Pre-Hispanic Cuisine

Pre-Hispanic Cuisine Workshop

Cuernavaca Immersion: Spanish, Salsa & Ancient Flavors

Choose Your Dates 8 Days / 7 Nights $1,990 USD

A Unique Culinary & Language Experience

Choose Your Dates:

Dates: July 5 – July 12, 2026

Immerse yourself in the rich flavors of ancient Mexico while perfecting your Spanish in beautiful Cuernavaca. This one-of-a-kind program combines intensive Spanish instruction with hands-on pre-Hispanic cooking classes led by certified indigenous chef "Mayora" Margarita Cárdenas.

We'll be speaking Spanish all day — it's a fun and natural way to learn and practice your Spanish. You are going to learn a lot of vocabulary and the names of several different products that pre-Hispanic cultures used for cooking (indoor and outdoor kitchen).

Our Highlight

Cooking classes with certified "MAYORA" Margarita Cárdenas

Margarita Cárdenas is a traditional indigenous cook from Coatetelco, Morelos, dedicated to preserving and sharing the ancestral flavors of her community. Trained from a young age by her grandmother, she prepares dishes using wood-fire cooking and pre-Hispanic techniques such as nixtamalization, keeping recipes alive through oral tradition rather than measurements. She actively participates in cultural and culinary events and is a member of a collective of traditional cooks that promotes and safeguards the gastronomic heritage of Morelos.

Discover the Heart of Mexican Identity Through Corn

Corn is not just food in Mexico — it is history, culture, and identity. This immersive day takes you on a journey from the field to the table, revealing the ancestral processes that have sustained communities for generations.

Program Details


Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Price: $1,990 USD
Dates: July 5–12, 2026
Location: Cuernavaca, Mexico
Accommodation: Homestay (private room & bath)
Spanish Classes: 30 hours total
Level: All levels welcome
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Package Includes

Airport Transfer

Round-trip private transportation between Mexico City and Cuernavaca

Homestay

Private room with exclusive deluxe bathroom in local Mexican family home

30 Hours Spanish

Formal Spanish immersion classes for all levels with personalized instruction

Spanish All Day

Fun, natural way to learn culinary vocabulary in indoor and outdoor kitchens

Cooking Classes

Hands-on sessions with certified "Mayora" Margarita Cárdenas

Corn Journey

Discover Mexican identity through corn — from field to table

Salsa & Merengue

Dance classes to shake off stress and experience Mexican culture

Ancestral Secrets

Learn the secrets of our grandmothers through spices and herbs

Market Visits

Learn about products and ingredients used in pre-Hispanic cooking

Coatetelco Lagoon

Spanish class at the lagoon with fresh fish cooking experience

Ancestral Ceremony

Participate in ceremony dedicated to the four directions

Cultural Sites

Guided visits to Palacio de Cortés, Cathedral, Tepoztlán, and Xochicalco

Not Included
  • Laundry service
  • Personal expenses
  • Flight to/from Mexico City

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1

Day 1: Sunday — Arrival & Welcome

Bienvenido/a a nuestro programa de "Cocina Prehispánica"

  • Airport pickup by ASLI is included
  • Upon arrival at Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport, proceed through customs and head to the arrivals hall to meet your driver
  • Private transfer to Cuernavaca (approximately 1.5 hours)
  • Check-in with your host family
  • Dinner with your hosts and practice your Spanish conversation
2

Day 2: Monday — Market, Cooking & Corn Journey

  • 8:00 AM: Breakfast with your Mexican host family
  • 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Spanish class
  • 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pre-Hispanic cooking class
    • Visit to the local market to learn about products and ingredients
    • Introduction to pre-Hispanic cuisine
    • Hands-on cooking session
  • 3:00 PM: Main meal
  • 5:00 PM: Discover the Heart of Mexican Identity Through Corn

    Corn is not just food in Mexico — it is history, culture, and identity. This immersive experience takes you on a journey from the field to the table, revealing the ancestral processes that have sustained communities for generations.

3

Day 3: Tuesday — Esquites, Spanish & Walking Tour

  • 8:00 AM: Breakfast with your Mexican host family
  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Spanish class
  • 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Try our exquisite homemade "Esquites"

    The story claims that in the late 1800s, Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota created a dish referred to as "Odalisque" when they accidentally used corn. In our days, "Esquites" are known as a mestizo preparation because many of its fundamental ingredients were from Spain.

  • 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Conversational Spanish
  • 2:30 PM: Main meal with your Mexican family
  • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Walking tour of Palacio de Cortés and Cathedral
4

Day 4: Wednesday — Tepoztlán Pueblo Mágico

  • 8:00 AM: Breakfast with your Mexican host family
  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Spanish class
  • 12:30 PM: Departure to Tepoztlán — such a cute little town, one of the most beautiful "Pueblo Mágico" in México, with amazing vibes and mountains all around
    • Option to hike up El Tepozteco, a wonderful Xochimilca pyramid
    • Visit the market and taste local food
    • Walk around the colorful streets
  • Pre-Hispanic lunch at Tepoztlán
  • 6:00 PM: Return to Cuernavaca
5

Day 5: Thursday — Pre-Hispanic Cooking & Salsa!

  • 8:00 AM: Breakfast with your Mexican host family
  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Spanish class
  • 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class with Margarita
  • 5:00 PM: Salsa lessons!

    In México the life is better dancing salsa. Shake off stress!

6

Day 6: Friday — Coatetelco Lagoon & Ancestral Ceremony

  • 8:00 AM: Breakfast with your Mexican host family
  • 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Spanish class at Coatetelco Lagoon

    A smaller but charming lagoon located near the town of Coatetelco. You can take a boat ride, walk along the shore, and enjoy fresh fish prepared by you and our Pre-Hispanic "Mayora" Margarita Cárdenas in a peaceful, rural atmosphere.

    Upon arrival:

    • Take part in an ancestral ceremony dedicated to the four directions
    • Learn about "nixtamalización" using ingredients that have been used for thousands of years
    • Discover the legends of this place
    • Best of all, enjoy tasting everything we prepare during cooking class
7

Day 7: Saturday — Xochicalco Adventure

  • 9:00 AM: Xochicalco! Ready for an adventure?
  • This is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites
  • Travel with us and experience history up close!
  • Walk through ancient ruins, practice Spanish with your group, and enjoy an exciting day of culture, learning, and fun
8

Day 8: Sunday — Departure

HASTA LUEGO Y NOS VEMOS MUY PRONTO!

  • Check-out and departure
  • Transfer to airport based on your flight schedule
  • Depart with new culinary skills, improved Spanish, and unforgettable memories!

Program Highlights

Pre-Hispanic Cooking

Ancient Cooking Techniques

Learn authentic pre-Hispanic recipes from certified chef Margarita using traditional methods and ingredients.

Local Markets

Market Immersion

Discover fresh ingredients at vibrant local markets while building your Spanish vocabulary naturally.

Homestay Experience

Authentic Homestay

Live with a Mexican family and practice Spanish daily in a warm, welcoming environment.

Interested in This Program?

Send us a message via WhatsApp or write to us at maru.cortes@gmail.com

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Ready to Cook & Learn?

Join us for an unforgettable week of Spanish immersion and culinary discovery in Cuernavaca

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