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Peruvian cuisine at its best from Lima to Paracas, explore classic flavors from ceviche to fresh seafood

from US $ 8430 pp

Tour Highlights

Top Restaurants

Food Markets

Coffee Demonstration

Andes Mountains

Salineras Salt Mountains

Machu Picchu Ruins

Marine Life

Island Boat Tour

about this tour

This extensive culinary tour of Peru explores the country's diverse flavors, from the capital Lima to the coastal oasis of Paracas. In Lima, you'll indulge in classic dishes like ceviche and modern takes on Peruvian cuisine, all amidst the city's colonial architecture and lively markets. Arequipa, the "White City," offers traditional fare like rocoto relleno and alpaca dishes. The Sacred Valley showcases the fertile land that produces ingredients like quinoa and colorful potatoes, along with the culinary traditions of local communities. Machu Picchu combines breathtaking views with regional delicacies. Cusco allows you to explore the fusion of Inca and Spanish flavors, including dishes like pachamanca cooked underground. The tour concludes in Paracas, where fresh seafood, refreshing pisco cocktails, and panoramic ocean views await. Expert guides and chefs lead the way, promising a delightful exploration of Peru's rich culinary heritage.
  • 1

    Arrive in Lima

    This foodie adventure in Lima, Peru's capital and a global culinary destination, starts with a private airport transfer to your hotel. Explore the city's treasure trove of restaurants and bars at your own pace. World-renowned establishments like Astrid y Gaston and Central are just a few of many highly-rated options. In addition to the exceptional eateries, Lima boasts some of the best food markets in Latin America, offering a chance to combine delicious food with exploring the city's historical streets.

    This foodie adventure in Lima, Peru's capital and a global culinary destination, starts with a private airport transfer to your hotel. Explore the city's treasure trove of restaurants and bars…
  • 2

    Historic Lima & Culinary Secrets

    This culinary tour of Lima starts at Surquillo Market, where you'll see a variety of fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits. Sample some fruits and test your knowledge after browsing the market. Next, head to La Gran Fruta for healthy juices and a chance to identify the ingredients. Your transportation will then drop you off in the bohemian Barranco district. The Bridge of Sighs, a local landmark that inspired a famous waltz, is a must-see. Your guide will explain local traditions, popular dishes like ceviche and picarones, and why people visit this area. Before you try these dishes, you'll enjoy a 30-minute demonstration and talk about Peruvian coffee, including a complimentary hot or cold coffee drink. Following the coffee experience, you'll visit the traditional cevicheria Canta Rana to savor the national dish, ceviche, with its variety of fresh seafood options. A short walk takes you to Isolina, a casual restaurant perfect for trying classic Peruvian criollo dishes. Here, you'll also sample the Chilcano cocktail, made with Peru's iconic Pisco brandy. No culinary tour is complete without dessert, so the tour concludes with a stop at a local Barranco restaurant to enjoy some traditional Peruvian sweets.

    This culinary tour of Lima starts at Surquillo Market, where you'll see a variety of fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits. Sample some fruits and test your knowledge after browsing the…
  • 3

    Arequipa, Peruvian Andes

    In the morning, a private transfer will escort you to Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa, Peru's second-largest city nestled in the Peruvian Andes. After freshening up at your hotel, explore the city's second-largest status and stunning views of El Misti volcano. The culinary adventure begins with a visit to Picanterias in Cayma, where you'll savor the local specialty Adobo, a slow-cooked pork dish. Next, travel to Yanahuara to enjoy the Main Plaza's views and "Queso helado," a sweet fresh cheese dessert. Wash it down with "Chicha de Jora," a fermented corn drink. Another Picanteria visit offers more local dishes before a walking tour through the traditional streets to the city center. The grand finale is a unique lunch experience featuring small portions of traditional dishes with explanations from your guide. The afternoon is free to explore highlights like the Santa Catalina Monastery or the Cathedral.

    In the morning, a private transfer will escort you to Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa, Peru's second-largest city nestled in the Peruvian Andes. After freshening up at your…
  • 4

    Exploring the White City

    This Arequipa walking tour combines history and food. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and start with a visit to San Camilo Market, the local marketplace established in 1881. Explore the sights, sounds, and variety of goods, from local produce like 56 varieties of potatoes to handicrafts and flowers. Next, travel to the Plaza de Armas and La Compañia Church, offering a glimpse into colonial architecture and history. The tour continues to the Santa Catalina Monastery, a vast complex showcasing colonial heritage and the lives of nuns who resided there. El Tambo neighborhood, with its beautifully restored colonial buildings, provides another look into Arequipa's past. The walking tour concludes with a hands-on experience at the Workshop of Queso Helado, learning the secrets and techniques behind making this traditional frozen milk dessert.

    This Arequipa walking tour combines history and food. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and start with a visit to San Camilo Market, the local marketplace established in…
  • 5

    The Sacred Valley

    This action-packed day starts with a private transfer from your hotel to the airport and then flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, another transfer takes you to the Sacred Valley. Dive right in with exploration of Moray's ruins, including enormous circular depressions that may have been Inca agricultural terraces. Next, head to Maras to witness the Salineras salt mines, a marvel of engineering with stunning views. These white salt pans, nestled in the mountains, reflect the sunlight like gold. Afterward, you'll be transferred to your Sacred Valley hotel, located at a lower altitude to aid acclimatization. The charming boutique hotel allows you to relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the valley, while providing a base for further exploration of Incan history and life. The evening is free for you to unwind at your leisure.

    This action-packed day starts with a private transfer from your hotel to the airport and then flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, another transfer takes you to the Sacred Valley. Dive…
  • 6

    Sacred Valley Tour

    This full-day expedition explores the heart of the Sacred Valley, following the Vilcanota River. You'll encounter indigenous communities, impressive terraces, and hidden archaeological sites. Beginning at the Pisac market, a treasure trove of handicrafts, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, ponchos, rugs, hats, gloves, and traditional instruments. Next on to the Pisac ruins, perched dramatically at a gorge entrance. There are breathtaking views of the Urubamba Valley and the town below from this ancient citadel. As you explore you can appreciate the Inca era and how advanced they were in construction and agriculture. The strategic placement along a trade route highlights their sophisticated planning. There is a stop for a picnic lunch in the heart of the Andes, before heading to Ollantaytambo, an Inca town with original streets lined with traditional houses, all dwarfed by a towering fortress. The excursion concludes with a taste of local culture – a refreshing sip of chicha, a fermented maize drink enjoyed by the people of the region. The perfect finale to a day enjoying the wonders of the Sacred Valley.

    This full-day expedition explores the heart of the Sacred Valley, following the Vilcanota River. You'll encounter indigenous communities, impressive terraces, and hidden archaeological sites. Beginning at the Pisac market, a…
  • 7

    Train to Machu Picchu

    After breakfast, your private transfer will pick you up from your accommodation in the Sacred Valley and take you to the Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Boarding the Hiram Bingham train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes shaves 2 hours off what normally is a 4-hour journey from Cusco, beginning at the most beautiful part of the stretch, leaving from Ollantaytambo. The Hiram Bingham train has a glass viewing dome, with large windows allowing you to see from the peaks of the Andes as they fall down into the flowing rivers on the valley floor, all from the 1st Class comfort of your seat. Once you arrive at your hotel, take the chance to relax and unwind. We recommend an early night, as the visit to Machu Picchu starts very early in the morning.

    After breakfast, your private transfer will pick you up from your accommodation in the Sacred Valley and take you to the Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Boarding the Hiram Bingham train…
  • 8

    Machu Picchu - Cusco

    This early morning tour departs from your hotel to reach Machu Picchu as the National Park opens. Witness the sunrise illuminate the ruins as the morning clouds lift, creating a mystical atmosphere. Your private guide will lead you to the Guard Shack for the best sunrise views and provide an extended tour with explanations of the history, surrounding areas, and the legend of Machu Picchu. After a gourmet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, you'll take the Hiram Bingham train from Aguas Calientes through the Sacred Valley to Cusco. Having acclimated to the altitude, you can explore Cusco in the evening or relax at your hotel.

    This early morning tour departs from your hotel to reach Machu Picchu as the National Park opens. Witness the sunrise illuminate the ruins as the morning clouds lift, creating a…
  • 9

    Markets & Ruins of Cusco

    Today's Cusco city tour starts at the local market, where you can experience Peruvian culture and daily life. Find a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, bread, including Oropeza bread, medicinal herbs, and cocoa beans. Next, visit the Cusco Cathedral, featuring over 400 paintings from the Cusco School and beautiful altars. Continue to Koricancha, a religious center once dedicated to the Inca Sun god Inti. The name "Qori Kancha" translates to "golden enclosure" in Quechua. Walk uphill to the San Blas artisan quarter, known for its religious paintings and workshops where you usually see artisans at work. The tour then moves on to nearby archaeological sites: Sacsayhuaman, a massive stone monument and royal house of the Sun; Qenqo Amphitheater, a prominent Inca temple; and Tambomachay, an Inca sanctuary for water and royalty. You'll also pass by Puka Pukara, a reddish colored fortress thought to be a former residential area.

    Today's Cusco city tour starts at the local market, where you can experience Peruvian culture and daily life. Find a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, bread, including Oropeza bread, medicinal…
  • 10

    Paracas and the Coast

    After your flight to Lima and transfer to Paracas, you have the afternoon and evening free to relax at your hotel. The Paracas Bay Reserve, established in 1975 and covering 340,000 hectares, protects both marine and bird life. Located 15 km south of Pisco on the Paracas Peninsula, the reserve is home to millions of seabirds like flamingos, pelicans, and Humboldt penguins, all sustained by the rich Pacific fishing grounds. The reserve also houses a museum showcasing textiles and funerary bundles of the Paracas culture (c.700 BC), known for their advanced weaving and fascinating mummies with trepanned skulls, evidence of their medical practices. Interestingly, guano, the fertilizer made from seabird droppings, was once Peru's main source of income, with vast quantities exported to Europe in the mid-19th century.

    After your flight to Lima and transfer to Paracas, you have the afternoon and evening free to relax at your hotel. The Paracas Bay Reserve, established in 1975 and covering…
  • 11

    Ballestas Island Tour

    At Libertador hotel's dock you will board a boat for a ride to the Ballestas Islands. Along the way you will see the famous figure known as The Candelabro, an enigmatic design etched on the desert floor hundreds of years ago. The Candelabro is overlooking the Ocean, so here you will have the chance to take pictures, as well as to learn about the most popular theories about it. Afterwards you will continue to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by an amazing marine life, with over 200 types of migratory and resident birds, including Peruvian Pelicans, Belcher's gulls, Humboldt penguins, guanay cormorants, red-legged cormorants, Inca terns, Peruvian boobies, turkey vultures, among others. In addition you will also see around the Islands hundreds of sea lions resting at the beaches, sleeping on the rocks or swimming nearby. The Islands also provide shelter to the shy Humboldt penguins which are usually seen at the entrances of small caves near the cliffs. After touring around the islands for about 1 hour you will return to the Paracas harbor and the remainder of the day is yours to explore at leisure.

    At Libertador hotel's dock you will board a boat for a ride to the Ballestas Islands. Along the way you will see the famous figure known as The Candelabro, an…
  • 12

    Scallop Fishing & Dining

    You will sail on the Paracas National Reserve in a motorboat for an authentic shellfishing experience. The tour departs from the private pier of Hotel Paracas and after sailing for about 15 minutes, you will reach Atenas beach. You will learn about the collection process, lifetime and care of the scallops, followed by a tasting on board of the freshly gathered delights from the sea, accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine or water. Then, you head back to the Hotel Paracas to enjoy some more shellfish dishes: Aji Amarillo, Rocoto, Natural, Chalaca, Ponzu with Pisco butter; and of course a glass of white wine.

    You will sail on the Paracas National Reserve in a motorboat for an authentic shellfishing experience. The tour departs from the private pier of Hotel Paracas and after sailing for…
  • 13

    Departure Day

    It's time to hit the road again as you make your way homeward or onto your next destination if you plan to explore the beauty and culture of Peru further. A private transfer will take you back to Lima airport. The trip takes approximately 5 hours. We wish you safe travels!

    It's time to hit the road again as you make your way homeward or onto your next destination if you plan to explore the beauty and culture of Peru further.…

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Our in-country expert

Maria brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role as our Peruvian expert. Having traveled extensively throughout Latin America, her knowledge extends far beyond the borders of Peru, but it’s this nation that has captured her heart. Maria’s deep understanding of Peruvian culture and breathtaking landscapes stems not only from her expertise but … Read more

Maria Vazquez
Maria Vazquez
Peru Local Expert