Name: Savor the Excellent Cuisine of Peru: Immersive Culinary Tour
Brand: Zicasso
Price: 286 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (455 reviews)

Peruvian ceviche served at a restaurant in Peru

What to expect on this itinerary

Feast on the enticing charcoal-grilled potatoes and crispy meat of ancient civilizations. Dig your toes into sandy beaches as you crunchy into the citrusy lemon-lime flavors of ceviche. Clink your glasses of frothy pisco sour and look out on the mystic Sacred Valley. When you travel to the distant land of Peru, you are sure to be dazzled by the lush landscapes, enthralled with riveting tales of centuries past, and of course, enticed by some of the world's finest cuisine.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley, Puno, Lake Titicaca

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Day 1

Lima – International Arrival and Sunset Dinner Along the Pacific

As you look out the airplane window, your gaze will fall towards the shimmering waters of the Pacific Ocean outstretched below. The warm Peruvian sun glistens over the crashing riptide as colorful birds flock to the jagged cliffs nearby. After landing at Lima's International Airport, you will board your private ground transport to the vibrant downtown.

Soon, you will arrive in the heart of Lima's opulence and prestige as you round the verdant parks along water's edge to the esteemed neighborhood of Miraflores. There, you will settle in at your luxury hotel and enjoy a steeping cup of traditional mate de coca herbal tea.

Then, after a bit of uninterrupted rest, you will venture into the city in the evening to admire the whimsical cobbled streets of the historic district. Shady palm trees at the Plaza de Armas provide the ideal resting place as you marvel at the exquisite colonial architecture of Lima's grand basilica, ornate wooden balconies, and intricate stone fountains. In the evening, you will return to the soothing sounds of crashing waves. An elegant three-course meal awaits you, including Peru's beloved escabeche, a regional favorite of exquisitely marinated chicken and pickled vegetables.

Transfer

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast

Day 2

Lima – Private Ceviche Cooking Class

In the morning, you will awake for a thrilling day in the nation's capital, filled with sightseeing and culinary excellence. After a light breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your private tour guide in the renowned Parque del Amor to embark on a tour of the city's highlights.

As a group, you will partake in a scenic bike ride along the coastline as exotic birds coo overhead. You will weave past the stoic Miraflores Lighthouse as waves lap fervently along the beaches below. Children pull kite strings as they navigate strong gusts of wind while families picnic in the grassy parks nearby. Before long, you will be greeted by the electric red, orange, and yellow hues of the flamboyant Barranco District. You can cross the famed Puente de los Suspiros bridge to admire historic Spanish mansions refashioned as trendy bars and restaurants. In between buildings, street art pops for all to adore.

In the afternoon, you will roll up your sleeves for a thrilling ceviche cooking class alongside a master chef. Together, you will chop pepper and onion and saute locally-sourced seafood. As the course concludes, you can sink your teeth into this national gem paired with a glass of sweet red wine.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast

Day 3

Cusco – Cuy Sampler Event and City Tour

On the following day of your Peruvian adventure, you will escape the modern metropolis of Lima for a cultural exploration of epic proportions when you venture to the heart of the Inca Empire. After a short flight from Lima's International Airport, you will touch down in captivating Cusco city where travelers from around the world convene en route to the famed ruins of Machu Picchu.

In the morning hours, you will join your seasoned guide on a tour of the city's colorful and boisterous San Pedro Market. You can banter with locals as you peruse booth after booth of artisan crafts, fresh produce, and enticing freshly squeezed fruit juices. You can sip on a local favorite, maracuya, as you stroll amongst the white stucco neighborhood of San Blas and marvel at Cusco's Cathedral.

Later that evening, you will take part in a local culinary sampler event at a five-star restaurant in the Plaza de Armas. You will sit down for a luxurious three-course meal paired with an exquisite glass of red wine and sample Peruvian staples, including Cusco's authentic delight: cuy, or guinea pig, grilled to perfection and served with a hearty dose of peppers and potatoes.

Tour

Accommodation

Breakfast

Day 4

Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes – UNESCO World Heritage Site

The following day, your expedition will take you to new heights, quite literally as you embark on a summit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu. Early morning, you be whisked off on a luxury train ride from the neighboring town of Poroy to the base of the acclaimed ruins. As you make your way along the serene Urubamba River, you can look out on the breathtaking terracing and sunkissed rolling hills of the Sacred Valley from the train car's panoramic windows. A cup of mate tea will serve you well as you acclimate to the altitude.

A few hours later, you will arrive in the mystical mountain town of Aguas Calientes. Here, your guide will show you to your five-star hotel nestled into the foothills complete with a private balcony. By late morning, you and your guide will wind up jaw-dropping switchback roads before arriving at the legendary ruins themselves. Together, you will marvel at the site's most fascinating features, including Sacred Rock and the Principal Plaza. Then, enjoy some self-exploration to visit other notable sites like the Temple of Three Windows and Group of Three Doors. Meanwhile, you will marvel at the Andes mountains cascading into the distant horizon.

Tour

Accommodation

Breakfast

Day 5

Sacred Valley – Pisco Tasting and Horseback Riding

The sunlight sparkles on the swift waters of the Urubamba River. Above, the majestic Andean condor spreads its wings, swooping and swerving in search of tantalizing prey. A few hours later, after a romantic return train ride, you will arrive at the fascinating ruins of Ollantaytambo tucked neatly into the Sacred Valley. Here, along with your guide, you will walk amongst the massive stone terracing and careful irrigation system built by the Incas hundreds of years prior as they escaped Spanish invasion in Cusco. Isolated cowbells ring out in the distance of an otherwise tranquil abyss.

Then, in the afternoon, you will continue to explore the lush landscapes of the Valley on a picturesque horseback ride. You will gallop through sunkissed fields, past quaint villages, and far-reaching farmlands, to the unassuming yet beautiful town of Pachar. Here, in the illustrious countryside, you can delight in a pisco sour tasting event. A celebrated pisco expert will guide you through several variations of Peru's beloved national drink as you compared the citrusy, lemon-lime flavors of this frothy favorite. Sunset elicits the Valley's true beauty as the grasslands begin to glow at near-dusk.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast

Day 6

Puno/Lake Titicaca – Fresh Lake Trout and Uros Islands

The mesmerizing deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca await you the following day as you venture south. In the early morning hours, you will board a short regional flight from Cusco to the lake's base city of Puno. An ornate basilica flanks the central Plaza de Armas, just a short walk from your luxury hotel accommodations.

You will spend the day on a serene boat cruise atop the shimmering lake waters. Surrounding the lake are verdant, undulating hills juxtaposed with the lake's rich blue waters. By noon, you will arrive at the famous Uros Islands, or "floating islands" as they're often referred to. The Uros people constructed these fascinating artificial masses as they escaped persecution by the Inca Empire. After stepping foot on the island, you will take part in a reed weaving class where you will learn how locals have maintained their homes for centuries.

In the afternoon, you will dock along the shores to indulge in a local feast of fresh trout, sauteed in citrusy lemon dressing, and served with a beautiful array of greens and a glass of sparkling white wine. From the restaurant's private patio, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the lake and the expanses of greenery beyond.

Accommodation

Tour

Breakfast

Day 7

Lima – International Departure

On your last day in Peru, you will return to Lima for one final day of self-guided exploration. Your morning begins with a tour of the House of Peruvian Gastronomy, where you will see how famous dishes like pachamanca and pollo a la brasa have been prepared for thousands of years. Later that day, you can choose between a visit to the National Museum of Peruvian Culture or peruse the city's Art Museum of Lima.

After a light lunch along the Plaza de Armas, you can indulge in an afternoon of shopping and leisure as you return to the picturesque coastline and the distinguished neighborhood of Miraflores. Then, by late afternoon, you will meet your private ground transfer in front of your hotel, where you will be whisked away to Lima's International Airport.

You will say your final goodbyes to your tour guide before boarding your flight home. As you once again look out the plane window, this time at the setting sun, you will taste the lemon-lime zest of ceviche of Lima, the crisp grilled trout of Lake Titicaca, and the delectable pisco sour of the mystical Sacred Valley. It's not a forever farewell, merely a brief parting until your return to delve further endless array of eclectic Peruvian cuisine.

Transfer

Tour

Breakfast

Trip Highlights

Stroll through the capital city's verdant public plazas and enjoy a delectable dinner along the Pacific Ocean
Tour Lima's historic downtown and roll up your sleeves for an invigorating ceviche cooking class alongside a world-renowned chef
Peruse the kaleidoscopic hues of locally-sourced produce in Cusco's central markets and partake in a cuy sampler event
Board a luxury train car through the mystical Sacred Valley and ascend to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu
Gallop on horseback amongst the jagged Andean mountain peaks and indulge in the refreshingly smooth pisco sour
Step foot on the fascinating floating islands at Lake Titicaca and savor the lake's fresh, crispy trout for dinner
Take in seaside panoramic views from the prestigious Miraflores neighborhood and barter at artisan shops in the city center

Detailed Description

Immerse yourself in the vivacious cultures and traditions of Peru as you sample delectable cuisine from regions across the country. As you savor these gastronomical delights, you will also discover the fascinating cultural heritage and the history of ancient civilizations spanning thousands of years. You will also fall in love with the nation's vast array of scenery: majestic mountain peaks of the looming Andes, breathtaking valleys swooping down below, iridescent coastlines teeming with laid back beachgoers, and of course, the hustle and bustle of life in Peru's capital city.

You will begin your culinary tour alongside your expert guide in the metropolis of Lima. As a group, you will marvel at stoic skyscrapers, then venture to the old city where shady palm trees hide elaborate cathedrals. Cobbled streets and bold facades tell stories of the Spanish conquistadors centuries ago. After a mesmerizing walk along the shimmering shoreline of the Pacific, you will take part in a lively ceviche cooking class with the help of your expert chef. Fall in love with this Peruvian staple as you mix zesty flavors of pepper, fresh seafood, onion, lemon, and lime before biting into your masterful creation.

Next, you and your guide will venture west as you unpack the gilded remnants of the ancient Inca Empire. Early morning, you will hop on a plane to the birthplace of the Inca Empire. Here, in Cusco, you will converse with locals in open-aired markets bursting with color. You can peruse jewelry and hand-painted pottery while biting into the sweet flavors of choclo, an indigenous, thick-kernel corn. Those with an adventurous palate can also partake in a cuy sampler event, a chance to try Peru's most beloved delicacy, grilled guinea pig.

As your journey continues, you will make the arduous yet breathtaking climb to the peak of Machu Picchu, where the vistas are nearly as stunning as the ruins themselves. You will walk side by side with your seasoned guide for a close look at these world-famous relics. In the evening, you will descend to the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes for a soothing respite against a lush backdrop of flowers and foliage. Your trip will conclude with a magical two days of exploration and relaxation. First, you can ride horseback through the Sacred Valley and celebrate with a refreshing sip of Peru's national pisco sour drink. Then, you will set out on Lake Titicaca for an exciting cultural tour of the floating Uros Islands. At the end of the day, you can look out on the setting sun as you indulge in an exquisite dinner of fresh lake trout.

Starting Price

$2,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 455 reviews

Luxury Peru Family Vacation Review: Cuzco, Lima, Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley, Puerto Maldonado, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu Trek

We would highly recommend this Peru travel company to help you to organize your trip. We came back from a two week-long trip to Peru a few days ago. We have been independent travelers in the past so this was our first experience in being accompanied by guides for a good part of the vacation. Paul from this agency contracted with the local tour operator to arrange transportation and guides. His dossier contained everything we needed to know, including suggestions for tipping, places to enjoy a delicious meal, and more. All of our guides were very intelligent, passionate about what they did, had a great deal of pride for their country, and highly knowledgeable about the sites, history, culture, and traditions of their country. We not only enjoyed the tours, but also learned quite a bit about the Peruvian educational and political systems through our discussions. The guides were respectful and easy to share our time with. My only complaint is that their English was so good that we were less apt to use Spanish, although that was counterbalanced by their willingness to teach us a little Quechua! Special kudos to our guide who supported us when one family member became ill enough with altitude sickness to have to stay overnight at a clinic/hospital. We traveled to Lima, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley, and Puerto Maldonado. While we enjoyed some activities in Lima, we probably could have shortened our three night stay there to either venture to another location or stay longer in one of the other places. Cusco was simply lovely and we had great meals and tours there and in the Sacred Valley. We were treated to a delicious lunch at a new place right outside of Moray. We loved seeing Machu Picchu but also were glad that we stayed an extra day to climb Huayna Picchu. Our stay in Puerto Maldonado was lots of fun--our days were full with many ecoguide-led outdoor activities, including a hot trek through mud to a boat ride (fun!!), a nighttime walk, a canopy walk, and boat rides (looking for caimans at night was a highlight). Overall, we had an excellent trip which would not have been possible without Paul's help. He listened well to our wishes, made suggestions based upon what we said, and arranged for wonderful accommodations for our family. We suggest that you use this travel agency to book your next adventure. And also highly suggest that you consider Peru as a fun and varied country to visit!

Peru Travel Agent Review: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Taquile, Llachon, Uros, Colca, 12-Day Tour

Jason, our travel consultant, planned the trip of a lifetime for us- simply perfect! He was there for us from the first email communication, throughout the trip, and even took time to meet us in Lima at the end of our trip- he is a top-notch professional! We traveled to the Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu (Cusco), Lake Titicaca, Uros and Taquile Islands (Puno), and the Colca Canyon/Condors! (Arequipa). The travel itinerary was intense, but every detail had been intricately and gracefully planned to ensure we were beyond comfortable with our guides, drivers, and lodgings. We lacked for nothing and enjoyed authentic Peruvian restaurants/haciendas, outstanding Peruvian lodgings, and stellar tour guides who accommodated our every request. Seriously, the trip exceeded all of our expectations! If you're planning a trip to Peru, book it through Zicasso and this travel company-----they will make your dream come true!

Peru Travel Review: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Aguas Caliente, Puerto Maldonado, Sacred Valley, Amazon, Private Ruins Tours

We were extremely happy with every aspect of our trip to Peru and the outstanding assistance and support by Stuart, Satish and others at our Peru travel agency. We flew directly to Cusco and spent two nights there seeing the various sites in and around the city with a private guide, then a private guided tour to the Sacred Valley by van spending the night in Ollantaytambo. The next morning we took the train to Machu Picchu and had a private tour of the ruins followed by a stay in the wonderful Inkaterra MP Pueblo. The following day we took the train from Aguas Caliente to Cusco - a very pleasant and comfortable way to travel. The next morning we were off to the airport traveling to Puerto Maldonado for a three night stay in the Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva. We had wonderful guides with a special hats off to Jorge in Cusco and SV. Our MP guide was also excellent. We had terrific support getting around in all the locations and would highly recommend this travel company to not only our friends but to all who consider traveling to and about Peru!

Travel Review: Peru Anniversary Tour, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu

Our trip was arranged and booked by this agent at this travel company. We were in Peru from May 10 thru May 22. We visited The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Lima. Our agent also made dinner reservations for us at the Cicciolina restaurant in Cusco and Astrid & Gaston restaurant in Lima. We even got a chance to meet him in Cusco as he was nice enough to stop by with his two children and see us at our hotel in Cusco. He is a gentleman and the best travel agent we have ever worked with. The whole trip was flawless. People picked us on time. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The hotels were clean and staff were extremely helpful. There is nothing else we could have asked for. We were very fortunate to have been referred to this agent. Working with a travel agent who lives in the country and has visited the places he recommends certainly paid off. If anyone is thinking of taking a trip to Peru this agent is the person who you want to plan your trip. We can't thank him enough for the trip he planned for us. Also, both before and after we booked our trip with him I have many questions about the trip and the final Travel Document. He was highly responsive in answering my questions and providing us with the information we needed. I don't know what else I can say. If this agent ever comes to visit Tennessee (we live in Franklin just South of Nashville), we told him he and his family are welcome to visit!

Your overall comments on Zicasso

My wife found you on the internet. We talked with many travel agents before she found you but we were never comfortable with them. They just farmed out what we wanted to another travel agent who booked Peru. As we learned from our agent they were grossly inferior. Only when we found this agent did we feel like we were talking to someone who knew what they were talking about. He was also sensitive to the cost of the trip.

Travel Agent Review: Peru 9-Day Tour, Lake Titicaca, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Food & Locals

Trip:

We visited Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Lima over the period of 8 days. It was very well planned as per our expectations, level of services and facilities. Every day was planned with enough activity as well as time for us to explore on our own too. Since all of us are Vegetarian, that requirement was very well thought and planned for each day. Every day of our trip was full of seeing visiting great natural and historical sites in the region. We loved the nature, culture, food and history of all the areas that we visited. Overall entire trip went well without any problems. For us because of language issue and tons of things needed to be arranged for our trip our choice of Zicasso was the best.

Travel Company:

After my initial request at Zicasso I received 3 proposals for our Peru trip. All of those were good but varied in price range. I talked to all of them and then selected one travel company's proposal. I can not praise enough because the travel company pulled all the stops. The travel specialists completely customized our trip as per our requirements. The travel company took care of all minor details of like airline check-in and boarding passes to hotel check-in, all entrance tickets, restaurant reservations, etc. The travel company also provided us with an App that had all the information of our trip that we could access off-line too. I would recommend Zicasso and the travel company to anyone who appreciates well planned tours.

Peru 11-Day Tour Review: Amazon, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Local Cuisine, Assisting Community Children, Salt Mines, Sites & Culture

First of all - Peru is an amazing country, rich with colorful culture, people and food. I was going there with my lovely wife with usual preparation information gleaned from the internet through various sites and excitement as we prepared for South American Amazon and Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley stops on an 11 day journey.Little did I know, I would be immersed in an experience of sight, sound, taste and feel - a journey that caused many moments of deep reflection, appreciation, gratitude, and love for humanity. A huge part of this gratitude for putting together this opportunity goes to our new friends our travel planners at this travel company. They organized a wonderful cross dimensional trip across the jungle and arid lands this country offers, where we had personal and personable, highly intelligent and knowledgeable guides that left us speechless at times as we absorbed all the cultural teachings, offerings (in Spanish and English). One travel planner even met us on our last full day to personally escort our visit with the lovely teachers and children of local village house – an educational charity working in the small town of Oropesa and other villages in the surrounding rural area 25km outside of Cusco, Peru. The charity offers a comprehensive afterschool program in academic and non-academic subjects, along with helping the children with their homework, which takes the burden off the parents. Thank you so so much!!

Our travel planner organized beautiful, amazing tours with Excellent guides: Amazon lodge stay and a local tour company (loved our new friend and guide); Sacred Valley, Maras Salt mines, Moray Ruins, Cusco Community Home visit (so special, honored new friend and guide); Machu Picchu guided tour and next day Sun Gate ascend and walk down to town; Cusco 2 day visit with a San Pedro Market tour and Amazing cooking class (with honored new friend and guide/professional chef).

We HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this travel company for Peru, and we intend to schedule future Galapagos, Brazil, Chile or Argentina trips with them also – thank you guys so so much!! Words will never express our feelings of gratitude and great fortune working with and getting to know you both (especially our planner – you’re an excellent driver BTW !)

Lastly and Importantly: Bring an appetite to experience the amazingly, indescribable flavors of this country – from the earth to plate, sprinkled with local and unbelievable spiced, herbed flavor diversity, there is a treasure to be had in the various dishes and preparations that reflect local historical significance. We had amazing food throughout our journey and encourage all who visit to expand their heart mind and pallet to capture the culinary opportunity that abounds in Peru!!

Zicasso in the News

Savor the Excellent Cuisine of Peru: Immersive Culinary Tour

What to expect on this itinerary

Countries Visited

Places Visited

Suggested Duration

Customizable Itinerary

Lima – International Arrival and Sunset Dinner Along the Pacific

Lima – Private Ceviche Cooking Class

Cusco – Cuy Sampler Event and City Tour

Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes – UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sacred Valley – Pisco Tasting and Horseback Riding

Puno/Lake Titicaca – Fresh Lake Trout and Uros Islands

Lima – International Departure

Trip Highlights

Detailed Description

Starting Price

What's Included

Verified Traveler Reviews

Customizable Itinerary

Eight-Day Gastronomy Tour of Peru

Peru & Machu Picchu Tour: Lima, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco & Sacred Valley

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Guided Exploration of Peru: Perfect One-Week Tour for Seniors

Romantic 8-Day Getaway to Peru

Romantic Getaway to Lima & More