Cusco Food Tours Guide 2025
Experience authentic cuisine through guided food tours in Cusco.
Cusco is the historic heart of the Inca Empire, a breathtaking Andean city perched at 3,400 meters above sea level in southeastern Peru. The city blends ancient Inca stonework with Spanish colonial architecture, creating a unique urban landscape that has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. As the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Cusco is one of South America's most visited and culturally rich destinations.
Top Food Tours
The best guided culinary experiences.
Cusco Market and Street Food Walk
Explore Mercado San Pedro and surrounding streets with a local guide, tasting traditional dishes including anticuchos, chicharrón sandwiches, quinoa soup, and fresh juices while learning about Andean ingredients
Pisco and Peruvian Spirits Tour
A guided evening tour visiting 4 bars and tasting establishments to sample pisco sours, chilcanos, and craft pisco varieties while learning about Peru's national spirit and its regional production
Sacred Valley Food Discovery Tour
Travel to the Sacred Valley to visit Chinchero market, a local family for traditional bread baking, the Pisac Sunday market, and lunch at an organic Sacred Valley farm restaurant
Ceviche and Peruvian Coast Cuisine
Learn about Peru's diverse coastal cuisine traditions at 3 restaurants, tasting different ceviche styles, tiradito, and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) influenced dishes
Tours by Type
Choose based on your culinary interests.
Street Food Tours
Market crawls through San Pedro and surrounds sampling anticuchos, tamales, empanadas, and market lunches
Market Tours
Guided tours of San Pedro Market focusing on Andean ingredients, medicinal plants, and traditional food culture
Restaurant Tours
Multi-restaurant progressive dinner tours featuring Cusco's best Novo-Andino restaurants
Specialty Tours
Pisco, chocolate, and coffee-focused tours celebrating Peru's extraordinary agricultural products
Complete Foodie Guide
Tour recommendations, DIY routes, and local recipes.
Cooking Classes
Learn to make local dishes yourself.
Andean Kitchen Masterclass
Learn to cook 4 traditional Cusco dishes in a teaching kitchen: quinoa soup, causa Andina, lomo saltado, and mazamorra morada dessert. Starts with a market visit to select ingredients.
Ceviche and Peruvian Basics
Master Peru's most famous dish alongside the essential supporting cast: leche de tigre, tiradito, and causa. Learn proper technique for the perfect pisco sour as a bonus.
Pachamanca Earth Cooking Experience
Learn the ancient Andean pachamanca cooking method where meats and vegetables are cooked underground with hot stones in the traditional way. Held at a Sacred Valley farm.
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop
At Choco Museo in Cusco, learn the complete journey from Peruvian cacao tree to finished chocolate bar, including tasting, tempering, and making your own chocolate creations.
DIY Food Tours
Create your own culinary adventure.
Self-Guided Food Walk
Follow this self-guided food route through Cusco for a full day of culinary exploration without a guide
Essential Stops
Stop 1 (7:30 AM): Mercado San Pedro - breakfast of chicharrón sandwich and fresh orange juice ($3)
Stop 2 (9:00 AM): San Blas bakeries - fresh bread and Peruvian pastries from wood-fired ovens
Stop 3 (11:00 AM): Choco Museo free tour - learn about Peruvian cacao and taste samples
Stop 4 (12:30 PM): Market almuerzo at San Pedro stalls - full 3-course lunch ($3-4)
Stop 5 (3:00 PM): Coffee at specialty café (Café Kafe Kafe or The Meeting Place) with Andean coffee
Stop 6 (5:00 PM): Pachapapa in San Blas - classic cuy or lomo saltado dinner before dark
Stop 7 (8:00 PM): Pisco sour at Fallen Angel or Pisco Republic - Peru's national cocktail
Foodie Tips
Get the most from your culinary adventures.
Almuerzo (set lunch) is the best value meal - three courses including soup, main, and juice for $3-8
Altitude affects your sense of taste - some dishes may taste blander than expected the first day
Try chicha morada (purple corn drink) as a non-alcoholic alternative to pisco throughout the day
San Pedro Market breakfasts (7-10 AM) are the most authentic and cheapest food experience in Cusco
Cuy (guinea pig) is a genuine cultural experience - try it at Pachapapa or Chicha for the best preparation
Always try the aji amarillo (yellow chili) sauce - it's Peru's essential flavor profile
Taste the Best of Cusco
Get our complete foodie guide with tour recommendations, DIY routes, recipes, and dining tips.
Download Food Tour Guide