WALKING TOUR & COOKING CLASS
Discover Cusco through its markets, ingredients, cooking traditions, and the people who bring its food culture to life. Walk through the historic heart of the city and explore San Pedro Market, where native potatoes, corn, quinoa, herbs, fruits, and other Andean products fill the stalls, then step into the kitchen for a hands-on Peruvian cooking experience led by a local Cusqueñan culinary expert. Learn about the ingredients, prepare Peruvian-inspired dishes, and sit down to enjoy a meal you helped create — walk the market, learn the flavors, cook with a local expert, and taste Cusco.
- Duration: 4–4.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Group Size: 1–8 people
- Starting Point: San Pedro Market or your centrally located hotel in Cusco
- Explore San Pedro Market and discover the ingredients of everyday Cusco
- Discover Andean staples such as native potatoes, corn, quinoa, herbs, and seasonal produce
- Learn about Peruvian food culture from a local guide
- Cook alongside a Cusqueñan culinary expert
- Prepare Peruvian-inspired dishes using fresh local ingredients
- Learn practical cooking techniques you can recreate at home
- Enjoy the meal you helped prepare
- Small groups of up to 8 people for a more personal experience
- Connect with Cusco through food, culture, and local life
WHY EXPERIENCE CUSCO WITH PERU HIKERS?
100% LOCAL CUSCO TEAM
We are a 100% local Cusco tour operator, and our team brings personal knowledge of the city, its traditions, and its people to every experience.
Your guide does more than show you the sights. They help you understand the places, ingredients, and everyday traditions behind them.
SMALL GROUPS. PERSONAL CONNECTION.
With groups of 1–8 people, you’ll have more opportunities to ask questions, participate in the cooking, and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
FROM MARKET TO TABLE
This experience connects different sides of Cusco in one journey — its historic streets, vibrant market, local ingredients, and culinary traditions.
You won’t simply taste Peruvian food. You’ll discover where its ingredients come from, how they are used, and how they become part of a shared meal.
TRUSTED BY TRAVELERS WORLDWIDE
Our commitment to authentic experiences and personal service is reflected in feedback from travelers who have explored Peru with us through Tripadvisor and Google.
ITINERARY
01 — CUSCO HISTORIC CENTER
WHERE THE STORY BEGINS
Meet your local guide and begin with a relaxed walk through the historic heart of Cusco.
As you explore the streets, discover how the city’s Inca foundations, Andean traditions, and colonial history have influenced the way people live, eat, and celebrate today.
Your guide will introduce you to the connection between the land, local communities, and the food found on Cusco’s tables.
02 — SAN PEDRO MARKET
FROM THE MARKET TO THE KITCHEN
Continue to San Pedro Market, one of the best places to experience the colors, aromas, and everyday flavors of Cusco.
Walk through the market stalls and discover native potatoes, corn, quinoa, fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, cheeses, spices, and other local products.
Your guide will introduce you to interesting ingredients and explain how they are used in Peruvian and Andean cuisine.
Take time to look, smell, ask questions, and discover the products that will inspire your cooking experience.
03 — MEET THE INGREDIENTS
DISCOVER THE FLAVORS OF THE ANDES
After exploring the market, continue to the cooking experience.
Before you start cooking, your local culinary expert will introduce the ingredients you’ll be using and explain how they are selected, prepared, and combined.
Discover how everyday products can create the distinctive flavors of Peruvian cuisine — from fresh produce and herbs to potatoes, corn, grains, and other Andean staples.
See the ingredients. Understand their story. Then bring them to life.
04 — COOKING CLASS
COOK LOCAL. LEARN BY DOING.
Now it’s your turn.
Join your Cusqueñan cooking expert for a hands-on culinary experience and learn how Peruvian flavors come together using fresh local ingredients.
Depending on the menu and seasonal availability, you may prepare dishes such as Lomo Saltado or Ceviche, accompanied by a Peruvian cocktail such as Pisco Sour or Maracuyá Sour.
You’ll participate in the preparation, learn practical techniques, and discover the stories and traditions behind the dishes.
No previous cooking experience is necessary.
Your instructor will guide you step by step, making the experience interactive, relaxed, and enjoyable.
05 — THE TABLE
TASTE WHAT YOU CREATED
Once the cooking is finished, sit down and enjoy the dishes you helped prepare.
Taste the flavors, appreciate the ingredients, and share the table with your fellow travelers.
This is more than simply having lunch or a cooking lesson.
It’s the moment when the market, ingredients, techniques, and stories come together.
Because food is not only about what you eat — it’s also about the people and traditions around the table.
06 — A TASTE TO TAKE HOME
MORE THAN A MEAL
Finish your experience with a new perspective on Cusco’s food culture.
From the streets to the market, from the market to the kitchen, and from the kitchen to the table, you’ve experienced a different side of the city — one that can’t be discovered simply by sightseeing.
Walk the market. Discover the ingredients. Cook the flavors. Taste Cusco.
WE TAKE CARE OF THE JOURNEY
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Professional local English-speaking guide
- Walking experience through Cusco
- San Pedro Market visit
- Introduction to local ingredients and food culture
- Hands-on cooking class
- Cooking instruction with a local culinary expert
- Ingredients required for the cooking experience
- Meal prepared during the class
- Small-group experience
- Personal purchases at San Pedro Market
- Additional food or drinks outside the included cooking experience
- Tips for your guide or cooking instructor
NOT INCLUDED
✓ Comfortable walking shoes
✓ Light, comfortable clothing
✓ Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
✓ Light rain jacket or poncho, especially during the rainy season
✓ Reusable water bottle
✓ Small daypack
✓ Camera or phone
✓ An appetite and curiosity for Peruvian flavors
MEETING POINT
START WHERE IT’S MOST CONVENIENT
Choose the starting option that works best for you.
MEET US AT SAN PEDRO MARKET
Begin directly at San Pedro Market and start discovering the ingredients and flavors of Cusco from the moment you meet your guide.
HOTEL PICKUP IN CUSCO
If you’re staying at a centrally located hotel, your guide can meet you there before the experience.
Your meeting point and starting time will be confirmed before your experience.
PRICES
GROUP PACK
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this experience suitable for everyone?
Yes. The experience is designed to be easy to moderate and combines walking with a relaxed, hands-on cooking class.
A reasonable level of mobility is recommended because you’ll be walking through Cusco and San Pedro Market.
How long does the experience take?
The experience lasts approximately 4–4.5 hours, depending on walking pace, time at the market, and the cooking class.
Where does the experience start?
The experience lasts approximately 4–4.5 hours, depending on walking pace, time at the market, and the cooking class.
What will we see at San Pedro Market?
You’ll explore stalls featuring native potatoes, corn, quinoa, fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, cheeses, spices, and other local products.
Your guide will explain the ingredients and their connection to Peruvian food culture.
Will I actually cook?
Yes. This is a hands-on cooking experience. You’ll participate in preparing the dishes rather than simply watching a demonstration.
Do I need cooking experience?
Not at all.
The class is designed for beginners and experienced cooks alike, and your cooking instructor will guide you through each step.
What kind of food will we prepare?
The experience focuses on Peruvian and Andean-inspired cuisine using local ingredients.
Depending on the menu, seasonal ingredients, and availability, dishes may include options such as Lomo Saltado or Ceviche, along with a Peruvian cocktail.
Is the food included?
Yes. The ingredients and meal prepared during the cooking class are included.
Additional food, drinks, or personal purchases outside the cooking experience are not included.
Can I buy products at San Pedro Market?
Yes. You’ll have an opportunity to explore the market and make personal purchases if you wish.
Personal purchases are not included in the tour price, so we recommend carrying some Peruvian soles.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Please let us know about any dietary restrictions, allergies, or food preferences when booking so we can check what can be accommodated.
Is this a private or group experience?
The experience is designed for small groups of 1–8 people.
Can I book a private experience?
Yes. If you prefer to enjoy the experience exclusively with your family, friends, or travel companions, private arrangements can be requested.
Can I request a different starting time?
Absolutely. We can coordinate your starting time based on your hotel location, market visit, cooking-class availability, and the day’s schedule.
Do I need to be acclimatized to Cusco?
You don’t need trekking-level acclimatization, but Cusco is at high altitude and the experience includes several hours of activity.
If you’ve just arrived, take the altitude into consideration and enjoy the experience at a comfortable pace.
TASTE CUSCO. COOK WITH LOCALS. TAKE THE MEMORY HOME.
Peru Hikers — Local Roots. Exceptional Guides. Journeys That Change You.
