Flavours of Peru

Duration 12–days
Price guide
From
  PP
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a colourful street in Lima, Peru
different varieties of potatoes at a market in Peru
The cathedral in Cusco, Peru viewed through an archway
Pachamanca cooking method in Peru
Fishing boats in Mancora, Peru
different varities of corn in Peru
Peru is largely considered to have the best cuisine in South America, and this mouth-watering tour will introduce you to the highlights. From traditional techniques to key ingredients, you’ll learn from culinary experts what makes Peruvian gastronomy so delicious. Start in Lima, the continent’s culinary capital, and taste your way through Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and finally the northern beaches, with cooking classes, market tours and unforgettable meals along the way.

Trip Highlights

  • Go on a food tour in South America’s culinary capital, Lima
  • Master the art of Peru’s national cocktail, the Pisco Sour
  • Taste native fruits and vegetables at a food market
  • Dine at the renowned MIL restaurant in the Sacred Valley
  • Tour the lost city of Machu Picchu with a private guide
  • Relax on Peru’s northern beaches

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–3 Lima
  • Days 3–6 Sacred Valley
  • Days 6–7 Machu Picchu
  • Days 7–9 Cusco
  • Days 9–12 Mancora
Flavours of Peru
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–3 Lima
  • Days 3–6 Sacred Valley
  • Days 6–7 Machu Picchu
  • Days 7–9 Cusco
  • Days 9–12 Mancora

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

The culinary capital of South America

Start your journey with an exploration of Peru’s coastal capital, and the gastronomic centre of South America. Gazing out onto the Pacific ocean, Lima’s urban metropolis is a fascinating mix of cultures and atmospheres. Dive into Barranco’s vibrant street art or wander the parks and gardens in Miraflores, punctuated by mouth-watering meals and hands-on food tours.

Aerial view of Lima, Peru, against the Pacific Ocean

Make it mine

Barranco food tour

1500 years of ceviche

Pisco sour class

Anticuchos being cooked over a grill in Peru

Barranco food tour

Start with lunch at a local eatery in the Barranco district, serving traditional home-style cuisine. You won’t find fusion cooking here – just simple and delicious dishes. After a delicious meal, continue to a local venue to sample anticuchos, tasty kebab-like meat skewers. But remember to save room for a traditional dessert and the perfect cup of coffee, made from 100% Peruvian coffee beans, at one of the city´s best coffee houses.

A man making ceviche in Peru

1500 years of ceviche

Meet with your guide and drive to one of Lima’s most famous markets. As your guide leads you through the labyrinth of alleyways and stalls you will be able to see, taste, and purchase the most popular ingredients used in Peruvian cuisine. In the hands of your culinary expert, try native fruits such as chirimoya, mango, passion fruit, and aguaymanto as well as a variety of vegetables. There’s also an impressive seafood section, offering prawns, shrimp, various fish, octopus and scallops.

A pisco sour with cocktail making equipment in the background

Pisco sour mixology class

Learn how to make Peru’s national cocktail, the Pisco Sour, in this guided masterclass. Your expert mixologist will explain everything from the drink’s provenance, to how the grapes are fermented, whilst guiding you through the steps to make your own. Finish by drinking your delicious creation.

Days 3–6

Three days in the Sacred Valley

Just an hour or so northwest of Cusco, the Sacred Valley is one of the most historically important parts of Peru. The Incas believed the river that winds its way through was aligned with the cosmos, and thus it became one of the bases of Incan civilisation. Some of the most important and impressive Incan ruins can be found here, and you’ll spend the next few days unlocking their secrets on private guided tours and visits.

An aerial view of moray in the Sacred Valley, Peru

Make it mine

Patacancha community

Maras and Moray

MIL Immersion

Hands of Peruvian weaver making a striped textile

Patacancha community visit

Travel up to 12,400 feet to a remote mountain village unchanged for hundreds of years. The Quechua community here still wear traditional dresses, made themselves from local alpaca wool using techniques handed down through generations. You’ll have the opportunity to join in with marking the alpacas before observing the process of dyeing and spinning alpaca fibres to make garments. End the visit with a special Pachamanca meal, prepared underground on hot stones.

Salt terraces in Maras, the Sacred Valley, Peru

Maras and Moray

Your guide will bring you to the fascinating (and beautiful) sites of Maras and Moray. Maras is an open system of terraces that has been used for centuries to harvest salt from a stream of mineral rich water that comes from within the mountain. Moray is an ancient system of Inca terraces which were used to acclimatise new plants to the high altitude environment.

dishes at Mil Centro Restaurant, Peru

MIL Immersion

Inviting you to discover the local gastronomic prowess of Peru and the Sacred Valley, this foodie tour starts with a visit to local farms. You’ll also have the chance to visit the Moray terrace and follow a botanical walking route through the gardens, before finishing with a flourish via an eight-course tasting menu at the celebrated MIL restaurant.

Even more options

Ollantaytambo

Pachamanca

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo and picnic

Visit the Inca fortress town of Ollantaytambo. Built just as the Spaniards arrived, this site is one of the most important examples of how the Incas inhabited and functioned in their cities, making it a fascinating place to explore. The fortress at the top of the hill is particularly interesting to learn about the techniques the Incas used in its construction. Finish your visit with a delicious picnic lunch prepared by your guide.

A traditional Peruvian pachamanca lunch

Pachamanca lunch

Enjoy a typical Andean meal of ‘Pachamanca’; this traditional dish is more a cooking method, prepared underground with hot stones where you can taste different types of meats: beef, pork, chicken combined with the delicious Andean potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn.

Train to Machu Picchu

The Vistadome train travelling from Cusco, Peru

Take in the spellbinding scenery on one of the world’s most iconic train journeys. While the Inca Trail is one way to reach Machu Picchu, this is how to do it in style. Board the Hiram Bingham train or the Vistadome and settle into your luxurious carriage, gazing out at the increasingly beautiful views that lead to your once-in-a-lifetime destination.

Days 6–7

Marvel at Machu Picchu

An essential stop on any Peru tour, the Lost City of Machu Picchu is like stepping into another world. The awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site is perched on a mountain ridge some 2,400m above sea level and commands jaw-dropping views over the surrounding landscapes. You’ll have time to explore the ruins in-depth, both with a private guide and at your leisure, taking the time to marvel at every aspect of this archeological marvel.

Overview of Machu Picchu, agriculture terraces and Wayna Picchu peak in the background

Private tour of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu at sunrise

Your private guide will take you out on a comprehensive tour of the Machu Picchu citadel, really bringing it to life by detailing the history, significance and myths surrounding it as well as taking you to the hidden corners and best viewpoints. After your tour, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch, before an afternoon of free time to explore the citadel and climb up either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Days 7–9

Two nights in Cusco

Capital of the Incan Empire from the early 14th century until its Spanish conquest, Cusco is South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the gateway to Peru’s Incan history. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site with a series of private tours and experiences to really help you get under its skin.

Morning sun rising over the mountains at Plaza de Armas, Cusco, City

Make it mine

San Pedro market

Cooking class

Fruit on display at San Pedro market in Cusco, Peru

San Pedro market tour

Enjoy a guided visit to Cusco’s central market, a wonderful way to discover the Andean culture and daily life whilst also browsing for souvenirs of your trip. This vibrant spot, with its dazzling displays of fresh produce and fascinating local products, will showcase some of Peru’s finest flavours.

Different varieties of cron in Peru

Cooking class at a prestigious restaurant’s kitchen

Experience the vibrant flavours of Peruvian Andean cuisine through a hands-on cooking adventure. Discover a treasure trove of diverse ingredients that define Peruvian seasoning and regional gastronomy. Peru’s culinary prowess is celebrated globally, offering not only exquisite taste but also exceptional nutrition. Dive into the world of superfoods like Peruvian quinoa, and indulge in the bounty of fruits indigenous to Peru, sampling their unique flavours. 

Days 9–12

Three days at the beach

Arguably Peru’s best beach town, Mancora sits along the country’s northern stretch of beaches, gazing out onto the Pacific ocean. It’s got a lively atmosphere and the surf to match – take to the waves with a private lesson during your time here. Being on the coast makes it the ideal spot to sample fresh seafood – black shell ceviche, or ceviche de conchas negras, is a local speciality.

Sunset at a beach in Mancora, Peru

Fishing and Ceviche Experience

Fishing boats on the water at sunset in Mancora, Peru

A seaside town, Mancora has a thriving fishing industry. Start your day early, taking a trip out with the local fishermen to help them win their catch. They’ll guide you through their techniques, as well as the best spots to fish. Back on shore, you’ll begin a cooking class to turn your catch into delicious, freshly–caught ceviche.

“All the flavors of Peru‌”

This is our third experience with Jacada so we will skip a lot of the preamble for the prior review. We obviously love this company to the point where we have visited three continents with them across three vacations. Any time I plan an international trip, they are my go-to. For our Peru trip, we wanted to have another great…

Published 11th September 2023 on Trustpilot
Jerome Larson

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