Peru · MARKETS
San Pedro in Cusco, Surquillo in Lima, and the Sunday trade at Pisac. The 15 below are priced by length, with a note on which ones end in a cooking class and which are simply the best hour of your morning.
Meet Chef Jesus at San Pedro Market for a guided look at Peruvian produce, then walk to a central cooking studio. You’ll prepare three classic dishes, two pisco cocktails, and picarones. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and nonalcoholic options are available, with groups limited to 10.
“we had such a great time making delicious food and drinks”
Spend about 10 hours exploring Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo from Cusco. You’ll browse handmade textiles, learn about Quechua culture, climb to the Temple of the Sun, and eat a Peruvian buffet lunch. Guides such as Adriel, Luis, Alex, and Frank have led especially well-regarded departures, but guide assignments vary.
“My guide Angel was very professional and friend. Being an anthropologies also helped answering a lot of untypical questions from the customer. the operator is quite flexible to accommodate individual's reqeust esp this is a private tour.”
Spend four hours walking Lima’s Historic Center with an English-speaking guide such as Marcos, Aura, or Valeria. Taste anticuchos, chilcanos, churros, picarones, market fruit, and chifa specialties, while seeing Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, San Francisco, and Barrio Chino. Expect plenty of food, several short walks, and no vegetarian or vegan alternatives.
“YUM! This tour was informative and really tasty. Shainy (sorry if I spelt it wrong) was fantastic and gave us interesting information about the culture and the history of the foods. Went away very full.”
Meet chef Ronal at a cooking studio on San Juan de Dios Street for a four-hour Cusco food experience. Visit San Pedro Market, sample fruits and cheeses, then prepare a starter, your choice of ceviche or lomo saltado, and a pisco-based drink. Vegetarian meals, mocktails, and other dietary adjustments are available.
“the food was amazing the interactions with the chef and at the market were great”
See Cusco’s key sights in a bilingual small group of up to 15 people. Visit San Pedro Market, Qorikancha, San Blas, Hatun Rumiyoc Street, and the Cathedral, with guide commentary, entrance tickets, and hotel transport from selected hotels. Guides such as Henry, Gabriel, Marcelo, and José Marie have led past departures.
“I had just landed and was on my own and this Cusco tour with Viajes Pacifico was a perfect way to start out my trip and get the lay of the land. The guides explanation of Cusco's history was wonderful and the sites even more so! Beautiful place and fabulous tour guide!!!!!”
Start at Surquillo Market at 9:00 a.m. with a guide such as Christian, tasting 35 fruits and learning about Peruvian produce, roots, seeds, fish, meat, and quinoa. Then ride to SkyKitchen in Miraflores for a hands-on four-course lunch, juice, water, and a Pisco Sour. Groups stay at 12 people or fewer.
“This was an exceptional tour from the local markets to the kitchen's rooftop terrace overlooking the city. We were especially grateful that the chefs created a vegan version of their cooking class! Thank you for being a highlight of our trip!”
Join local guide Marlon Ashanga for a 2.5-hour look at Iquitos beyond the main plaza. Ride a motokar to Belén Market, taste Amazonian fruits and foods, learn about medicines and crafts, then take a small boat through La Venecia Loretana, the neighborhood’s floating and stilted community.
“Very knowledgeable showed us all the special placed and items fascinating place. Tuk tuk driver very good”
Start at Surquillo Market with guides such as Camila or Dasha, tasting fruits, cheeses, herbs, and other Peruvian foods. Then head to the cooking school for a pisco cocktail and a step-by-step class with chefs including Camila, Dasha, or Lucho. You prepare causa and ceviche, eat a two-course meal, and take home recipes.
“Great experience in Lima. Our tour at the market was amazing with Camila. Very knowledgeable about the variety of Peruvian products. The cooking class was incredible with Jorge. He is very friendly and fun. Highly recommended activity and the organization was great!”
Meet Chef Hector Aguilar in Miraflores for a hands-on Peruvian cooking class with market elements, Pisco Sour making, fruit tasting, and a meal prepared by your group. Choose from four menus, learn practical kitchen techniques, and leave with an ebook and video tutorials. Transportation details are arranged around the Ca. Gral. Borgoño 742 meeting point.
“Hector is absolutely awesome. We have had the best day today trying lots of Peruvian food and Pisco sours. Hector has lots of anecdotes about his previous time in Australia, and around the world. I would thoroughly recommend this tour. Be sure to follow the directions and you will find the cooking school pretty easily.”
Meet at San Pedro Market for a guided look at Peruvian fruits, grains, roots, bread, and other local ingredients. Then cook three plant-based dishes and two cocktails in a central Cusco studio with chefs such as Jorge or Jesus. The four-hour class includes ingredients, equipment, water, and recipes.
“I enjoyed the cooking class and market tour. Jorge was very comprehensive and friendly so I am confident to cook them at home by myself!”
Join Kelwin’s Amazon Adventures for a private 150-minute walk through Belen Market, followed by a traditional boat ride through Iquitos’ floating neighborhood. See jungle foods, river fish, crafts, traditional medicines, and homes built above the water. English and Spanish guiding is available, with pickup from four listed hotels.
“Absolutely fantastic tour. We learnt a lot about the area and he took us through all of the markets. Kelwin is an amazing host i would 100% recommend this tour”
Meet your bilingual chef at Cusco’s San Pedro Market for a one-hour look at local fruits and ingredients. Return to the cooking school for a pisco tasting and hands-on class featuring ceviche, Chilcano soup, lomo saltado, or ají de gallina. Chef Ronald may lead your session. Lunch follows.
“Had an amazing time, chef Ronald was the best!”
Start at Jr. Cusco 400 and walk through Barrios Altos, Chinatown, and Lima’s Central Market while tasting nine local specialties. Your guide explains Peruvian and Chinese culinary ties as you try ceviche, anticuchos, picarones, lucuma, chicharrón, and more. Giovanna has led this tour, which ends with fruit and optional Pisco Sour.
“Lovely tour with our knowledgable and friendly guide. All of the sites/visits were above expectation and kept high quality all the way through. A great tour for understanding the local culture through food.”
Spend six private hours seeing Lima through its markets, historic center, Huaca Pucllana, Barranco, and Miraflores. You will taste regional fruit, walk past colonial palaces and Arabic-style balconies, visit San Francisco’s catacombs, and finish by the Pacific Ocean. Guides speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Quechua.
“Guide parlant très bien français Guide intéressant Visite du marché de Lima et de tout le centre fort instructif, dégustation de nombreux fruits de la région délicieux. N’ayant qu’une journée à Lima cela nous a permis d’avoir un aperçu la ville avec une personne du pays.”
Meet your English-speaking guide at the Holiday Inn Lima Miraflores, visit Surquillo Market, sample four Peruvian fruits, then cook ceviche, causa rellena, and pisco sour with a local chef. Shayla has helped guests with translation and local insight. Your 150-minute small-group class ends with dessert and a shared meal.
“We loved the walk in the market before the cooking class. The restaurant venue for the class was perfect. We enjoyed the drink and two items were prepared. It was fun and delicious. Our best tour of the trip.”
Pick a ridge, a ruin or a kitchen.
