Hola Mexico
The Mexican state of Morelos, although diminutive in size, boasts an impressively large cultural amalgam. Long before Europeans arrived and settled in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlan, now upscale resort areas, groups from many parts of Mexico found their way to this area of natural springs and a nearly perfect climate (with an average temperature of 83 degrees year-round!). Tepoztlan, one of Mexico’s pueblos magicos (magic villages) is located about 20 minutes south of Cuernavaca. It is a small town nestled between craggy cliffs, full of historical churches and sites and host to a bustling market; a miscellany of food, ranging from local produce to the traditional cecina (paper thin sliced salt-cured meat) and wonderful cornmeal-based snacks, to clothing and arts and crafts
Your hostess, chef Ana, is one of the youngest, most vivacious spokeswomen of traditional Mexican cuisine. She can trace her linage in Cuernavaca to well before the Mexican Revolution. Her great grandfather was a contemporary of the famous and revered revolutionary Emiliano Zapata and he participated in founding the first constitution for the State of Morelos. Her great grandmother was a well-know butcher with various stands in the large central Mercado, admired for her incredible longaniza and chorizo.
While working in public relations, Ana met Robb, a former corporate litigator who was doing a study abroad program in Cuernavaca. They met and the rest is history! Robb gave up his business and together they created the cooking school so that Ana could fulfill her passion and destiny to cook and teach Mexican cuisine. Chef Ana has been featured in Bon Appetit, Newsweek, Condé Nast Traveler and numerous other publications as well as on the Food Network.
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Trip Details
Chef Ana’s recipes and experiences are extracted from her family’s long history in central and northern Mexico. Her abilities as a chef are indelibly linked to her close relationships with her mother, aunts, grandmothers and great grandmother, as each passed down her culinary wisdom to her. Chef Ana’s specialties are traditional central and northern Mexican cuisine, and experimental nouvelle Mexican cuisine using traditional ingredients in new and exciting ways.
Itinerary
Please note this Mexico cooking vacation itinerary is a sample itinerary. Depending on the season and the particular week, the cooking class menus and activities are subject to change.
Day One – Sunday
- Arrival transfer from Mexico City airport to our home away from home, about 90 minutes away.
- Welcome cocktail and time to settle in.
- Enjoy a 4-course welcome dinner prepared by chef Ana, along with a discussion of the week’s activities.
Day Two – Monday
- Big breakfast with fruit, biscuits, jam, and a traditional Mexican main dish, which will change each morning.
- Visit the local Tepoztlan market to select ingredients for today’s class, which will feature local Tepozteco cuisine.
- Most days your cooking class will end with a large, late lunch.
Day Three – Tuesday
- Breakfast, then off to the market and to meet the local butcher and cheese vendor.
- Some free time this morning, or an optional yoga class (paid locally).
- Today’s class might feature traditional green mole Tepozteco-style tamales and chayotes.
- After your late lunch, walk into town, or relax by the pool.
Day Four – Wednesday
- Breakfast.
- Today you will enjoy a demonstration on how to make traditional Mexican pottery from a producer in Tlayacapan whose family has been producing pottery for generations. You will also join Chef Ana in a walking and eating tour of the weekly farmer’s market. Learn about local products until you feel like a native!
- Dinner this evening is on your own. Chef Ana can make suggestions among the restaurants in town.
Day Five – Thursday
- Breakfast.
- Some free time in the morning (optional yoga class also possible).
- Today’s class might feature the ancho chile, chiles rellenos, a tomato lentil soup, white rice, chayotes, Mexican pastry, and more.
Day Six – Friday
- Breakfast.
- Today you will explore other Mexican recipes, perhaps a pozole, a hearty soup that is a staple of Mexican cuisine. You might learn also the technique for making any type of mole, such as from Veracruz, red rice, and natilla for dessert. Visit also the local mill to grind the nixtamal into masa flour.
Day Seven – Saturday
- Breakfast, and a day to explore on your own.
Day Eight – Sunday
- Transfer to the Mexico City airport after breakfast.
Please note this Mexico cooking vacation itinerary is a sample itinerary. Depending on the season and the particular week, the cooking class menus and activities are subject to change.
Day One – Sunday
- Arrival transfer from Mexico City airport to our home away from home, about 90 minutes away.
- Welcome cocktail and time to settle in.
- Enjoy a 4-course welcome dinner prepared by chef Ana, along with a discussion of the week’s activities.
Day Two – Monday
- Big breakfast with fruit, biscuits, jam, and a traditional Mexican main dish, which will change each morning.
- Visit the local Tepoztlan market to select ingredients for today’s class, which will feature local Tepozteco cuisine.
- Most days your cooking class will end with a large, late lunch.
Day Three – Tuesday
- Breakfast, then off to the market and to meet the local butcher and cheese vendor.
- Some free time this morning, or an optional yoga class (paid locally).
- Today’s class might feature traditional green mole Tepozteco-style tamales and chayotes.
- After your late lunch, walk into town, or relax by the pool.
Day Four – Wednesday
- Breakfast.
- Today you will enjoy a demonstration on how to make traditional Mexican pottery from a producer in Tlayacapan whose family has been producing pottery for generations. You will also join Chef Ana in a walking and eating tour of the weekly farmer’s market. Learn about local products until you feel like a native!
- Dinner this evening is on your own. Chef Ana can make suggestions among the restaurants in town.
Day Five – Thursday
- Breakfast.
- Free day to explore on your own. (If you would like to add an additional cooking class for an additional cost, please inquire.)
Day Six – Friday
- Breakfast, return transfer to Mexico City airport.
Trip Details
Included in the 7-Night Trip
Accommodations
- 7 nights accommodation in double room
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 4 lunches
- Local products tasting on Wednesday
- 1 chef’s welcome dinner
- Note that the days you have cooking classes the lunch is late — around 3pm — and most travelers choose not to have dinner those days. Dinner on Wednesday and Saturdays is not included, with most travelers having dinner in town.
Classes & Instructors
Chef Ana’s recipes and experiences are extracted from her family’s long history in central and northern Mexico. Her abilities as a chef are indelibly linked to her close relationships with her mother, aunts, grandmothers and great grandmother, as each passed down her culinary wisdom to her. Chef Ana’s specialties are traditional central and northern Mexican cuisine, and experimental nouvelle Mexican cuisine using traditional ingredients in new and exciting ways.
Excursions
- Tepoztlan market visits
- Walking tour in Tlayacapan with pottery visit and market visit
- Visit to masa mill
Transfer Details
- Transfers to/from Mexico city airport (about 1 1/2 hours away). Please plan to schedule a flight that arrives between 12 noon and 4 pm, and a flight that departs after 12 noon.
Miscellaneous
- Tax
Included in the 5-Night Trip
Accommodations
- 5 nights accommodation in double room
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 2 lunches
- Local products tasting on Wednesday
- 1 chef’s dinner on arrival day
- Note that the days you have cooking classes the lunch is late — around 3pm — and most travelers choose not to have dinner those days. Dinner on Wednesday is not included, with most travelers having dinner in town.
Classes & Instructors
Chef Ana’s recipes and experiences are extracted from her family’s long history in central and northern Mexico. Her abilities as a chef are indelibly linked to her close relationships with her mother, aunts, grandmothers and great grandmother, as each passed down her culinary wisdom to her. Chef Ana’s specialties are traditional central and northern Mexican cuisine, and experimental nouvelle Mexican cuisine using traditional ingredients in new and exciting ways. Your 5-night tour will include 2 hands-on cooking classes.
Excursions
- Tepoztlan market visits
- Walking tour in Tlayacapan with pottery visit and market visit
- Visit to masa mill
Transfer Details
- Transfers to/from Mexico city airport (about 1 1/2 hours away). Please plan to schedule a flight that arrives between 12 noon and 4 pm, and a flight that departs after 12 noon.
Miscellaneous
- Tax
Country:
Mexico
Tour Dates:
Available any dates your choose for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.
7 Nights
Starting at
$2,200
5 Nights
Starting at
$1,850
Accommodation Information
During your Mexico cooking school vacation you will be located on a 30,000 square foot organic orchard complete with plunge pool, fresh water lily ponds and terraced gardens. The rooms are very lovely and comfortable with 4-star amenities: whitewashed walls, snowy white spreads and pillow covers, tile floors, showers with Talavera tiles and rainshower faucets, hairdryers and bathrobes. Located above the accommodations is the cooking school kitchen and on top of the kitchen is the restaurant, with a 360-degree view of the rest of Tepoztlan, the mountains and the valley below. The cooking facility was built specifically to have the best view in the house.The restaurant, La Mesa de Ana, uses locally grown ingredients – organic when available – utilizing traditional food techniques including slow-food practices. Many of the ingredients you will be using are grown on-site. The goal is to have a luxurious and cultural Mexican cooking vacation without damaging the environment in which you are staying.
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Pricing & Tour Dates
Regular Week Pricing:
(excluding Pitt Grilling, Day of the Dead, Christmas/New Years, and Oaxaca Weeks)
7-night Program
US$2200 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$460 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
50% deposit due to confirm.
Final payment due 90 days prior to the trip start date.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details!
Special Pitt Grilling Week Pricing:
7-night Program
US$2895 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$930 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
50% deposit due to confirm.
Final payment due 90 days prior to the trip start date.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details!
Day of the Dead Weeks Pricing:
7-night Program
US$2430 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$460 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
50% deposit due to confirm.
Final payment due 90 days prior to the trip start date.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details!
Special private weeks are also available, please inquire for details and pricing!
Oaxaca Weeks Pricing:
7-night Program
US$3010 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$1160 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
Due to the popularity of the Oaxaca weeks, full payment is due upon confirmation.
Please inquire for Oaxaca itinerary details!
Special private weeks are also available, please inquire for details and pricing!
Christmas and New Year's Weeks Pricing:
7-night Program
US$2315 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$575 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
Due to the popularity of the Christmas week, full payment is due upon confirmation.
Special private weeks are also available, please inquire for details and pricing!
Tour Dates
Our Hola Mexico culinary vacations are offered the following weeks, please inquire for availability. The cooking vacations usually start on Sunday.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details, or for details and pricing for private weeks!
2024
October 27-November 3 – Day of the Dead “The Arrival”
November 3-10 – Day of the Dead “The Departure”
November 10-17
November 17-24
November 24-December 1 – Thanksgiving week – sold out
December 1-8 – sold out
December 8-15
December 15-22
December 22-29 – Christmas week
December 29-January 5 – New Year’s Week
2025
January 5-12 – sold out
January 12-19 (Special Pitt Grilling Week)
January 19-26
February 2-9
February 9-16 (Special Pitt Grilling Week)
February 16-23 (Special Pitt Grilling Week)
March 2-9
March 15-22 – Oaxaca week, please inquire
March 22-29 – Oaxaca week, please inquire
March 29-April 5 – Oaxaca week, please inquire
April 13-20
April 20-27
April 27-May 4
August 3-10
August 10-17
August 17-24
August 24-31 – sold out
August 31-September 7
September 7-14
October 27-November 3 Day of the Dead (“The Arrival”)
November 3-10 Day of the Dead (“The Departure”)
Please inquire for additional spring, summer, and fall dates.
Pricing:
5-night Program
US$1850 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$460 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
Please note that the price includes sales tax.
50% deposit due to confirm.
Final payment due 90 days prior to the trip start date.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details!
Tour Dates
Our Hola Mexico culinary vacations are offered the following weeks, please inquire for availability. The cooking vacations usually start on Sunday.
Please inquire for special themed week itinerary details, or for details and pricing for private weeks!
2024
November 10-15
November 17-22
December 1-6 – sold out
December 8-13
December 15-20
2025
January 5-10 – sold out
January 19-24
February 2-7
March 2-7
April 13-18
April 20-25
April 27-May 2
August 3-8
August 10-15
August 17-22
August 24-29 – sold out
August 31-September 5
September 7-12
Please inquire for additional spring, summer, and fall dates.
Reviews
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Country:
Mexico
Tour Dates:
Available any dates your choose for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details.
7 Nights
Starting at
$2,200
5 Nights
Starting at
$1,850
Want more flexibility? We can customize all of your trip details for you, including:
- Trip length and Itineraries
- Hotels and Tours
- Transfers and Airfare
Let us show you how we can create a complete package just for you. Contact Us