Private Market Class, Lunch Included

Overview

This experience starts at Mercado Cinco de Diciembre in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood, where Chef Manu meets your group and walks you through the stalls. You talk through what you want to eat, taking into account any allergies or preferences, then shop together for the fish, produce and chiles your menu needs. Several reviews mention that vendors and market workers warmly greet him as he moves through the market.

From there you head to his home, where the cooking happens in his own kitchen. The class is private, so only your group participates, and the menu is built around your choices. One reviewer expected to do the prep work themselves and was surprised that Manu handled most of the cooking while explaining each step, so read the listing closely if hands-on involvement matters to you. Others describe it as watching a skilled chef work while picking up techniques to use at home.

The whole thing runs about 3 hours 30 minutes and ends with a full meal at his table, with local beer or wine included. Recipes and cooking tips are emailed afterwards, according to one traveller. It suits travellers who want a personalized experience, and vegetarians, meat and seafood preferences are all accommodated when flagged at booking.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the marketMeet your host at Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, San Salvador 604, in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. The exact address appears on your ticket after booking confirmation.
2. Market visit in Puerto VallartaWalk the market with your host to select fresh ingredients for your meal. The listing gives this portion as 1 hour.
3. Cooking class at the homeMove to the host's home kitchen for a hands-on Mexican cooking class preparing three traditional dishes. The listing gives this portion as 2 hours 30 minutes.
4. Shared meal and finishSit down to the lunch or dinner you prepared, with local beer or wine included. The experience ends at the host's home in the Primavera de Vallarta area, not back at the market.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this booking, from dietary needs to the resident dog.

• Dietary needs. Tell the host any allergies or restrictions at the time of booking. The listing says vegetarian, meat, seafood and most other preferences can be accommodated. Several reviewers noted their allergies were handled carefully.
• Group feel. This is a private activity, so only your party takes part. One reviewer described the format as giving a nice intimate feel, since it is not a shared class.
• The dog. The host has a friendly small dog named in many reviews. If you would rather not be around him, the listing says the dog can be kept in a separate room on request.
• Getting home. The experience ends at the host's home, a different address from the market meeting point. Keep that in mind when planning the rest of your day.
• What you eat. Menus vary by group, but reviewers report dishes like ceviche, shrimp, octopus and enchiladas with rajas. One traveller said recipes and cooking tips were emailed later the same day.
• Accessibility. The listing states the experience is not wheelchair accessible but is pushchair accessible, and service animals are allowed. The route involves walking through a market and standing during the cooking portion.

Common issues. The experience is not wheelchair accessible, and it ends at the host's home rather than the original meeting point, so you need to arrange your own way back. One reviewer expected to cook alongside the host and found that he did most of the preparation himself while explaining the steps, so temper expectations about hands-on involvement. Cancellation is strict: a full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The host's small dog lives on the property, though he can be kept in a separate room on request.

What To Ask Before Booking A Tour