What’s included in the trip

• Private airport pickup at the beginning of the trip and drop off at the end of the trip.
• Southern Crossings bilingual guides.
• Domestic flights Lima-Cuzco, Cuzco-Lima.
• Seven nights of 3-star hotel accommodation.
• Private participation in three culinary Peru tour classes 2 in Lima/1 in Cuzco, includes your meal.
• One dinner at a top restaurant in Lima.
• Breakfast included with all hotel stays.
• Private Machu Picchu tour including bilingual guide, return Vistadome train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and one day entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary.
• Private Cuzco city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide.
• Private Lima market tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide.
• Cuzco Visitor’s Ticket which gives entrance to the major ruins, churches and museums in and around Cuzco.
• 24-hour customer support line.
  

What’s not included

International flight to/from Lima, pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs or tips. Medical travel insurance is not included through Southern Crossings, cancellation insurance is advisable.

Detailed culinary trip itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Lima anytime today and private transfer to your hotel in Miraflores with good artisan markets, green parks, beaches and great restaurants. If arriving during the day, you will have time to explore the capital and get orientated before your culinary Peru tour adventure begins.

Day 2

Start off the morning with a guided city tour of Lima. The city tour lets you explore the wonders of the colonial capital, as you visit the famous Plaza de Armas, as well as the impressive Cathedral in the Plaza and the beautiful San Francisco church. You also get a chance to take in some beautiful views of the coast at Parque de Amor. Then we head to our first restaurant to be introduced to the gastronomy of Peru. Lima is billed as the cuisine capital of Latin America, and with a wide variety of dishes and incredible blend of spices, it doesn’t disappoint. We will then have lunch in Luchita restaurant with the guide who will explain about the different variety of dishes available on the menu.

Day 3

We start today’s culinary Peru tour experience with a visit to a local market, Mercado San Isidro, where we will talk with our favorite vendors about the amazing variety of seasonal local ingredients and get expert advice on what ingredients to purchase for our class. Then we will head to our chef’s apartment in Barranco, a district known for its bohemian character and is home to famous Peruvian writers of the 20th century.  Our hands-on class begins with an introduction to local plates and tapas.  In our class, our chef will teach you specific and essential techniques used in Peruvian cooking and show you how to utilize the local ingredients to create mouth-watering Peruvian dishes.  We will learn to prepare four different dishes. We will start our gourmet feast, tasting the delicious food we have prepared for lunch or dinner and enjoy a beautiful view of Lima’s coast.

Day 4

Continue the incredible journey of discovery and learn to perfect your cooking skills in another culinary Peru class at Caplina restaurant.  Work with the best ingredients under the supervision of top chefs to master the sophisticated blend of spices and ingredients that makes Peruvian food so mouth-wateringly good! Today after making our purchases at the market we will prepare ceviche, lomo saltado, causa and pisco sour. Round off the trip in Lima with an evening meal in a top restaurant such as Brujas de Cachiche.

Day 5

A short morning flight brings us to the famous Inca city of Cuzco. After checking into your hotel, we set out to explore the incredible capital of the Inca Empire. We head to the picturesque Plaza de Armas to the cathedral to see the colonial influence in the city, and we can admire the stunning architecture of the church and also the native influences subtly woven into the artwork. Onwards to Coricancha church, where the colonial and Incan architectures are on display side-by-side directly contrasted with each other. Afterwards we make our way above the city to the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman where we can marvel at the incredible stonework and architecture of the Inca civilization. We head back to Cuzco in the late afternoon.

Day 6

Continue your exploration of the fantastic gastronomy of Peru, in the form of the very different but equally delicious Cusqueña Andean cuisine. You will visit the San Pedro local market in the center of Cuzco to try different exotic fruits and vegetables. After that, your culinary Peru tour continues as you set out for a cooking class to discover the sizzling and unique tastes of the Cuzco region.

Day 7

A beautiful early morning train journey across the high plain above Cuzco then down the Urubamba Valley to majestic Machu Picchu. Known as one of the greatest architectural achievements in the world, this historic sanctuary is considered one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. After a guided tour, take time to independently explore this magnificent site. Return by train and car to Cuzco in the evening.

Day 8

Departure day. Morning flight to Lima. International flights may depart any time after 3pm. Please let us know if you would like additional accommodation or guide services at the end of your tour.

Joining the Culinary Peru Tour

On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being swindled by airport taxis.

Extra accommodation

We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip.

If time permits, we recommend an extra night at Machu Picchu and/or an extra night to include a daytime Peru culinary excursionto the south of Cuzco to try Guinea pig, Chicharron and an Andean duck dish.

Extra activities

Add extra activities such as river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, surfing and free days to your custom itinerary. Ask about these options and we’d be happy to add them to your quote. If you have any special requests or interests like birding, cooking or crafting that you would like to explore, please let us know!

Include Add-Ons to other parts of South America.  Click for more info!

Accommodation Upgrades

This tour includes three-star hotels. We would be happy to give you an upgrade to four- or five-star. If you would like to select a specific hotel let us know your preference. We can then work it into your custom itinerary.

Is this trip for me?

This culinary Peru tour is an eight-day tour which includes three cooking classes and walking around ruins and during city tours. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and occasional delays of developing-world travel.

Pre-trip planner

Required documents

All travelers to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.

Required immunizations

No immunizations are required of travelers to these areas of Peru. Travelers may wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. No areas visited on this trip are malaria or yellow fever zones. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.

Climate

Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows: Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cusco. Machu Picchu: similar to Cuzco but a bit warmer and with more chance of rain. Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain.

Money guide

The unit of currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Automatic cash points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler’s checks (American Express is best, but you may be charged 5-8% to cash) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring Money Grams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it unchangeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country. Expect to spend about US$6-15 on a meal (some meals are included on this tour), US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru. Artisan market prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters for example cost between $5 and $30.

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