract you with a lot of extra activities. In the classroom, exploring Oaxaca, or a combination of both. Our courses are as intensive and for as long as you need. We plan learning strategies with you and monitor your progress, with the goal of improving your oral expression.
Reviewed By PZ394
I spent three weeks at the school in October and November to improve my ability to speak in Spanish. The school focuses primarily on conversational methods rather than grammatical. As an intermediate student, I felt that the classes definitely helped me achieve a new level of ability. The classes were small, with 2 or 3 students in each class. The teachers are kind, patient and dedicated to helping each student get the most out of their experience. Several highlights included building an “ofrenda” in the school to celebrate Día de los Muertos and also celebrating a student’s birthday with a traditional piñata fiesta, also there were several field trips to local museums and an art gallery. I stayed with a local family, recommended by the school and enjoyed the friendship, good food and cultural experience the home stay adds.
7. Oaxaca International :: Spanish School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 109 reviews
Small spanish language school in oaxaca, located in the historic center of the city, only 3 blocks from the main square. School offers 4 students in a group class, private classes available. Students of all ages, spanish levels, nationalities are welcome.Two culturales activities included after classes per week and workbook included with no additional fee. Such as walking trips, corn tortillas workshop, oaxacan cooking classes, excursions, dance classes, painting workshops, ceramics workshops, etcetera.Member of the union of schools for spanish as a second language in oaxaca.10 years of experience teaching spanish as a second language.School offers homestay with local families including meals.Reasonable rates and discount for families and for students with a long staying.
Reviewed By TheVinges
My wife and I had an amazing experience with this school for 6 weeks in July and August 2020. During this pandemic, everything in Oaxaca was a bit different than normal. Even without many students, Ileana went out of her way to make sure that we could experience various excursions each week....barro negro pottery, Teotitlan weaving, an artisanal mezcal distillery, alebrijes artisans, papel picado, and several others. We worked with four wonderful teachers – Edgar, Karen, Juan Jose and Luis. Each teacher met us at our individual Spanish level. They were kind, patient, and encouraging. Under their instruction, our Spanish learning exceeded our expectations! We opted to stay with a host family, Patricia and Pedro. They were incredibly hospitable to us, and speaking with them gave us good Spanish practice outside of school hours. Patricia catered to our vegetarian food preferences....she is a great cook! Overall, I would highly recommend this school. We feel like we got an excellent experience and we hope to return soon.
8. Oaxaca Cooking Classes La Cocina Oaxaquena
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 151 reviews
La Cocina Oaxaquena is a cooking school devoted exclusively to Oaxacan cuisine and specializing in local dishes. The Chef comprehensive hands-on cooking classes in a sunny traditionally decorated Mexican kitchen. Two 5 hours cooking classes are available everyday at 9am or 3pm. Pick up and return from your hotel.
Reviewed By NorCalGuy57 - Palo Alto, United States
This morning our group of five travellers had the most wonderful experience with Chef Gerardo in his Oaxaca central market tour and cooking class. The morning started with Gerardo picking us up at our hotel. After picking up another attendee we proceeded to Oaxaca'a central food marketplace. We went around doing the shopping with Gerardo as he informed us about the wonderful meat and produce on display. I've never had so much fun doing shopping! Then on to Gerardo's lovely home which has been wonderfully set up for cooking classes. After a welcome beverage, we went about helping to prepare and cook three delicious Oaxacan delicacies, directed and coached by Chef Gerardo, with help from other members of his family. Whether you are a Julia Child or pretty novice like me, you will have a great time and learn something new. Then, of course, you get to sit down and eat the sumptuous meal you have helped produce!
9. El Sabor Zapoteco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By lindadD8577IY
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I found this afternoon with Reyna and her family to be one of the most unique experiences I had during my two-week trip to Mexico. I am a traveler who is interested in authentic experiences whenever possible. I like to use my Spanish, and dine where the locals dine. I'm not someone who usually visits all the tourist spots, and I typically focus my interests on food & beverage. I liked how convenient Reyna sets up her class, offering to pick-up AND drop-off students in Oaxaca City. Teotitlan is about 30/40 mins from the City, and this service at no extra charge really helped in planning my time in Oaxaca. Many students in my class stayed after class to explore this village famous for textiles and rug-making, as well. Reyna is an experienced instructor. She structured the cooking/prep time so well; I never felt like we were waiting around for something to do. There we many opportunities to prep ingredients, cook over the comal, grind seeds and chiles on the metate, make salsa in the molcajete. Each of these was a unique experience for me! And it felt so fun to eat the mole that WE had all had a hand in preparing! Reyna speaks excellent English, even though Spanish and Zapotec are her heart languages. I found her teaching style to be clear and informative. She took the opportunity to help us with some words in both Zapotec & Spanish before our field trip to the mercado. She took extra time to stop at stalls and describe why we were choosing this or that herb, she even dove into the details of Cal & nixtamalization, a concept that many folks in the class were new to. Finally, my lasting feeling of the entire morning/afternoon was one of generosity. A small traditional breakfast was included before the market. The "lunch" that we prepared together was multiple courses with seconds offered. There was mezcal, agua fresca, & beer offered without hesitation or limit. We finished with dessert. AND, when i was feeling a little under the weather, Reyna's sister made me two cups of herbal tea. An incredibly hospitable experience all-around.
10. Oaxaca Cultural Navigator
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 91 reviews
Oaxaca Cultural Navigator introduces you to the social, cultural, historical, archeological and creative world of Mexico, through arts and cultural learning activities. We organize study tours, workshops, retreats, residencies, and educational programs for all who are interested in learning about the rich cultural, arts and social history of Mexico. Meeting artists and artisans is our specialty. No experience required! Our programs are low-impact in small groups. Topics include creative writing, yoga, weaving, natural dyeing, textile and fashion design, photography, painting and art history. Customized programs are our speciality! With over 35 years of experience developing award-winning programs for Indiana University, University of Virginia, George Washington University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! Program development and conference planning is part of our toolkit! Our programs include Oaxaca, Chiapas, State of Mexico, Michoacan, Mexico City and Puebla.
