US$ 90 per person

Time

Adults
US$ 90

Children (Ages 2-12)
US$ 45 -50%

Total US$ 90

✓ All taxes and fees included

Free cancellation until 48 hours before start

Maya Kaqchikel Cooking Experience: Tortillas, Tamalitos & Pepián

US$ 90 per person

5.00 5 reviews

Starting time

2:30pm

Duration

4 hours

Group Size

1–9+ guests

Language

English

Free pick-up included

Free cancellation until 48 hours before start

Discounted rates for children

What Guests Love

Warm family hospitality
Hands‑on traditional cooking
Authentic Guatemalan flavors
Cultural weaving demonstration

Based on recent verified reviews

Guests say the experience feels like a warm invitation into a local home, where the host team patiently guides participants through hands‑on tasks such as grinding corn, shaping tortillas, and cooking Pepián over an open fire. Traditional techniques and fresh, locally sourced ingredients highlight authentic Guatemalan cuisine, while an unexpected backstrap loom weaving demo adds a memorable cultural dimension, making the visit a standout highlight of their trip.

Read all 5 reviews →

What to Expect

Join Claudia and the Utum family in Santa Catarina Barahona, Sacatepéquez, for an authentic culinary experience in a traditional local home. Step into the heart of Guatemalan food culture and discover time-honored cooking techniques passed down through generations.

Begin by learning about the sacred nixtamalization process and grinding corn by hand on an ancestral volcanic stone. You’ll then learn to shape tortillas by hand and cook traditional tamalitos on the comal. Together, prepare Pepián, one of Guatemala’s most iconic dishes, from scratch by roasting seeds and aromatic chiles over an open flame.

Beyond the cooking, this experience offers a meaningful glimpse into local life and living heritage. Share stories with the family, gather around the fire, and enjoy a traditional meal made with your own hands. During the experience, you’ll also have the opportunity to watch a demonstration of traditional backstrap loom weaving, showcasing another important part of Guatemala’s cultural heritage.

Meet Your Host

Claudia

Hello! I’m Claudia, a local chef passionate about ancestral cuisine. I come from Alotenango, a beautiful town nestled among volcanoes. My love for cooking began when I was seven, watching my grandmother’s patience as she cooked over a wood fire. Today, I keep her legacy alive at Utum by sharing the culinary secrets passed down through four generations of women in my family. We will cook using traditional tools, such as a volcanic grinding stone and a clay *comal* (griddle). My driving force is to pass this living culture on to my daughter and to share the richness of Maya Kaqchikel identity with the world.

Handmade Nixtamal Dough – Grind corn by hand on an ancestral volcanic stone to create authentic tortilla dough.
Hand-Slapped Corn Tortillas – Learn the traditional technique of shaping and baking tortillas by hand on a clay comal.
Artisanal Tamalitos – Prepare and wrap homemade tamalitos using fresh local leaves, such as chipilín or loroco.
Ancestral Pepián Recado – Prepare Guatemala’s iconic ceremonial stew from scratch by roasting chiles and seeds to create its rich, traditional flavor.

Schedule

2:30 PM – Hotel Pickup & Transfer
Meet your driver at your hotel lobby or designated meeting point in Antigua Guatemala and travel to Santa Catarina Barahona.

3:00 PM – Welcome at the Family Home
Arrive at the family home and receive a warm welcome. Discover the cultural significance of corn and learn about the traditional nixtamalization process.

3:30 PM – Hands-On Cooking: Tortillas & Tamalitos
Grind corn by hand on an ancestral volcanic stone, learn the traditional technique of shaping tortillas, and wrap fresh tamalitos to cook on the comal.

4:15 PM – Hands-On Cooking: Traditional Pepián
Roast seeds and aromatic chiles over an open fire and learn how to prepare the rich, traditional Pepián recado from scratch.

5:15 PM – Kaqchikel Weaving Demonstration
Take a cultural interlude while the food simmers with a demonstration of traditional Kaqchikel backstrap loom weaving, an important part of Guatemala’s living textile heritage.

5:30 PM – Traditional Family Meal
Gather around the family table and enjoy an authentic Guatemalan meal prepared with your own hands. Share stories and experience the warmth of a traditional family home.

6:00 PM – Return Transfer
Say goodbye to your hosts and board your transportation for the return journey to Antigua Guatemala.

6:30 PM – Arrival in Antigua Guatemala
Arrive back at your hotel or designated drop-off point, concluding your culinary and cultural experience.

Getting There

This activity includes a free pick-up to the location.

* The exact address will be shared in your booking confirmation.

Additional Information

Pickup Option

Enjoy a convenient private round-trip transfer from your hotel in Antigua Guatemala.

Your host and English-speaking translator will meet you at your hotel lobby in Antigua Guatemala and drive you by private vehicle to the family home. After the experience, enjoy a private transfer back to your hotel.

Confirmation

You will receive the confirmation of your booking within 24 hours.

Free Cancellation

Full refunds will be issued for cancellations made at least 48 hours prior to the activity.

Guest Reviews

5 /5

5.00

Based on 5 verified reviews

Xyriel • Couple

Sep 2026

Memorable and Heartwarming

An unforgettable experience with the Utum family. We were welcomed into their traditional home and had the chance to experience Guatemalan culture through food, stories, and family traditions. Making tamalitos and Pepián was fun and hands-on, while the weaving demonstration gave us a deeper appreciation for local craftsmanship. We left with full stomachs, new cooking skills, and wonderful memories.

Rose • Family

Sep 2026

A Beautiful Look Into Guatemalan Traditions

We loved every part of this experience. From grinding corn and shaping tortillas to roasting chiles and seeds for Pepián, everything felt connected to Guatemala's culinary heritage. Claudia and the family were warm, patient, and happy to share their traditions with us. Sitting together around the fire and enjoying the meal we had prepared ourselves was a wonderful way to end the experience.

Omar • Couple

Sep 2026

More Than Just a Cooking Class

This was so much more than a cooking class. We learned about traditional Guatemalan ingredients and techniques while spending time with a lovely local family in their home. Making tortillas and Pepián by hand was a great hands-on experience, and we really enjoyed hearing stories about their traditions. The backstrap loom weaving demonstration added another beautiful cultural dimension to the visit.

Cay • Family

Sep 2026

Cooking, Culture, and Family Hospitality

We had a wonderful time cooking with the Utum family in Santa Catarina Barahona. Learning about nixtamalization and grinding corn on a traditional volcanic stone gave us a new appreciation for Guatemalan food. Preparing Pepián over the open fire was especially enjoyable, and everything we made tasted delicious. The family was incredibly welcoming, and sharing the meal together made the experience feel very special.

Orv • Family

Sep 2026

A Truly Authentic Guatemalan Experience

This was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Guatemala. Claudia and the Utum family welcomed us into their home and shared so much about their traditions and daily life. We loved learning how to make tortillas by hand, prepare tamalitos, and cook Pepián from scratch. Seeing the traditional backstrap loom weaving was an unexpected and fascinating highlight. The whole experience felt warm, personal, and genuinely authentic.