Cooking Class in Cartagena: Learn to Cook Caribbean Colombian Food
A cooking class in Cartagena is the best way to learn the city’s Caribbean Colombian cuisine hands-on — ceviche, arroz con coco (coconut rice), patacones and fresh fried fish — usually starting with a local market visit and ending with everyone eating together. Cartagena’s food is a vibrant mix of Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous and Spanish influences, and learning to cook it with a local is one of the most memorable things to do in the city.
Here’s what you’ll cook, why Cartagena is a great place to do it, and how to book.

What you’ll cook in a Cartagena cooking class
- Ceviche cartagenero — fresh fish or shrimp cured in citrus, Caribbean-style.
- Arroz con coco — the region’s signature sweet-savory coconut rice.
- Patacones — twice-fried green plantains, a coastal staple.
- Pescado frito — whole fried fish, the classic beach lunch.
- Limonada de coco — the creamy coconut limeade Cartagena is known for.
Why take a cooking class in Cartagena
Cartagena sits on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, so its cuisine is built on fresh seafood, coconut, plantain and tropical fruit, with a strong Afro-Caribbean heritage from the nearby town of Palenque. A cooking class gives you the techniques and the cultural stories behind the dishes, plus recipes you can recreate at home. Many classes begin at a local market like Bazurto, where you choose the fresh ingredients.
Cooking classes with Cook in Fiesta in Cartagena
Cook in Fiesta runs hands-on experiences in Cartagena led by English-speaking locals: a cooking class where you learn, cook, eat and drink together; a tasting session of local Colombian foods and drinks; and a guided fruit tasting of tropical fruits rarely seen abroad. Small groups, and dietary needs accommodated with notice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cooking class in Cartagena?
The best cooking class in Cartagena is a hands-on, small-group session with a local that covers Caribbean Colombian dishes like ceviche, coconut rice and patacones, often starting with a market visit. Cook in Fiesta offers a hands-on cooking class led by an English-speaking local.
What food is Cartagena known for?
Cartagena is known for Caribbean Colombian food: ceviche, arroz con coco (coconut rice), patacones, fresh fried fish, arepa de huevo and limonada de coco. Its cuisine blends Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous and Spanish influences.
What do you cook in a Colombian cooking class in Cartagena?
You typically make ceviche and a coastal main such as coconut rice with fried fish, plus patacones and a drink like limonada de coco. Menus vary by class, and many begin with a local market visit.
How long is a cooking class in Cartagena?
Most cooking classes in Cartagena run about 3 to 4 hours, including the cooking, eating together and learning the stories behind the dishes. Classes with a market tour tend to be on the longer end.
How much is a cooking class in Cartagena?
Prices vary by class, group size and inclusions. Contact Cook in Fiesta via WhatsApp for current pricing and availability in Cartagena.
