Food Tours in Cusco

Cusco is an attraction for travelers wanting to walk on paths that have been trodden for thousands of years. The surrounding Andean peaks and valleys have harbored civilizations continuously since well before Europeans’ arrival. As a result, the food culture that evolved here is distinctive and surprising, making a food tour in Cusco the perfect way to discover it.

Here's all you need to know about food tours, one of the most delicious gastronomic experiences in Cusco.

What are the best food tours in Cusco?

Walking food tours

Take a walking tour in Cusco for a fun way to have a meal and to orient yourself in the city. Follow a guide through the cobbled streets for samples of typical Peruvian dishes and treats that only locals know about.

Get used to the layout of the city as the guide fills you in on the historical attractions and must-see destinations for later in your visit.

Food market tours with cooking class

Vibrant San Pedro Market is more than a place to pick up something to eat. It’s the most popular shopping venue in Cusco and an ideal place to sample prime products from the area.

Meet a guide at the market for a tasting and shopping jaunt before crafting a multi-course meal at a nearby home or professional kitchen during a cooking class.

Farm visits

Venture to the outskirts of Cusco to one or more family farms for a tour, tastings and a meal. Feed guinea pigs, pick fresh vegetables and sip a “chicha de jora” before sitting down to a full meal.

Some farm visits feature traditional cooking demonstrations, with open-fire or pit cooking and grinding ingredients with a stone mortar and pestle.

Private food tours

Enlist a guide just for yourself and your favorite people on a food tour in Cusco, to a nearby farm or to the Sacred Valley.

Indulge in street food, high-end restaurant dishes, nibbles at the market and paired beverages as your guide imparts tips and insights about the area. Private food tours to the Sacred Valley also include sightseeing.

Sacred Valley food tours with tastings

North of Cusco sits the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a stretch of land dotted with picturesque villages and archeological sites.

Hit the highlights of the Sacred Valley with the textiles of Chinchero, the salt from Maras Salt Mines and potatoes from Pisac. Join farmers, home cooks and professional chefs for a gustatory experience in a breathtaking setting.

What will you do?

If you choose a walking food tour in Cusco, your guide will lead you through the historic streets, regaling you with facts about the city while filling your belly. Make your way among markets, street food setups and restaurants to try snacks, sweets, drinks and dishes that are filling enough for lunch or dinner.

Look forward to trying roasted meats, pastries, ceviche and potatoes in a wealth of preparations. Sip Peruvian beers, wines, chichas and the national drink, pisco sour, between tastes of stuffed vegetables, “aji de gallina” and chocolate.

Many Cusco food tours include a visit to the San Pedro Market, the city’s most popular locale for food shopping and more. The nearly century-old market is filled with passionate purveyors who are happy to hand you samples. San Pedro Market is also a convenient place to find Peruvian handicrafts.

How much do food tours in Cusco cost?

Fully-guided walking food tours in Cusco cost from US$65 per person for a group tour to US$100 per person for a private tour that includes food and drink. Market tours with cooking classes cost from US$50 per person to US$65 per person, depending on group size and the duration of the outing.

Farm visits cost between US$100 per person for a 5-hour excursion up to US$250 per person for a tour and meal in a high-end restaurant. Private farm visits cost around US$200 per person and feature special rural recipes you won’t find in the city.

Sacred Valley food tours visit the top destinations in the area as well as at least one farm and cost around US$200 per person. Common stops are the Incan agricultural “lab” of Moray, Maras’s thousands of salt collection ponds and the alpaca fiber hotspot of Chinchero. Help prepare a multi-course meal with drinks using ancient ingredients and techniques while surrounded by lush cropland and mountains.

What is included?

Food tours in Cusco include food, drinks and an expert guide to lead you to the unique flavors of the area. Enjoy up to 10 tastings, and most tours provide enough food to serve as a meal. Your guide will be sure to fill you in on the major landmarks you pass during the 2- to 4-hour tour.

Farm and Sacred Valley food tours provide round-trip transportation from central Cusco as well as a full meal and an immersive cultural outing.

Where does it start?

Cusco food tours start at various locations in central Cusco, like Plaza de Armas or Plaza Santa Catalina. Some private tours offer meeting points of your choice. Market tours with cooking classes meet at the San Pedro Market. Tours that take you out of the city include pickup and drop-off at central Cusco accommodations.

How long does it last?

Walking food tours and market visits with a cooking class in Cusco last from 2 to 5 hours. Farm visits near Cusco last around 6 hours with between 2 and 3 hours of round-trip travel time from Cusco. Private tours last from 3 to 10 hours. Sacred Valley food and sightseeing tours last from 5 to 10 hours.

When is the best time for a food tour in Cusco?

Book a city food tour at the beginning of your stay in Cusco to get the lay of the town while exploring local flavors.

Any time of year can be great for a food tour in Cusco. To take advantage of fresh produce and see the Sacred Valley and Maras Salt Mines at their best, book a tour from April to October.

What other gastronomic experiences can you have in Cusco?

• Dinners in Cusco
• Beer tastings in Cusco

Travel tips

• Let your tour provider know of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking. Not all tours are adaptable for special diets.
• Wear shoes and clothing that are good for walking for long periods of time.
• A Cusco tourist ticket is required for some tours in the Sacred Valley.