Cooking in the Campo: Learn to make tortillas and salsas!

Trade the colonial cobblestones of Oaxaca Centro for the open skies, fruit trees, and crisp air of San Agustín Yatareni. Just a short drive outside the city center, this immersive rural food experience invites you into the home and outdoor kitchen of Doña Juana and her family for a vibrant day of hands-on farm-to-table cooking.

This is an intimate look at the complete lifecycle of Oaxacan food culture—from seed selection to the open flame. You'll spend the day as part of a working rural homestead, surrounded by grazing farm animals, family dogs, and a famously rowdy turkey who loves making his presence known.

Explore the Milpa Ancestral System

Your day begins with a guided walk across Doña Juana’s property to explore the heart of Mexican agriculture: the milpa. You’ll learn how corn, beans, and squash are intercropped together in a self-sustaining ecological system that has fed Mesoamerica for thousands of years. Depending on the season, Doña Juana will show you the various growth cycles of the crops, explain ancestral seed-saving practices, and share how this deep dedication to the land sustains her family and community. She has photos to visually-aid her presentation during the off-season.

Hands-On Tortilla & Salsa Masterclass

Doña Juana will then guide you to the local mill to grind your corn into fresh masa. The walk is about 1 km along a dirt road, or you can opt to take the Tlayudona-mobile depending on your group´s mobility and stamina.

Under her step-by-step guidance, you will learn the exact hand-press, shaping, and flipping techniques passed down through generations. Notice how the heat of the fire causes the fresh dough to puff up perfectly on the clay comal (clay griddle)—the ultimate sign of a well-made tortilla. You will master (or at least have fun practicing) the art of tortilla-making, in addition to three vibrant, handmade salsas ground using traditional tools.

The Campo Feast

While your handmade tortillas finish cooking over the open stove, the journey transforms into a shared family celebration. Pour a glass of fresh agua de sabor (seasonal fruit water) and get ready to eat. A Note on Oaxacan Hospitality: This experience isn't a sterile commercial cooking school. It takes place in a lively, warm family home where food is shared out of love, conversation flows naturally, and guests leave with full bellies and new friends.

Logistics & Booking

• Location: San Agustín Yatareni (approx. 15–20 minutes outside Oaxaca Centro).
• Perfect For: Families, slow-travel enthusiasts, foodies, and anyone wanting to escape the urban center for a genuine slice of village life.