Cooking Classes in South America: 15 Picked and Priced

1.Cusco: Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 512 reviews · 4 hours · from $67Our pick

Start at Door 1 of Cusco’s San Pedro Market with an English-speaking chef, then walk to a cooking studio in the historic center. You’ll sample local produce, prepare two pisco cocktails and three Peruvian dishes, and finish with picarones. Chef Jesus, Jorge, or Eric may lead the class, depending on the date. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and alcohol-free options are available.

“This was one of my top experiences in Cusco! Chef Eric is super passionate about Peruvian food and always had a cheerful smile on his face. We loved the cooking class, you get to make 4 courses and two Pisco cocktails. The tour of the market at the beginning was super fun and informative. We got to try samples of local cheese, bread, and chocolate. Don't miss out on this awesome experience.”

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2.Empanadas and Alfajores Guided Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 486 reviews · 3 hours · from $37Best value

Meet at Paseo Colon 1355 in San Telmo for a three-hour home cooking class led in English or Portuguese. With hosts such as Thomas, Sophia, Maria, or Stella, you will make meat or vegetarian empanadas, corn-starch alfajores with dulce de leche, and traditional mate in a group of up to eight.

“From start to finish this was an excellent experience. Very hands-on, and we learned a lot of history along the way. Lovely home and family provide the space and equipment to make it so that people of all skill level and ages can participate. Would have loved small plates instead of napkins to eat from - but that’s just a preference not a necessity!”

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3.Empanada & Alfajor Cooking Lesson in Palermo

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 186 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49

In Palermo, a local English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking instructor guides you through Argentine empanadas and dulce de leche alfajores. You prepare, bake, fold, and assemble the food yourself, then enjoy it with mate tea and cultural conversation. Meat and vegan empanada options are available, and the 150-minute class suits families and curious cooks.

“The guide was amazing the food was even better. We booked a walking tour of the city with the same company and had the cookin class the next day. Incredible experience for both. Would highly, highly recommend for anyone looking for an authentic Argentinian experience.”

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4.Cooking class and market tour with a local chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · 4 hours · from $57Top rated

Chef Ronal leads you through Cusco’s San Pedro Market, where you taste local fruits, cheese, and other ingredients before cooking Peruvian dishes in a small workshop. Choose lomo saltado or ceviche, make a rocoto relleno starter, and prepare a pisco sour, passion fruit sour, or alcohol-free drink. Vegetarian and allergy-friendly adjustments are available.

“Had a wonderful experience exploring the market and learning about Peruvian culture and cuisine! Ronal was very attentive and patiently answered all my questions. He shared so many interesting stories about the ingredients and the food. Truly a great way to understand the heart of Cusco through its flavors!”

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5.Cooking class in Salvador, an authentic dinning experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 132 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $68

Spend about four hours cooking with Karla in Salvador’s Stella Maris area. You’ll make caipirinhas, pão de queijo, queijo coalho with pineapple-pepper jelly, shrimp tapioca, brigadeiro, moqueca, rice, pirão, and farofa, with local food tips along the way.

“Very interactive and informative about recipes. Got to meet other people. Lovely course meal? Something l do in Salvador!”

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6.3h Cooking Class in Mendoza with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 125 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend three hours in a real Mendoza home kitchen with bilingual hosts David and his sister Rosi. You’ll make seven Argentine recipes, including empanadas and bife de ancho, learn local dining customs, and sit down to eat with homemade vermouth and wine. The group is limited to eight people, with recipes and a Mendoza food guide included.

“David and Rosie were very enthusiastic and it was fun exchanging cultural information. The market tour was interesting, and the cooking lesson was well-organized and the food delicious.”

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7.BA: Empanadas and Alfajores Cooking Experience in Palermo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Spend 2.5 hours in Palermo preparing Argentine empanadas and dulce de leche alfajores with a local host. Choose beef or vegan lentil filling, learn traditional folding patterns, enjoy mate, coffee, tea, or sometimes wine, and leave with recipes for cooking at home. Groups are limited to 10 people.

“Great family activity but you get kids will need help as part of the lessons includes cutting / chopping ingredients with sharp knives.”

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8.Market Tour, Tasting of 35 Fruits, and 4-Course Peruvian Cooking Class in Lima

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $125

Meet your guide at Surquillo Market at 9:00 a.m. for a 50-minute walk through fruit, fish, meat, grain, and Andean produce stalls. Then travel to SkyKitchen in Miraflores, taste more than 35 fruits, make a Pisco Sour, and prepare a four-course Peruvian lunch in a group of no more than 12.

“Educational class which also allowed us to immerse ourselves in Peruvian culture. This class allowed us to identify foods as we continued our travels through South America.”

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9.4h Cooking Class in Salvador with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

Spend about three and a half hours in a Salvador home cooking dishes such as moqueca and farofa with a bilingual host such as Karla or Rebeca. You get ingredients, utensils, an apron, a full meal, unlimited drinks, candid photos, digital recipes, and a Salvador food guide. Groups are limited to six in class.

“This was an excellent day!!! From touring the Mercedo and trying new fruits to Carla taking us into her home and teaching us how to make the various local dishes. The caipirinhas were tasty but the Moqueca and the Brigadeiro were amazing. Great to meet new people and learn how to make new dishses. Thank you!!”

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10.#1 Rated Cooking Classes with Local Market Tour & Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $66

Start at 12:30 pm with a guided visit to Lima’s Mercado nro 1 de Surquillo, where you can see and taste Peruvian fruits, herbs, meats, and cheeses. Then prepare a two-course meal, including causa and ceviche, with a local chef such as Camila, Dasha, or Lucho. Transport, pisco, recipes, and a certificate are included.

“Great experience with Dasha at the market. She really knew her fruits and was very nice. Arriving at the cooking school we were served drinks and tried fruits from the market as she explained each one. After we made step by step each dish guided by local chef Camila Don’t miss this activity next time you are in Lima.”

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11.Miraflores: Amazing Peruvian Cooking Class Ceviche Seafood and Pisco Sour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · from $40

Meet José Antonio and Maria near Kennedy Park for a 2.5-hour Peruvian food class. Taste exotic fruit and 10 house-made pisco macerates, prepare tuna tartar and ceviche, then shake your own pisco sour or chilcano. The small group has room for eight, with English or Spanish instruction, recipes, photos, and local Lima tips.

“An amazing, warm, and authentic Peruvian cooking experience! We wanted a genuine taste of Peru, and this workshop delivered. It was more than just cooking; it was a vibrant, personal journey. The hosts, a local couple, welcomed us into their home with open arms. Their passion for Peruvian food and culture was infectious. From the first sip of exotic cocktails to the final delicious bite, we were swept away by the flavors and the lively atmosphere. It was a joyful, hands-on adventure. We left feeling full, happy, and connected to the heart of Peruvian cuisine. The energy was incredible. If you want an authentic, heartfelt taste of Peru, this is…”

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12.Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

At Warmi Wasi in Cochabamba, you’ll prepare a traditional three-course Bolivian meal with a professionally trained woman from Adelante Mujer. Expect hands-on cooking, cocktails, translation, and a shared meal. Past workshops have featured salteñas, tucumanas, pasteles, sonsos, and cuñapes, with founder Sara helping create a warm, social setting.

“I experienced a Salteña cooking class at adelante mujer last week and loved the entire experience. You can participate actively throughout the entire evening, whilst getting served a great variety of awesomely refreshing cocktails. Everyone is kind and fun, Sara - the founder - is a wonderful inspiration for anyone willing to take action in changing the world for the better.”

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13.Private Andean Cooking Class, Pachamanca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Meet at Marcelo Batata Cooking Classes in central Cusco for a private, three-hour lesson with a professional chef. You’ll prepare marinated ingredients, Andean tamales, uchucuta sauce, and Peruvian dishes cooked in clay pots, then taste chicha and local products. English or Spanish instruction, vegetarian options, and family-friendly adaptations are available by request.

“We took a private Peruvian cooking class with our amazing chef-instructor Alejandro as part of our honeymoon, and it was one of the best experiences we had in Cusco! Alejandro was super fun, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing his country’s cuisine.”

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14.Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $54

Spend about four hours in Cuenca with a guide such as Wilson, Alexandra, or Peter, beginning at Mercado 10 de Agosto to choose fresh ingredients. Then cook and eat Ecuadorian food in a local family home. Expect market stories, translation help, coffee or tea, hotel transfers, and a small group of up to eight.

“Wilson was our guide, he picked us up at our apartment right on time. He took us to a local market to buy the ingredients and also told us about all the different exotic and local fruits. We then went to his aunts house which was very nice in a gated community. Wilson did all the translating and reall made us feel very comfortable, even learned a new way to chop an onion! Lunch was very good and the fruit drink exceptional. Wilson is a fantastic guide would recommend to anyone coming to Ecuador.”

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15.Argentinian Empanadas Cooking Experience in Palermo, Bs As

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 50 reviews · 1h 30m · from $46

In Palermo, you’ll make empanadas from scratch with a local chef, learn folding tricks, sip mate, and share the finished meal. Classes may be led by instructors such as Carolina, Debora, or Valentino, with Spanish, English, and Portuguese available. The 90-minute class costs $46 and includes ingredients, kitchen equipment, and mate.

“Really great! Valentino was wonderful, and the event very enjoyable!”

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