Best Foodie Cruise Excursion in Puerto Vallarta
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My husband, Myron, and I took a cruise on Norwegian Joy to the Mexican Riviera. We had a great time, especially during our fun foodie cruise excursion in Puerto Vallarta with Cookin’ Vallarta.
Normally, we book our cruise excursions through Norwegian Cruise Line to take advantage of their Free At Sea offer that gives us a rebate of $50 per port for their excursions, but none of those offered by the cruise line at that time for Puerto Vallarta were hands-on food-related. So I popped over to Viator.com and found just the thing…a foodie cruise excursion!
Exploring A Shopfront Tortilla Factory
The half-day excursion was led by our tour guide and chef, Enrique, who met us at a shopping mall right across the street from the port and loaded our small group of six into his air-conditioned van.
First stop: a shopfront tortilla factory.
To The Market To Buy Fresh Ingredients For Our Lunch
Once we’d learned about the history of tortillas and saw how they’re made, we went to a local market to buy fresh meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables that we’d use to prepare our own lunch. Enrique gave us some great tips about choosing the freshest seafood and produce. Can you choose the freshest seafood, jicama, limes, or avocados at the grocery store? Enrique can tell you how.
Preparing The Lunch
After a quick stop at a vendor to try some fried breakfast tacos, we were whisked to Enrique’s lovely house and met his family, who made us feel right at home. His large living room has been converted into a dining and food preparation area, perfect for giving hands-on classes.
Here’s our small group of six getting to know each other before Enrique puts us to work. This is my “Is it time to eat yet?” face.
Each of us was given a task such as squeezing oranges and limes, and slicing vegetables, and before long, we were drinking the best margaritas I’ve ever had, made from fresh lime juice and orange juice we’d squeezed by hand. Yummy!
Here’s the recipe for one cocktail.
Combine in a glass:
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1 ounce tequila
- Juice of 1 lime
- Juice of 1/4 of an orange
If desired, wet the rim of your margarita glass with a piece of lime and dip in salt. Add ice, then pour in the above ingredients.
Next, we made a traditional salsa and a sweet salsa, guacamole, ceviche, and even made and cooked our own tortillas. It’s a lot easier than I thought.
Enrique provided cheese sauce, shrimp, and pork carnitas that had been made by him and his family, and by that point, we guests were all pretty much drooling. Everything smelled and looked so delicious.
I don’t eat seafood and let Enrique know ahead of time, so he was kind enough to provide pork carnitas as a non-seafood option for us all. They were absolutely yummy.
Reminder When Booking Third-Party Tours
When booking tours outside the cruise line, be sure that the time you book for your excursion is well within the time frame you’ll be in port. Booking earlier in the day is preferred, and ensure the tour ends at least two hours before your sailaway so you won’t miss the ship after your excursion.
Enjoying The Fruits Of Our Labors
The food was absolutely amazing. Fresh, tasty, and very filling. And the best part? We’d had a big hand in making it all.
Enrique gave us lots of ideas for different ways to prepare things we already eat at home. And with the recipes he was kind enough to email us after the excursion, we have so many new things to try.
Final Thoughts On The Best Foodie Cruise Excursion In Puerto Vallarta
If you’re looking for a cooking class in Puerto Vallarta, check out Enrique’s by clicking on the Viator link below. His company, Cookin’ Vallarta, also does similar food excursions in Los Cabos and Playa del Carmen, and they truly are the best foodie cruise excursions in Mexico.
Happy cruising!
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