Mayan Kitchen Cooking Class,San Pedro La Laguna, Gautemala

Although San Pedro La Laguna is often known as the party town on Lake Atitlan, I chose to visit for an authentic Mayan cooking class, which boasts an impressive 5-star rating from 416 reviews on TripAdvisor.

Our Meeting Place

Unlike my normal self, I fortunately arrived early and was rewarded with the opportunity to spend time on this charming colorful street, with the lake and volcano beautifully sillouetted in the background.

The Menu and the Market

After meeting our instructor, Anita, and introducing ourselves, we decided on a group menu, from a selection of several choices. The main dish we selected, Pepián, is traditionally only prepared for weddings, birthdays and on New Years day - it symbolizes a new beginning.

Next, we made our way to the bustling, crowded market to purchase the necessary ingredients for our meal. In addition to the expected produce, we saw live chickens and turkeys tied into baskets (thankfully no butchering on our part was required!) as well as many unique local fruits and vegetables.

Once in the kitchen, we donned our traditional Mayan aprons and admired our luscious bounty, — only a portion of which is pictured here.

View from the kitchen!

Anita, the owner and instructor, also served as our cultural guide, sharing interesting insights into Mayan traditions, particularly those related to food.

She also shared her inspiring personal story—escaping an abusive situation, raising her children as a single mother, and persevering to build a successful business that not only supports her family but also contributes to her community.

Hands-on Preparation

Following Anita’s clear and detailed instructions, we worked together to wash, chop, season, puree, bake and fry our meal.

Time to Eat!

We set the table, anxious to try our traditional Mayan meal.

Delicious! Pepián, Guatemalan rice with veggies, small tamales as a side. Bonus: Anita provided us with recipes to try at home.

After dinner —a rich, smooth cup of coffee made from Guatemalan coffee beans— and dessert: banana "dough" filled with chocolate and black beans, then fried (not pictured).