
4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 174 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience worth booking?
4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience is a 4.5-hour experience in Panama City, Panama, from $95 per person. It scores 81 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 174 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 81 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (174)
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- From
- $95 per person
Discover Panama's unique cuisine in this local market tour combined with a hands on cooking class. With your expert local food guide you will explore the local markets in Casco Viejo, Panama's famous colonial Old Town where you will look for the freshest ingredients for your personalized menu. You will learn about the herbs and seasonings that are unique to Panama while you create a five course meal that would make every Panamanian's grandma proud. You will learn the techniques to wrap the perfect Panamanian tamale and stuff a carimañola from a local chef with generations worth of knowledge and experience. Your cooking experience will be personalized based on your dietary preferences. Options are available for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian.
What you get
About this experience
Discover Panama's unique cuisine in this local market tour combined with a hands on cooking class. With your expert local food guide you will explore the local markets in Casco Viejo, Panama's famous colonial Old Town where you will look for the freshest ingredients for your personalized menu. You will learn about the herbs and seasonings that are unique to Panama while you create a five course meal that would make every Panamanian's grandma proud. You will learn the techniques to wrap the perfect Panamanian tamale and stuff a carimañola from a local chef with generations worth of knowledge and experience. Your cooking experience will be personalized based on your dietary preferences. Options are available for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian.
What's included
Included
- Cooking class
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Alcoholic beverages
Not included
- Optional Tips
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Panama City
Tour starting point is in Restaurante El Nacional, PH Catedral, located on Plaza de la Independencia, in the former Museo de Esmeralda
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Tour starting point is in Restaurante El Nacional, PH Catedral, located on Plaza de la Independencia, in the former Museo de Esmeralda
Options you can book
Casco Viejo Morning Class
Food from the class and drinks: All the Food cooked on the class, tamale, carimañolas, ceviche, Sweet plantain, and drinks as coffee, juice, soda, wine, etc
Casco Viejo Afternoon Class
Food from the class and drinks: All the Food cooked on the class, tamale, carimañolas, ceviche, Sweet plantain, and drinks as coffee, juice, soda, wine, etc
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Panama Day Trips
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Legal age that can be served alcohol is 18
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 174 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
7 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
174 verified traveler reviews for 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Delicioso!
My husband and I could not be happier with our cooking experience! Jorge is an excellent teacher, and having the opportunity to have him show us around both the San Felipe market and the Mercado de Mariscos was wonderful. Copies of the recipes for the dishes we made were in my inbox when we finished the class. Honestly, everything was absolutely delicious!
via Tripadvisor
My husband and I learned...
My husband and I learned a lot and had a great time. The food was amazing! Thank you for the experience!
via Viator
Intimate, hands-on cooking class with local market tours
This was a fun experience. There were only three of us in the class which made it more personalized and hands-on. Our chef, Jorge did a wonderful job as instructing and did a deep dive into each dish and its ingredients. We also enjoyed the market visit to the San Felipe Neri Public Market and Mercado De Mariscos. Of course the best part was tasting everything at the end!
via Tripadvisor
A Taste of Panamanian Culture
Without a doubt, this cooking class was the highlight of our trip to Panama! The class was small, with just seven participants seated around the chef's kitchen, which was perfectly designed for a hands-on experience. We began with a short walk through the local fruit and vegetable market, followed by a visit to the fish market to pick out the fresh ingredients we would use in our cooking lesson. It was a fun way to learn about local ingredients before heading back to the kitchen. The class was truly interactive. We ground corn for the tamales, chopped vegetables and fresh fish for the ceviche, and grated yucca to make carimañolas. We prepared ceviche, tamales, carimañolas, and plantains, all served with our choice of sangria. The meal was delicious and very generous, and they even packed up our leftovers for us to enjoy later. Chef Jorge was fantastic. He explained each ingredient and cooking technique, answered every question with enthusiasm, and made everyone feel comfortable participating. His passion for Panamanian cuisine and his friendly teaching style made this an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Panama. It was an authentic, fun, and delicious experience that we'll always remember.
via Viator
Cooking with Jorge!
We arrived and was politely welcomed. The cooking class was held at the bar. The instructor Jorge was fun and knowledgeable. The cooking class included a walk down to the San Philipe Market and the Mercado Marisco Fish market. At the markets Jorge gave us info about the food and places we we saw making it a bit of a food tour as well. We made 3 items- Ceviche, Tamales and Carimaniolas all delicious all gluten free. We enjoyed delicious, juices and Sangria
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 61
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Panama Day Trips, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 92.0 and 2 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Panama Day Trips runsWhy this scores 81
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Panama City.
How much does 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience cost?
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Prices start at $95 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Panama City usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience take?
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Plan for about 4.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Panama City is not rushed.
Is 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 81 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 174 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Panama City, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Around 61 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Panama City can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Panama City and add a light layer if any part of the 4.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Panama City within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Panama City?
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On Outty we rank every Panama City experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Tour to a waterfall and Embera village with lunch included, Ocean to Ocean Combo: Canal Boat Safari, Agua Clara & Gatun Locks, Half day of Panama city and canal tour: shared and private. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Panama City?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Panama City?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Included: Cooking class; Lunch; Bottled water; and Alcoholic beverages. Not included: Optional Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Tour starting point is in Restaurante El Nacional, PH Catedral, located on Plaza de la Independencia, in the former Museo de Esmeralda Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Panama City. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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Across 174 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide, small groups. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
What booking options are available for 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Casco Viejo Morning Class, Casco Viejo Afternoon Class. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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