Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco

Explore the vibrant flavors of Peru with a guided market tour and traditional cooking class in the heart of Cusco. Explore the city’s culinary heritage as you wander through the oldest market, tasting local fruits and learning about unique regional ingredients. Then, under the guidance of a knowledgeable chef, prepare authentic Peruvian dishes like trout ceviche and lomo saltado. Complement your creations with refreshing cocktails as you learn about the rich gastronomic traditions of this fascinating country. With personalized attention in a small group setting, this experience promises an unforgettable taste of Peruvian culture. But what exactly can you expect to discover along the way?

This experience made our list of the 15 Best Cooking Classes In Cusco.

Key Points

• Guided tour of Cusco’s oldest market to explore local produce, spices, and specialty items, providing an immersive experience in Peruvian food culture.
• Hands-on cooking class led by a knowledgeable local chef to prepare three traditional Peruvian dishes, including ceviche, lomo saltado, and signature cocktails.
• Intimate class size of up to 10 travelers, ensuring personalized attention and a tailored experience.
• Comprehensive menu featuring a range of traditional Peruvian ingredients and flavors, such as coca tea, avocado salad, and huancaína sauce.
• Highly rated experience with 264 positive reviews, though some concerns raised about sanitation practices during food preparation.

Overview of the Experience

This experience offers a delightful market tour and traditional Peruvian cooking class in the historic city of Cusco.

Travelers embark on an in-depth food exploration, focusing on the rich gastronomic traditions of Peru. The tour boasts a Badge of Excellence and 264 positive reviews, showcasing its popularity.

Guests will enjoy a private, exclusive experience with a maximum of 10 travelers, allowing for a personalized and immersive experience.

The market tour introduces participants to Cusco’s oldest market, where they’ll sample local produce, breads, and cheeses while learning about Peruvian culinary customs.

The hands-on cooking class then allows guests to prepare three authentic Peruvian dishes under the guidance of a knowledgeable local chef.

Market Tour Details

The market tour begins with a knowledgeable guide leading participants through Cusco’s oldest market. Here, they’ll have the chance to taste popular local fruits, breads, and cheeses while learning about Peruvian culinary traditions and ingredients.

The guide provides in-depth explanations about the wide variety of produce, spices, and specialty items found in the bustling market stalls. Participants can ask questions and engage with the vendors to gain a deeper understanding of Peruvian food culture.

This immersive experience allows visitors to connect with the local community and appreciate the rich history and diversity that shape the country’s renowned gastronomy.

Cooking Class Information

After the market tour, participants move on to the cooking class portion of the experience. They’ll prepare three authentic Peruvian dishes under the guidance of a local chef.

The sample menu includes starters like coca and muña tea, avocado and quinoa salad, and huancaína sauce, followed by main courses of trout ceviche with mango and lomo saltado. Participants also get to choose between a pisco sour or passion fruit sour cocktail to accompany their meal.

Throughout the cooking process, the chef provides step-by-step instructions and shares insights into Peruvian culinary traditions, ensuring an engaging and educational experience for all.

The cooking class allows participants to:

1. Prepare three traditional Peruvian dishes.

2. Learn from a local chef about Peruvian ingredients and techniques.

3. Enjoy a delicious meal and cocktail they’ve created themselves.

Starter Dishes

Typically, the starter dishes begin with coca and muð0a tea, a traditional Peruvian beverage made from coca leaves and the aromatic muð0a herb, which is said to aid digestion. Next up is an avocado and quinoa salad, a refreshing blend of creamy avocado, nutty quinoa, and vibrant vegetables. Rounding out the starters is the huancaine sauce, a zesty Peruvian condiment made with yellow chili peppers, cheese, and crackers.

Starter Dish	Key Ingredients	Description
Coca and Muð0a Tea	Coca leaves, Muð0a herb	Traditional Peruvian beverage, aids digestion
Avocado and Quinoa Salad	Avocado, Quinoa, Vegetables	Refreshing, creamy, nutty
Huancaine Sauce	Yellow chili peppers, Cheese, Crackers	Zesty Peruvian condiment

Main Dishes

Moving on to the main dishes, the cooking class features two Peruvian classics: trout ceviche with mango and the beloved lomo saltado.

The trout ceviche combines fresh, flaky fish with the sweet and tangy flavors of mango, creating a vibrant and refreshing starter.

For the lomo saltado, participants learn to stir-fry tender beef with onions, tomatoes, and soy sauce, serving it alongside flavorful rice and potatoes.

The preparation of these dishes allows guests to enjoy the rich culinary traditions of Peru, guided by the expertise of the local chef.

The satisfying main courses leave participants with a newfound appreciation for the complexity and diversity of Peruvian cuisine.

The main dishes include:

1. Trout Ceviche with Mango

2. Lomo Saltado

3. Served with Rice and Potatoes

Cocktail Options

Alongside the main dishes, participants have the option to enjoy a classic Peruvian cocktail, with a choice between the iconic pisco sour or a refreshing passion fruit sour.

The pisco sour showcases the popular Peruvian spirit, pisco, blended with lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white to create a frothy, balanced libation.

Alternatively, the passion fruit sour offers a vibrant, tropical twist, highlighting the sweetness of the passion fruit combined with the tartness of citrus.

Both cocktail options allow participants to further explore the depth and diversity of Peruvian flavors, providing a delightful accompaniment to the traditional dishes they’ve prepared during the cooking class.

Meeting and Logistics

The tour begins at the meeting point located at C. San Juan de Dios 264 in Cusco, Peru, and you will return to the same location at the end of the experience.

The tour is limited to a maximum of 10 travelers per group, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience. Guests are provided with flexible reservation options, and the tour operator offers a lowest price guarantee.

The logistics of this experience make it convenient and accessible for travelers:

1. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the tour.

2. The meeting and end points are located near public transportation.

3. The experience isn’t recommended for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as back problems or pregnancy.

Reviews and Feedback

Customers have overwhelmingly praised this market tour and cooking class experience, awarding it an impressive 5.0-star rating based on 264 reviews. Reviewers highlighted the knowledgeable and personable chef, Ronal, who guided them through the engaging market tour and interactive cooking process. Participants raved about the delicious food and cocktails they prepared under the chef’s instruction. While some concerns were raised about sanitation practices during food preparation, the vast majority of feedback was extremely positive.

Positive Comments	Negative Comments
Knowledgeable and personable chef	Concerns about sanitation practices
Engaging market tour and cooking experience	–
Delicious food and cocktails prepared by participants	–
–	–

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Request Modifications to the Sample Menu?

Yes, participants can typically request modifications to the sample menu. The chef is often willing to accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences, within reason, to ensure an enjoyable and personalized cooking experience.

Is the Market Tour Wheelchair Accessible?

The market tour is not wheelchair accessible. The tour descriptions state it’s not recommended for individuals with mobility restrictions or disabilities. Alternative accessible experiences may be available, but this specific market tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Are There Vegetarian or Vegan Menu Options Available?

The experience doesn’t specify any vegetarian or vegan menu options. However, many Peruvian dishes are naturally plant-based, so the chef may be able to accommodate dietary needs with advanced notice. Participants should inquire about menu customization when booking the experience.

How Long Does the Entire Experience Typically Last?

The entire experience typically lasts around 3-4 hours. This includes the market tour, cooking class, and time to enjoy the prepared dishes and drinks. The duration allows participants to fully enjoy the Peruvian culinary traditions.

Can I Choose to Participate in Only the Market Tour or Cooking Class?

Yes, participants can choose to join only the market tour or the cooking class. The experience offers flexibility, allowing travelers to select the portion that best fits their interests and schedule.

Recap

Set out on a culinary adventure in Cusco, Peru, where you’ll explore the vibrant local market and learn to prepare authentic Peruvian dishes.

Guided by a knowledgeable chef, you’ll savor the flavors of trout ceviche and lomo saltado, complemented by refreshing cocktails.

With personalized attention and rave reviews, this immersive experience allows you to fully learn about Peru’s rich gastronomic traditions.