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Map of Peru Real Food Adventure including Peru

Discover Peru’s culinary scene from Lima to Cusco

Peruvian food and topography go hand in hand. Using what pachamama (mother earth) gave them, the Peruvians have developed a cuisine that combines local and international flavours. And undoubtedly it is the geography of Peru that makes its culinary culture so distinct. With the coast providing an abundance of fresh seafood, the Andean highland supplying a variety of potatoes and the Amazon rainforest delivering delicious seasonal fruits, it's unsurprising that Peru is one of the world's emerging foodie hotspots.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Lima, Peru
Finish
Cusco, Peru
Destination
Peru
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
GGZP
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • It's delicious, diverse and hands-on. You’ll learn the secrets of ceviche, make your own Pisco sour, learn a few Andean cooking tips with a foodie in Cusco and eat empanadas straight from the wood-fired oven

  • Pay a visit to a cacao farm and get involved in the whole process from planting to the final product. Enjoy a farm-cooked dinner and stay overnight on the family's plantation.

  • Indulge in an optional tour and tasting at one of the Sacred Valley's first craft breweries. Whet your whistle with a pint of the fruity local IPA, the citrus tinged American pale ale, the caramel malts of the Ayrampo Roja red ale or the hearty chocolate notes of the imperial porter.

  • Discover the breadth of Peruvian cuisine in all its rich and colourful history, from the rustic ‘pachamanca’ tradition to Lima’s world-class urban street food scene

  • No trip to Peru is complete without seeing Machu Picchu, so you’ll spend a day exploring this magical metropolis of the Incas

Is this trip right for you?

  • The cuisine of Peru includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Peru which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

  • Due to the high altitude of many of places we visit some people can suffer altitude sickness, regardless of age, gender or fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

  • The facilities at your coffee farmstay are basic, but comfortable. The rewards of such an authentic local experience are immeasurable.

  • This trip does not include hiking to Machu Picchu. You will make the journey by train and bus. If you would like to hike to Machu Picchu, we recommend our trips Sacred Land of the Incas and Inca Trail Express.

  • Visitors are not permitted to explore Machu Picchu without a Machu Picchu guide (not our trip leaders) and must follow set routes within the site. This trip includes one guided visit of Machu Picchu and is approximately 1.5 - 2 hours long. Once your guided visit concludes, you will need to leave the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Your leader will provide more information to ensure you get the most out of your visit to this incredible site.

Experience the culture and cuisine of beautiful Peru
Enjoy a glass (or two) of delicious Pisco in Peru
Discover the breathtaking ruins of Macchu Pichu
Experience the culture and cuisine of beautiful Peru
The colourful market stalls and produce of Peru
Experience the culture and cuisine of beautiful Peru
Enjoy the classic Peruvian dish of Ceviche
Experience the culture and cuisine of beautiful Peru
Sample a traditional helping of Peruvian potatoes
Experience the culture and cuisine of beautiful Peru
Some of the authentic local dishes you'll be enjoying on your Real Food Adventure in Peru.
The maras Salt Pans in Peru
Peruvian women sell fried food on the streets of Lima, Peru

Itinerary
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Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lima, arguably South America's best foodie destination. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and travel group. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where this meeting will take place. Afterwards, set out on a walking tour. In the heart of the colonial district you'll see San Martin plaza, visit the nearby San Francisco Monastery and catacombs, then stop past Lima's Central Market. Here you will discover the building blocks of Peruvian cuisine, including mouth-watering fruits, vegetables, meat and fish sourced from all over the country. This walk is also a great taste of Lima's excellent downtown street food scene. Savour a variety of bite-size treats, including 'anticuchos' (grilled beef hearts) and 'papas' (potatoes), 'masamorra' (purple corn), 'arroz con leche' (sweet rice with milk) and 'picarones' (Peruvian doughnuts). Finish up in Lima's main square with the option of dinner downtown or heading back to Miraflores.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lima - Colonial District City & Food Walk
  • Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs
Optional Activities
  • Lima - Coast Biking Tour Urban Adventure - USD52
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Begin the day with a morning visit to the vibrant Chorrillos fish market, then
head to a cooking class to learn from a local chef who will demonstrate
the art of preparing mouth-watering ceviche, causa limeña and more. Settle in for lunch , enjoying these classic staples of Peruvian cuisine.

In the afternoon, perhaps wander around Miraflores and head towards Parque del Amor (Love's Park) which has superb views across Lima's beaches. You might also want to visit the excellent National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History. Alternatively, catch a taxi to the Gold Museum or the Larco Museum. The latter is renowned for its ancient pottery collection.

In the early evening, join a walking tour through the bustling beachside district of Barranco, where the streets are lined with traditional casonas (colonial-style houses). This place is home to some of Peru's best nightlife, and you'll pop into a bar that specialises in the national spirit of Peru – Pisco. Try the famous 'pisco sour' and perhaps indulge in some local snacks.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lima - Barranco walking tour
  • Lima - Ceviche Cooking Demonstration and Lunch
Optional Activities
  • Lima - Archaeological Museum - PEN15
  • Lima - Gold Museum - PEN35
  • Lima - Larco Herrera Museum - PEN30
  • Lima - Museo de la Nacion - PEN10
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Before departing Lima, head to a Pisco distillery just outside of the city to learn how this iconic spirit is produced, followed by a tasting. Then its on to the airport for the short, one-hour flight to Cusco. Stretch your legs upon arrival with a stroll down the cobblestone streets; it won't take long to discover the town's interesting combination of Spanish and Inca cultures. There are also several impressive Inca ruins within the city to explore. The most easily accessible is Coricancha, which was the Inca empire's richest temple. The evening is free for your own food adventures. You leader will have plenty of suggestions!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lima - Pisco Distillery Visit and Tasting
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Cusco sits at an altitude of (3,450 metres) so it's important to stay hydrated.

Today is your chance to get hands-on in the kitchen. Take a stroll around San Pedro market. Due to Cusco's location at the eastern edge of the Andes, there's ready access to locally-grown avocados, potatoes (thousands of different types), quinoa and aji picante (hot chilli), to name a few products grown in the area. Learn about Andean ingredients, then join a passionate local cook to prepare some classic Peruvian dishes which you will enjoy over lunch.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cusco - Andean Cooking Class
Optional Activities
  • Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee) - PEN15
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Leaving Cusco, travel by private bus through the Sacred Valley. Known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, this beautiful and fertile valley has long been the lifeblood of the high Andes. Maize crops grow all the way from the riverbank, covering the terraces carved high into the valley walls. Along the way, stop in at Maras, one of the largest salt mines in the region, and Moray – a large complex of ruins with beautiful terraces that form a massive amphitheatre. It’s believed that these terraces were an agricultural experiment of the Incas to improve their crop production.

Call in on the Chichubamba community in Urubamba. See the fruit and vegetables they grow, be shown methods for extracting honey and learn about corn beer preparation on a chicheria visit before sitting down to a traditional lunch in a local home.

Our final food stop today is a tour and tasting at one of the Sacred Valley's first craft breweries. Whet your whistle with a pint of the fruity local IPA, the citrus tinged American pale ale, the caramel malts of the Ayrampo Roja red ale or the hearty chocolate notes of the imperial porter.

Arrive in Ollantaytambo, a stunning archaeological site that marks the start of the classic Inca Trail trek. This evening is free for your own food adventures.





Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - Brewery Tour and Tasting
  • Sacred Valley - Moray Incan Archaelogical Site
  • Sacred Valley - Chichubamba Community Lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Maras Salt Mines Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Awaken to Ollantaytambo, a town that has been built over an ancient Inca city. Take a guided tour of these Inca ruins etched into the cliffs, keeping an eye out for the legendary Temple of the Sun with its enormous carved blocks, stone water fountains, Incan stairs and terraces. Next take a scenic 3 hour drive over the Abra Malaga pass, with views of Veronica Mountain (the third highest in Cusco), to Huayopata where we will have lunch. Visit a local cacao plantation for a hands-on experience of the cacao bean to bar cycle. Cacao cultivation has been an important part of Central and South American history for centuries. After an insightful day of learning about life on the plantation, continue towards a nearby coffee farm for a delicious plant-based dinner, prepared by your host and enjoyed with views of their surrounding farmland. Alongside the peppers and root vegetables that the region is well-known for, taste the caigua, a type of gourd and a local favourite. Tonight, rest easy in simple, comfortable accommodation at your hosts' farmstay.
Accommodation
  • Farmstay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ollantaytambo - Archaelogical site entrance and guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The road through Huayopata is turbulent, featuring many winding roads and shifts in altitude. Pre-planning by picking up some motion sickness medication may be a good idea for travellers prone to illness.

Today offers a hands-on insight into the production of one of the world’s favourite drinks – coffee. Wake up and start the day with one of the freshest Peruvian blends you’ll ever drink before taking a guided exploration of the coffee farm.

Peruvian beans make for an excellent drop, bringing together a mellow acidity with a caramel sweetness and sometimes a nutty undertone. The sweet, medium bodied taste has made this strain a huge hit worldwide, and there’s no better place to sample these flavours than here. Experience the production cycle from crop to cup.

After an insightful morning on the plantation, farewell your hosts and drive back to Ollantaytambo. Stretch your legs before a train ride through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. Sitting at the base of Machu Picchu in a picturesque valley, this quaint town takes its name from the numerous hot springs in the area. Settle in to your hotel for a well-earned rest.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Rise early for a morning tour of Machu Picchu, one of Peru's real highlights. Catching your first glimpse of the lost city of the Incas through the early morning mist is definitely a memorable moment. The ruins of this ancient (and, until 1911, secret) metropolis are beautifully located, hidden high in the Andes and surrounded by lush cloud, with the river Urubamba running through the gorge far below. Take in the amazing views and the fascinating history of the site as your local guide takes you through some of the 200 buildings, houses and temples. Your guided tour of the site will last for approximately 1.5-2 hours, with plenty of photo opportunities. Due to visiting restrictions at Machu Picchu, we recommend exploring the Sun Gate and Inka Bridge before your guided tour starts. Your leader can advise how to get the most out of your visit. Afterwards, board a train back to Ollantaytambo (approximately 90 minutes).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu departs at 5.30 am. The estimated arrival time is between 6–6.30 am. The sun rises at Machu Picchu at approximately 5.30 am, therefore it's not possible to be there in time for sunrise.

Due to Intrepid's internal safety policy, our leaders are specifically prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu.

Stop in at the popular Pisac market, famous for a vast array of local handicrafts. Visit a restaurant and taste delicious empanadas hot and fresh, straight from the horno (a clay oven). For lunch, take part in an ancient cooking ritual known as 'pachamanca'. This cooking method, which dates back to the time of the Inca empire, sees meats marinaded in spices then placed in a huatia (earth oven) with a selection of root vegetables, cooked slowly over hot stones. Your adventure comes to an end back in Cusco, where you may share one last Pisco sour overlooking the Plaza de Armas. There's an optional farewell dinner this evening.
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - Pachamanca Experience & Lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Pisac Market & Empanada Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Your Peruvian Real Food Adventure comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned today.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Plane, Private vehicle, Train, Taxi, local bus

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Farmstay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Lima - Colonial District City & Food Walk
  • Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs
  • Lima - Barranco walking tour
  • Lima - Ceviche Cooking Demonstration and Lunch
  • Lima - Pisco Distillery Visit and Tasting
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cusco - Andean Cooking Class
  • Sacred Valley - Brewery Tour and Tasting
  • Sacred Valley - Moray Incan Archaelogical Site
  • Sacred Valley - Chichubamba Community Lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Maras Salt Mines Visit
  • Ollantaytambo - Archaelogical site entrance and guided tour
  • Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
  • Sacred Valley - Pachamanca Experience & Lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Pisac Market & Empanada Tasting

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Peru Real Food Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 6 (Coffee Farmstay) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
3. This trip starts at 2pm on Day 1 in Lima. This allows time after the joining meeting to explore the city with your leader.
4. This trip includes a domestic flight. The luggage allowance is 23kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
5. Full name exactly as per passport is required at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on the passport), for activity and transport bookings. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
6. This trip includes one visit to Machu Picchu. According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only, and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Please refer to the itinerary for details.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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