What To Expect

Sample Menu

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Fabulous Cooking Experience!

  HappyDesigner,Feb 18, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  My daughter and I take cooking classes whenever we travel and this was one of our favorites! We love going to the markets to experience the local culture and to learn about the different foods of the area. Our chef, Owar, took us all through the market while purchasing a huge variety of different fruits for us to try back at the cooking school. The market was jam packed, chaotic, noisy and colorful; from the fresh seafood to the chicken feet and stalls of brightly colored fruits and vegetables - it was everything we hoped it would be! Back at the Cartagena cooking school we found a wonderful haven of calm and tranquility after the chaos of the market. Everything was beautifully organized and Owar and his assistant, Deyanis had a menu for our review. The fruits from the market were beautifully presented with bite sized pieces on an array of plates ranging from sour to sweet to pulpy. Each was described as we tasted it and looked at the original fruit. The menu showcased a perfect blend of various dishes and flavors of Columbia; Two types of arepas, chicken salsa, patacones with a delicious shrimp mix on top and filete de lomo de res with a creole pepper sauce and yuca puree. To top it all off was ice cream made from Lolo, one of the fruits we purchased at the market accompanied by cooked plantains in a flavorful sauce. Owar did a wonderful job of showing us how to prepare the different dishes and letting us do the cutting, chopping, stirring and cooking!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Fabulous cooking experience!

  Lynne B,Feb 17, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  My daughter and I take cooking classes whenever we travel and this was one of our favorites! We love going to the markets to experience the local culture and to learn about the different foods of the area. Our chef, Owar, took us all through the market while purchasing a huge variety of different fruits for us to try back at the cooking school. The market was jam packed, chaotic, noisy and colorful; from the fresh seafood to the chicken feet and stalls of brightly colored fruits and vegetables - it was everything we hoped it would be! Back at the Cartagena cooking school we found a wonderful haven of calm and tranquility after the chaos of the market. Everything was beautifully organized and Owar and his assistant, Deyanis had a menu for our review. The fruits from the market were beautifully presented with bite sized pieces on an array of plates ranging from sour to sweet to pulpy. Each was described as we tasted it and looked at the original fruit. The menu showcased a perfect blend of various dishes and flavors of Columbia; Two types of arepas, chicken salsa, patacones with a delicious shrimp mix on top and filete de lomo de res with a creole pepper sauce and yuca puree. To top it all off was ice cream made from Lolo, one of the fruits we purchased at the market accompanied by cooked plantains in a flavorful sauce. Owar did a wonderful job of showing us how to prepare the different dishes and letting us do the cutting, chopping, stirring and cooking while guiding us to the subtleties of the techniques needed to get the best results!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• An amazing experience for all foodies!

  Christine2306,Dec 10, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This was an amazing experience if you’re a foodie and want to learn more about the local fruits and gastronomy. It was quite interesting seeing the wide variety of exotic fruits during the market visit. Romario was very knowledgeable and made everyone feel welcomed. It was fun having everyone participate in cooking the different recipes. The kitchen was very clean and the meal was so delicious! I encourage everyone to visit Romario at the Cartagena Cooking School.

  

  

  

• Do This Cooking and Market Experience in Cartagena

  kshanoff,Nov 8, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  What an amazing experience. We were lucky that the two of us were the only participants that day. The first part of the day was spent at the Common People Market which gave us a real glimpse of how it is to not shop for food and other things not in a sterile supermarket setting. After buying some produce for our meal we returned to the school to prepare and eat a sumptuous lunch. With a very hands on and a very friendly approach we made course after course resulting probably the best meal we had during our Colombia tour.

• Outstanding. Most fun I have had in Cartagena!

  Mary F,Mar 19, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Romario was a very good teacher and made the cooking so fun! He explained all the ingredients. The food was delicious and easy enough to make at home. The lulo ice cream was a true delight! The location and facilities were excellent - very clean. Highly recommend.

• Super fun!

  Esther K,Mar 13, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The chef was very friendly and could explain a lot about the techniques and ingredients. I cooked and ate delicious!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Best experience in Cartagena!

  jpv392,Dec 28, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The Cartagena cooking school has been the highlight of our trip to Cartagena so far! The place is amazing, with the breeze flowing through the building as we cooked a delightful four-course meal. We learned to make two types of arepas, patacones (tostones), cassava puree, plantain leaf-wrapped grouper, and a delicious lulo ice cream with sweet plantains. The instructors were incredible, ensuring everyone in the class felt included and engaged. It was a fantastic experience, and we even made some new friends along the way. Highly recommended!

  

  

• 100% recommend - brilliant

  Sophie K,Sep 9, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Would highly recommend - brilliant cooking class. Really enjoyed it - the food was delicious and the set up and class was perfectly organised. Romario was really welcoming and the ideal host. If you’re looking for a great way to spend a few hours in Cartagena and learn about Colombian food, this is the perfect choice and you’ll come away very full!

  

  

  

• 10/10 DO recommend

  Courtney M,Jul 1, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  I enjoyed this experience! I went to the market alone with the tour guide and we picked up a few things. I was able to taste a few things being cooked in the market & see where locals come to shop. During the cooking portion, it was 3 of us. We made boronia, hogao, empanadas, posta, arroz con coco, & enyucada. Everything was amazing & Romario was very kind. Please make time for this experience!!!🇨🇴

• An excellent experience

  Erica S,Mar 27, 2024

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  I researched booking classes with several different companies, but Cartagena Cooking School was the only company that didn't charge extra for being a solo traveler. I very much appreciate that. It's holy week, so it was incredibly busy at the market, but the guides were knowledgeable about not just the market, but Cartagena in general. I would not want to try to navigate the market without a guide. It's crowded and it would be very easy to get lost. I wound up being the only person booked for the day, so I actually got a private tour. We started with the market tour, then we went back to the cooking school where we had a fruit tasting, and then cooked lunch. I got to try a bunch of things I'd never had before. When we were almost done they shared some holy week snacks and explained their significance to me. All in all, I had a fantastic day and left very full. I will say that, like all things in Cartagena, you will be hot during this tour. Also, the market was not an issue for me, but I'm sure that not everyone would be comfortable there. It's often dark, it's hot, it's crowded, and at times it doesn't smell great. Still, it's interesting to leave the confines of the tourist area in the walled city.

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