✨ Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve added a new Mérida & Yucatán Culinary Vacation Week — March 15–22, 2026! Join Chef Ana García for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Mayan cuisine, from cooking cochinita in a traditional pit and learning ancestral recipes from local women to exploring Mérida’s vibrant dining scene and relaxing on a secluded beach. Our first two weeks are almost full — don’t miss your chance to experience the full spectrum of Yucatán’s culture, warmth, and world-class cuisine.
Our Mérida & Yucatán Culinary Experience is an immersive, hands-on journey designed to connect you deeply with the heart of Mayan culture and cuisine. Led by Chef Ana García, whose passion for Yucatecan food and traditions runs deep, this week-long culinary vacation takes you from ancient cooking techniques to contemporary world-class dining, showing you the full spectrum of this extraordinary region’s flavors and hospitality.
Throughout the week, you’ll cook side by side with local Mayan women in Valladolid, learning to prepare timeless 
dishes beneath the shade of a traditional palapa. You’ll visit an artisan longaniza producer and discover the secrets behind this beloved Yucatecan specialty. You’ll even prepare cochinita pibil, Yucatán’s iconic slow-roasted pork, the authentic way — cooked in a pit in the earth, guided by a local expert.
But this trip is about more than cooking classes. It’s about experiencing Yucatán life from every angle. You’ll stroll through Mérida’s fashionable restaurant and cocktail districts, where tropical drinks, live music, and cutting-edge cuisine blend into a vibrant celebration of contemporary Yucatecan creativity. You’ll spend a relaxing beach day on a remote stretch of pristine coastline, far from the crowds. And you’ll stay in a beautifully restored colonial home in Mérida’s historic center, a perfect home base for exploring the region’s history, culture, and flavors.
What makes Yucatán so special is the warmth of its people and the depth of its culinary traditions. The cuisine here is 
deeply rooted in Mayan heritage, yet it has evolved into one of Mexico’s most sophisticated regional cuisines, ranging from simple ancestral dishes to some of the most innovative fine dining experiences in Latin America. Chef Ana, Chef Ale, and Robb have spent years exploring this region and recently returned from another scouting trip — and their excitement for what awaits you has never been higher.
This unique culinary vacation is available only for a limited time, and spaces are filling fast. Our “out-of-home” experiences like this are rare and often sell out quickly. With the first two weeks almost full, the March 15–22, 2026 session is your best chance to secure a spot for this extraordinary Yucatán cooking vacation.
Don’t miss the opportunity to cook, explore, and celebrate the heart of Mayan culture with us. Join Chef Ana and the La Villa Bonita team for an unforgettable Yucatán culinary vacation in Mérida — where food, culture, and community come together in the most delicious way.
👉 Reserve your Mérida Culinary Experience here »
