Holiday itinerary
Learn how to prepare traditional Mexican dishes like a local during this hands-on cooking and culinary holiday under the expert instruction of Mexican native and international television chef Ana Garcia at her award-winning culinary hotel and cooking school.
This 7 night/8 day cookery holiday will introduce you to the principles and techniques intrinsic to creating some of Mexico’s most famous and celebrated culinary dishes, while also introducing some lesser-known delicacies that have been at the heart of Mexican mealtimes for generations.
As well as mastering a variety of traditional main courses, during each cooking class you’ll learn to prepare a range of mouth-watering desserts, side dishes and drinks each cooking class, ending the week equipped with a repertoire of authentic Mexican recipes, and the confidence to recreate them independently at home.
Together with step-by-step practical cooking classes in the school’s lovely open air kitchen, you will also learn how to identify and source the finest fresh produce with supervised off-site excursions to a range of local markets, including the wholesale market of nearby Cuernavaca, as well as the weekly farmers market in Tepoztlan.
It’s here that you’ll meet some of chef Ana’s most cherished suppliers, and will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the warmth and hospitality of the friendly Tepoztlan townsfolk as well as the wonder of this enchanting region with its aged cobbled streets and picturesque vistas.
Your chef, Ana Garcia, is one of the leading teachers in Mexican cuisine worldwide and something of a local celebrity. She regularly appears as a guest on Los Angeles’ most popular morning television show, KTLA’s Morning News at 9, explaining major Mexican holidays and culinary traditions and she loves showcasing her family recipes to guests through her warm and passionate teaching style.
As well as culinary delights, you’ll also experience the culture of the region as the week also includes a hike to the peak of the Tepozteco pyramid with its fantastic 360-degree views of the valleys below, together with a Tequila, Mezcal, and Pulque tasting. Optional add-ons, such as a day tour to the Mexican ruins of Xochicalco, and 4 course dinner parties cooked by chef Ana are also available at a small surcharge and can be booked and paid for locally.
Accommodation is in a stunning villa overlooking the Tepozteco mountains and your cooking classes take place in the outdoors kitchen at the villa. The villa has 6 guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms as well as a lovely garden, organic citrus orchard, lily pools and swimming pool carved from volcanic rock so it is the ideal place to switch off and unwind.
Offering a unique opportunity to master delicious Mexican cuisine under the expert guidance of an award-winning chef while immersing yourself in an idyllic, community-centric, town, this cooking holiday will teach you what it truly means to be Mexican.
Suitability
- Cookery holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks
- Minimum age 8 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Cooking classes are taught in English
Travelling Solo?
- This cookery holiday is a great singles holiday and the small class sizes mean you’ll get to know your fellow guests really well
- Solo travellers can pre-book a private room for a compulsory supplement
- To book a private double room, email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) or call us to check availability
Non-Participating Partner
- Non participating guests are welcome to share a room with a cooking guest
- This includes 7 nights’ accommodation in a twin/double room with ensuite bathroom, hike to the Tepozteco pyramid and breakfast every morning
- Prices for the non-participating guest can be found under the 'costing and extras' tab and can be added as an optional extra at the time of booking
Mexican Cookery Holiday Start Days
- All arrivals are on Sundays (departure the following Sunday)
- Cooking holidays are for 7 nights/8 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Mexican Cookery Holiday Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes and seasonal factors but is typically as follows:
Day 1- Sunday - Arrival cocktail and optional welcome dinner (extra cost)
- After being picked up from Mexico City International airport between 12-5pm, you will be transferred to the cookery school which will be your base for the week
- Enjoy a welcome cocktail upon arrival and meet your chef for the week, Ana Garcia
- Settle into your room and explore the villa with it’s lovely gardens and swimming pool
- This evening is free for you to spend at your leisure or you can choose to join an optional dinner party in La Mesa de Ana with other guests and Chef Ana from 6-8pm for an additional cost
- Enjoy a 4 course gourmet dinner served in Ana’s kitchen with 360 degree view of the mountains and get to know your fellow guests
- Please note reservations must be made 24 hours in advance with the cookery school and the cost of the dinner is $65 USD per person plus tax for a minimum 2 people (paid locally)
Day 2 – Monday – Tepoztlan market visit and 1st cooking class
- Enjoy breakfast at 8:30am with your group at the hotel
- This morning you will visit the Tepoztlan Market with chef Ana to hand select the ingredients for your first cooking class
- The open-air kitchen where you’ll learn to cook is just steps away from your accommodation and has a lovely elevated terrace with views over the mountains where you’ll eat your dishes after cooking
- Your first cooking class takes place from 10:30-2pm where you will learn to cook a traditional 4 course Mexican feast
- Sit down and enjoy your delicious dishes over lunch as you experience true Mexican cuisine
- The evening is free for you to relax and unwind and your hosts will be happy to suggest the best places to visit in the local area
Day 3 – Tuesday – market in Cuernavaca and 2nd cooking class
- Start the day with a quick coffee at 6:45am before heading to the wholesale market in Cuernavaca (Lopez Mateos) to select some fresh and seasonal ingredients for your second cooking class
- Return to the cookery school for a leisurely breakfast before another fun cooking class at 10:30am
- This morning you’ll learn to make another delicious 4 course menu with chef Ana as she gives you a real insight into Mexican culture and cuisine
- You’ll cook again in the on-site outdoor kitchen with its lovely views of the mountains
- Enjoy your freshly prepared dishes over lunch in the garden
- You can spend the evening as you wish – why not relax, read in the gardens or take a 15 minute walk into town to explore the fantastic selection of restaurants
Day 4 – Wednesday – Tepoztlan market tour, 3rd cooking class and tequila tasting
- After breakfast you’ll head to the Tepoztlan market to select today’s cooking ingredients and marvel at the vibrant and fragrant stalls
- At 11am, hit the lovely open air kitchen for a fun packed day of cooking with chef Ana where you’ll cook another fantastic 4 course Mexican menu
- Relax in the garden for lunch as you sample your Mexican dishes with your fellow guests
- You’ll have free time from 3:30-7pm to grab a siesta
- This evening there is a delicious 1 hour tequila tasting session with chef Ana where she will introduce you to the famous Mexican aperitif in an informal tasting
Day 5 – Thursday – Free day
- Take a leisurely breakfast this morning and plan your free day
- Today you can plan your own itinerary or simply choose to relax and unwind and explore the beautiful gardens, swimming pool, orchards and lily pools
- Chef Ana organises optional excursions to Taxco (Silver City) and the pyramids of Xochicalco with Historian Arturo Marquez for an additional cost, and you can book these excursions during your stay (subject to availability)
- At 8pm, there is another optional dinner party in La Mesa de Ana with other guests and chef Ana ($65 USD per person plus tax for a minimum 2 people, booked locally)
- Ana will love to showcase her cooking skills to you through a fabulous 4 course menu for an evening to remember
Day 6 – Friday – 4th cooking class and hike to Tepozteco Pyramid
- Start the morning with a freshly prepared breakfast before your final cooking class
- Chef Ana will show you some of her favourite Mexican dishes and explain their cultural significance within the local area
- Enjoy hands on cooking in style with chef Ana’s relaxed and fun cookery style
- Lunch is at 2pm where you’ll take your dishes out onto the elevated terrace and eat the sumptuous fresh dishes
- Relax this afternoon before your hike at 3:30pm
- This afternoon you will hike up to the Tepozteco Pyramid which is a famous archaeological site with a temple to the Aztec god Tepozteco
- Unwind this evening after the hike - why not take a dip in the swimming pool or explore the restaurants in the village of Tepoztlan which are only a 15 minute walk away
Day 7 – Saturday – Free day
- As your last full day, it’s up to you how you’d like to spend it after breakfast!
- Chef Ana is brimming with suggestions, such as exploring the weekend artisans market, shop, visiting the convent, enjoy lunch in the town, hike the Tepozteco pyramid again or simply reading a good book by the pool
- There is another optional dinner party this evening which you can book locally for an extra cost
- Ana also organises an optional night out in nearby ‘El Telon’ for an evening of live music and salsa dancing for an extra cost which is a great way to spend your last evening
Day 8 – Sunday – Departure day
- After a leisurely breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms around 10am (this time is flexible though) ready to take a transfer back to Mexico City airport, taking with you recipes and memories to last a lifetime
About Your Chef
- Your chef for the week is Ana Garcia, who is one of the leading teachers in Mexican cuisine worldwide
- Born and bred in Mexico, chef Ana takes inspirations for her recipes from her rich family history and regional influences of central and northern Mexico
- She founded La Villa Bonita with her husband Robb in 2000 and which has been named “One of the Five Best Culinary Vacations Worldwide” by The Food Network as well as one of “The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life” by National Geographic Books and author Pam Grout
- Ana has appeared on the Food Network, WGN, PBS and ABC as well as the focus of articles in Newsweek, Travel and Leisure, Bon Appetit, Latina, Cooking Light and Intermezzo
- Something of a local celebrity, she also is a regular guest on Los Angeles’ most popular morning television show, KTLA’s Morning News at 9, explaining major Mexican holidays and culinary traditions
- Ana has also trained chefs from all over the world as a restaurant consultant so has a wealth of experience to pass on
- Family recipes passed down through generations feature heavily in her menus
- Ana also enjoys experimenting with nouvelle Mexican cuisine using traditional ingredients in new and gastronomically adventurous ways
- You will have a fantastic time with her warm and passionate teaching style and she looks forward to meeting you soon!
What Will I Learn?
- You will learn to cook traditional Mexican dishes with renowned chef Ana Garcia in her lovely open air kitchen
- Cook 4 or 5 course meals during the week using freshly picked and locally sourced food from markets
- Ana will also teach you about Mexican culture and how it integrates with both daily life and cooking
- Learn recipes which have been passed down through generations and will stay with you forever
Sample Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Mole Colorado with Chicken
- Pork in Pipian sauce (Mole Verde)
- Refried Beans, Red Rice with Vegetables
- Tortillas
- Quesadillas with Squash Blossoms
- Huitlacoche
- Pork Skins (Cracklin) en Green Salsa
- Potatoes and Chile Poblano Strips
- Huanzontles
- Chiles Rellenos or Chiles en Nogada (seasonal)
- Chicken tamales
- Pork tamales
- Guayabas in Syrup
- Flan
- Natilla
- Tamales with pineapple
- Please note that if you do have dietary requirements (including vegetarians), some food replacements may not be readily available in Mexico so this must be discussed before booking
The Accommodation At La Villa Bonita
- Your accommodation is set in La Villa Bonita, a beautiful 6 bedroom villa in the stunning Tepozteco mountains where your cooking classes also take place
- The villa is just a short walk from the path to the Tepozteco pyramid and the major restaurant section of Tepoztlan and 20 minutes from Cuernavaca making it the perfect location for your stay
- There are 4 double bedrooms with king sized beds and 2 twin bed rooms at the villa
- Each bedroom has a private bathroom with shower
- All bedrooms open to a central courtyard through French doors with a view of the Tepozteco mountains
- Prices are based on 2 people travelling together and sharing a twin/double room with ensuite bathroom
- If you are travelling solo, there is a compulsory single supplement stay in a twin/double room with ensuite bathroom (see the 'costing and extras' tab)
- The on-site stunning open-air kitchen where your cooking classes take place is just a stone’s throw from your bedroom and the kitchen boasts lovely views of the Tepoztlan valley below
- The villa is surrounded by beautiful gardens, an organic citrus orchard and lily pools for you to explore at your leisure
- The is also an incredible small heated pool carved out of volcanic rock for guests to use
- Accommodation is included for 7 nights/8 days
- Check in any time after 12pm on day 1 and check out by 10am on day 8 (these times are flexible)
Meals
- All breakfasts are included
- Each morning will begin with a hearty breakfast consisting of home-baked biscuits, jams and jellies, locally made pastries, fresh seasonal fruit, and a surprise dish that will differ daily, the perfect fuel to set you in good stead for the days activities ahead
- Lunch is included for 4 days during the week
- Lunch will consist of the delicious dishes you have cooked during your cooking classes that day
- Chef Ana organises optional 4 course guest dinners during the week on certain days too which you are welcome to join for an extra cost
- The optional 4 course gourmet dinners are served in chef Ana’s kitchen with 360 degree view of the mountains
- Please note reservations must be made 24 hours in advance with the cookery school and the cost of the dinner is $65 USD per person plus tax for a minimum 2 people (paid locally)
- The villa is a short walk to the restaurant section of Tepoztlan where you can sample a variety of local dishes in the evenings also
- If you have dietary requests these must be communicated to us at the time of booking and there will be catered for where possible
Free Time In Mexico
- This Mexican cookery holiday is packed with culinary delights but in your free time you may want to explore the local area
- The town of Tepoztlan is a 15 minute walk from the villa where you can explore the markets, restaurants and shops
- The villa has beautiful gardens, heated pool carved out of volcanic rock, an organic citrus orchard and lily pools for you to explore at your leisure
- Your hosts will give you lots of information on what activities are on offer in the local area such as the local markets, restaurants, walking and more
- Chef Ana also arranges optional excursions to Taxco (Silver City), the pyramids of Xochicalco with Historian Arturo Marquez and a night out for live music and salsa dancing at ‘El Telon’ for an additional fee and you can book these excursions during your stay (subject to availability)
Immerse yourself in the culinary and cultural delights Mexico has to offer on this off-the-beaten track Mexican cooking holiday in Tepoztlan with market visits, mountain hike, delicious food and more.