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Tapado is the dish people come to Livingston for. It’s a Garifuna seafood stew built on fresh coconut milk, green plantain and whatever came off the boat that morning, and on this three-hour class you make it yourself rather than just ordering it.
You’ll work through the whole thing with a Garifuna cook: pressing the milk from fresh coconut, building the broth, seasoning it with achiote for that golden-red color, and simmering in the fish, shrimp and often crab. The name itself tells you how it’s served. Tapado means “covered” or “topped,” for the fried whole fish laid across the top of the bowl. Then you sit down and eat what you cooked, usually with coconut rice on the side.
This is the coastal kitchen the Maya highlands don’t have. No corn and beans here. Fish, coconut, plantain and pepper, the flavors the Garifuna brought to this coast.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Three hours making tapado from scratch with a Garifuna cook, then eating it. You’ll press fresh coconut milk, build the broth, and simmer in the seafood, finishing with the fried fish on top and coconut rice on the side. It runs in English, with Spanish on request, for groups of 1 to 15, private or shared. Everything starts at the Dibasei office.
Meeting point
The Dibasei office in Livingston. Walk over if you’re staying in town, or come in by lancha if you’re visiting just for the tour.
A Garifuna seafood stew from Guatemala’s Caribbean coast, made with coconut milk, green plantain and fresh seafood, usually topped with a fried whole fish. Livingston is the center of tapado on the mainland.
It means “covered” or “topped,” after the fried fish laid across the top of the bowl.
We try to make accommodations for all guests but please bear in mind that tapado is a seafood dish and it is cooked traditionally with shellfish. Therefore, people with allergies should not partake.
English by default. Spanish is available on request, so mention it when you reserve.
Only if you’re not already in Livingston. The town is boat-only. Lanchas run from Puerto Barrios in about 30 minutes and from Río Dulce in roughly 90. Boat fare isn’t included.
