Best Food Tours in Central & South America 2025/2026

Experience a smorgasbord of foodie surprises and cultural delights in Central and South America.

From tacos al pastor to chapulines (grasshoppers) in Mexico, and crispy empanadas to tangy pisco sours in Peru, it’d be hard to find a continent with more fun and flavour packed into it. On our Real Food Adventures, we’ll show you the hidden street food gems, introduce you to passionate chefs, home cooks and farmers, and help you learn about these vibrant cultures with every bite and sip. You’ll be preparing the perfect ceviche and know your tequilas from your mezcals in no time. Que bueno!

Our food trips in Central & South America

Map of Mexico Real Food Adventure including Mexico

8 days

From

NZD $3,285

Food tours in Central & South America highlights

Peru – ceviche

Freshly caught fish “cooked” in a marinade of lime juice, aji amarillo chilli, red onion and salt. Serve with avocado, sweet potato chunks, plantain chips and corn on the cob, and you’ve got Peru’s favourite dish.

A closeup of a plate of tacos al pastor, a hand holding it up in front of a street cart in Mexico

Mexico – tacos al pastor

Tacos al pastor are made with slow-cooked pork that has been marinated in a flavoursome combo of garlic, chillies, vinegar and annatto seeds. The meat is then shaved off and topped on a corn tortilla with onion and coriander.

Mexico Real Food Adventure

Closeup of a plate of Lomo Saltado in Peru

Peru – lomo saltado

This popular chifa dish combines soy-marinated beef strips fried with juicy tomatoes, onions, aji peppers, and various herbs and spices. Served with rice and french fries, lomo saltado is hearty, filling and delicious.

Why choose us

Real, authentic experiences

We love the highlights, but for us, the real magic is found off the tourist trails. Our trips combine iconic sites with hidden gems that you’ll only discover with Intrepid. We’re talking mornings exploring the Taj Mahal, followed by a Mughlai cooking class with a passionate home cook.

Local expertise

Whether you’re perusing markets, hunting down the best street food bites or learning how to cook centuries-old family recipes at a homestay, there’s no better way to get the inside scoop on a destination – and its culinary traditions – than with an expert local leader by your side.

Small groups

Big coaches and flag-toting tour guides don’t cut it for us. With a maximum group size of 12, our groups blend in with the locals and have plenty of opportunities to interact with chefs, street food vendors and group leaders. It also means you can really connect with your fellow foodies.