Cusco and Lima Food Tour

At the moment you arrive in Lima, a team member will be waiting for you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

Your Lima city tour kicks off at Huaca Pucllana, an impressive archaeological site in Miraflores, once a vital ceremonial center for the Lima culture between 200 AD and 700 AD. With your bilingual guide, delve into its seven staggered platforms and ancient plaza. From there, you'll journey to Lima's UNESCO World Heritage historic center, exploring iconic sites like Plaza de Armas, the grand Cathedral of Lima, and the revered Convent of Santo Domingo before concluding the tour back at your hotel.

Your culinary journey begins at a local market in Lima, led by a chef. Explore Peru's diverse ingredients from the Andean highlands and the Amazon rainforest, choosing elements for your cooking class and a traditional Peruvian lunch. In your kitchen workshop, the chef guides you in preparing classic dishes like ceviche or causa limeña. As the chef showcases their skills in crafting a traditional lunch, learn about Peru's cuisine and unique ingredients. Conclude the experience by enjoying your meal and conversations with the chef, bidding farewell before you are escorted back to your hotel.

Following a walking tour in Barranco, discover iconic sites such as the Barranco boardwalk and the famed "Puente de los Suspiros." Explore the MATE and Pedro de Osma museums, then indulge in a Pisco tasting featuring three varieties led by expert Ricardo Carpio. Conclude the evening with a delectable dinner, savoring the flavors of Lima's culinary heritage.

You will be picked up from your hotel and escorted to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, the staff will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel, arranging a brief tour briefing. Your Cusco city tour starts at 1:00 p.m., beginning with the incredible Koricancha, once the most sacred Inca temple adorned in gold and silver, where your guide will reveal intricate details. Next, visit the Cathedral of Cusco, displaying stunning works of art and indigenous symbolism. Then, marvel at the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, showcasing remarkable stonework and offering breathtaking views of Cusco. Continue to the enigmatic Tambomachay Archaeological Complex, possibly an Inca spa, displaying hydroengineering marvels.

Completing the city tour, return to Cusco and get dropped off at your hotel. At 7:00 p.m., head to Tunupa restaurant, near the Plaza de Armas, for an exquisite dinner and an enthralling folkloric show featuring traditional music and Andean instruments like Quena and charango. You can even join the dancers on the floor for a memorable experience.

At around 09:30, you’ll be collected from your hotel to explore the vibrant San Pedro market in Cusco, brimming with fresh produce, meats, souvenirs, and crafts. You'll meet the chef you'll be cooking with later, receiving an overview of the tour dynamics and an informative market walkthrough, learning about various ingredients and gathering tips while choosing items for your cooking class. Interacting with local stall owners offers a glimpse into local life.

Following the market tour, you’ll head straight to the restaurant. You'll be equipped with necessary attire before diving into the cooking session guided by your experienced chef, using organic produce mainly sourced from traditional communities around Cusco. Depending on the season, you'll craft a dish representing Andean cuisine, possibly incorporating potatoes and corn.

Once the cooking class concludes, the group will set the table together and savor the prepared dishes. After thanking and bidding farewell to the chef, we'll ensure your return to your hotel in Cusco.

Around 8:00 a.m., you’ll be collected from your hotel and embark on a captivating journey to Moray, known as the "Inca greenhouse," a scenic drive of about 1 hour and 20 minutes through the Andes' snowy peaks and lush wheat fields. At Moray, explore the fascinating terraced amphitheaters thought to have been used for crop cultivation experiments by the Incas. After Moray, you'll continue to the salt mines of Maras, boasting over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside, showcasing ancient salt-producing techniques dating back to pre-Inca times. Here, salty water emerges from underground springs, channeling into numerous terraced pools where it evaporates, leaving salt behind.

Later, we'll visit the town of Ccorccor (Chincheros), renowned for its traditional Andean weaving techniques and culminate the visit with a delightful experience enjoying Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian meal prepared using hot stones in an earth oven. This culinary marvel, derived from Quechua language, involves arranging heated stones in a ground pit, then cooking food with their retained heat. Post this incredible experience, we'll drive you back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, marking the end of your tour.

You'll depart from the hotel for the renowned Sacred Valley of the Incas. After a 1 hour and 20-minute drive, you'll reach the impressive ruins of Pisac situated atop a hill at the valley's entrance. A guided exploration awaits, unraveling the extensive ruins and providing breathtaking valley vistas. You'll discover ancient structures serving as homes, storehouses, and temples, witnessing Inca altars, carvings, tunnels, caves, and the famed Intihuatana—the "hitching post of the sun." Spend approximately 90 minutes here. If you prefer more time at the Pisac market over the ruins, discuss with your guide for a suitable meeting time and place upon the group's return.

Next, a 1.5-hour drive leads you to the remarkable Inca town and archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, once the royal estate of Inca emperor Pachacuti. Explore these awe-inspiring ruins for an hour, visiting the magnificent Temple of the Sun and marveling at perfectly carved rock blocks by Inca master stonemasons. Ollantaytambo also showcases Inca agricultural ingenuity through its intricate water sources, canals, and tiered agricultural terraces designed to create diverse microclimates.

On your return to town, you'll witness the expansive water system before transferring to the Ollantaytambo Train Station. Board the 4:43 p.m. train (subject to availability) for a majestic 2-hour journey, eventually arriving at Aguas Calientes (Pueblo de Aguas Termales), where you'll spend the night, soaking in the surroundings.

To fully experience Machu Picchu, the day kicks off early. After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel around 5:40 AM. A short walk leads you to the bus station for the zigzagging ride up to Machu Picchu.

Entering the gates, your knowledgeable guide will lead a two-hour tour of this expansive archaeological marvel. Explore renowned spots like the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Plaza Sagrada, and other significant sites designated by the Ministry of Culture. As you stroll, absorb breathtaking vistas of Machu Picchu's terraces and the surrounding mountains.

Once your Machu Picchu exploration concludes, you'll board the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here, relax before boarding the train bound for Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival, your team will be ready to transfer you to your Cusco hotel, where you can reflect on your awe-inspiring journey to one of the world's most renowned wonders.

After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.