Cooking classes have become one of the better half-day activities in Cancún for travelers who want to do something active that isn't physically demanding and produces something you can eat afterward.
What good classes cover
The best ones focus on genuinely regional Yucatecan dishes — cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, panuchos, black bean-based recados — rather than generic "Mexican food" that could have been taught anywhere. A market visit component (usually Mercado 28 or a local one) is a sign the class is serious about ingredients and context.
What to expect
Most run 3–4 hours, include the meal you prepare, and accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice. Class sizes vary — smaller is usually better both for learning and for the feel. Some operate out of professional kitchens, others from private homes in El Centro; the latter tend to give a better sense of actual local cooking.
A secondary benefit
Classes that include a market visit are genuinely one of the better ways to see downtown Cancún in an organized way if you're not confident navigating it on your own — a guide who knows the market is worth more than any map.