Flavours of Peru – Culinary Tour

Arrive
On arrival in Lima you will be met and transferred to your hotel located in the Miraflores area where you will spend the next two nights. This evening is at your leisure, why not visit one of Lima's many outstanding restaurants? We recommend restaurants such as Maido, Central, Astrid and Gaston to understand why Lima has been crowned the 'Gastronomical Capital of Latin America'. Speak to one of our travel designers to secure your reservation in advance.

Dinner suggestion: Maido, Central or Astrid

Handpicked Gastronomic Tour
Stimulate your taste buds with a gastronomic tour exploring Lima´s food, flavors and colours. You begin in the bustling San Isidro market, a popular choice of local chefs for its wonderful variety of fresh, local produce. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about Peru's diverse selection of food with a visit to Mr Ortiz's fruit stall, after which you will have a little free time to explore the market on your own. Afterwards you head into the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco, which features the 'Bridge of Sighs' (where legend has it, that if you hold your breath whilst crossing the bridge, your dreams will come true), as well as the legendary 'La Ermita' chapel.

A quick stop over at the new concept food precinct in Miraflores, called 'Mercado 28', where you can sample some artisanal ice cream made from the local fruits at 'Blue' or have a cup of organic coffee sourced from micro-producers in Cusco at 'Puku Puku'. The choice is yours! You will then end your tour at 'Huaca Pucllana' – an archaeological site dating back to the 5th century, which is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district that is still being excavated and researched. Savour a lunch at the restaurant of the same name located inside of the archaeological complex and once you are done, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Dinner Suggestion: Cala or Gaston

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Lima to Ica & Pisco Tasting
This morning you will travel south in a private car to the sandy hills of Ica. First enjoy a delicious lunch before discovering how Peru's national drink, pisco, is created at a local distillery.

Spend the afternoon with an exciting Pisco tasting tour at the Queirolo winery. Santiago Queirolo is one of the best-known brands in the country. The story of this wine and Pisco producer began in 1880 when the Italian immigrant Santiago Queirolo arrived in Peru. In his tavern in Pueblo Libre (Lima) he sold traditional Peruvian Creole food, wine and Pisco from grapes grown on land he bought in the south of the capital. At the beginning of the 20th century Queirolo products started to be sold through different channels in the local market and became a well-known brand.

Your afternoon tour will begin with a guided walk through the vineyard where the sommelier will explain the differences between various types of grapes and the process of growing and ripening of the grapes. Afterwards you will take a look at the distillery and learn about the production process of the wine and Pisco. You then take a 10-minute drive to a lookout point where you will enjoy a delicious glass of sparkling wine together with the beautiful views over the vineyards. Back at the winery you will finally have the chance to taste some of the Queirolo wines and Piscos during a wine tasting and lunch. Free evening.

Lunch included.

Nazca Lines Flight or Sand Buggy Tour & Return to Lima
This morning you have the choice of two optional excursions.

Nazca Lines Overflight: In the morning you will be transferred to the airstrip in Ica and take a 70 minute flight over the Nazca Lines aboard a modern small airplane. Best viewed from the air, these huge geometric patterns and hundreds of perfectly straight lines were carved into the desert sand by the Nazca people centuries ago.

Sand Buggy Tour: Today you’ll ride the sand dunes of Peru in a fast and furious style ride. After a safety briefing, it’s time to hold on tight during this thrilling ride over the desert dunes in a dune buggy. The buggies have been completely customized to be lightweight and very stable. They have armchair seats and seatbelts must be worn throughout the entire driving adventure. Along the way, you will stop in the desert for photos and a chance to try sand-boarding. After your 1-hour tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Important Note: the ride will be bumpy you will cross dunes ranging from 5 to 100 meters height. Guests with back, neck or heart problems or pregnant women are not eligible for this tour.

At agreed upon time, depart on a journey in private vehicle from Ica to Lima.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel in Lima and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Arrive in Arequipa
On arrival at the airport in Arequipa you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Half Day City Tour & Cooking Show
Explore Arequipa, also known as the White City because many of it's buildings are constructed using white volcanic sillar. First you will visit the extraordinary 16th century Santa Catalina Convent.

At its peak the huge cloister housed over 450 nuns and served as a town within itself. Traditionally, the oldest daughters of Arequipa’s aristocratic families entered the convent in their early teens and spent their lives there, cloistered away. The convent complex has been beautifully refurbished, bringing the past vividly alive once more. After the visit of the convent you will head to the Yanahuara lookout point for a magnificent view of the Misti Volcano and the city.

Arequipa boasts Peru's most recognizable and prized regional cuisine. The city's rich food heritage is still kept at traditional local restaurants known as ‘picanterías’. Today you’ll experience it at its best with a cooking show in at ‘Tio Dario‘. Located in the traditional neighborhood of Yanahuara Tio Dario‘ is just one block away from Mirador de Yanahuara. Learn the secrets of traditional Arequipenan dishes as you watch the chef cooking up in the charming garden patio. After the cooking is finished continue with a three course meal including a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.

Return to your hotel with a Spanish speaking driver only.

Dinner Suggestion: Zig Zag (llama and alpaca) or La Caleta (ceviche)

Lunch included.

Travel to Colca Canyon
In the early morning you will leave Arequipa and head towards Colca valley. Along the route there are chances to see Andean birds, and an opportunity to glimpse picturesque panoramic views before descending into the valley.

After four hours on the road you will arrive in Chivay, the most important town in the Colca Valley, where you will make a short stop to explore the local market. Afterwards you will continue the journey to your hotel.

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Travel to Lake Titicaca
Early morning drive to an observation point located between Maca and Cabanaconde, one of the deepest parts of the canyon. Here, you will find the perfect spot to look down 1,200m (3,937 ft) into the canyon at ‘Mirador Cruz del Condor'. It's here that the legendary condor, the bird with the largest wingspan in the world, can be seen rising and circling on the morning thermals, silhouetted against the magnificent backdrop of the mountain scenery. You will then stop in some of the picturesque towns to visit their colonial churches. You then say goodbye to the Colca Canyon and continue your trip towards the Altiplano: landscapes featuring volcanoes, lakes and vicuna and alpaca herds as well as different kinds of cacti. The average altitude en route reaches 4,500 m (14,700 ft). After a 6-hour ride you will reach Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca..

Dinner at Los Balcones de Puno
Following your long journey you will no doubt be hungry. Enjoy a set dinner at Los Balcones de Puno, an innovative restaurant that aims to make local ingredients the star of every dish. As well as local trout, alpaca, Peruvian tubers and herbs, the restaurant offers an nightly folk entertainment that showcases the region's cultural heritage.

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Uros, Taquile & Luquina Tour
This excursion today is done by speed boat, which offers a reduced travel time, allowing you to enjoy the islands and explore the unspoiled community of Luquina. In addition, you will be doing this excursion in a reverse order compared to most of the classical tours, allowing you to enjoy the islands in a very particular and more private atmosphere. To begin with, you will visit the island of Taquile, where its inhabitants have preserved ancient customs and traditions. Marvel at the colourful fabrics this community weaves on its looms. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the lake´s landscape you can only see on this island. Around noon, you will continue your trip towards the Chucuito peninsula. There, at the community of Luquina, an Andean lunch of typical dishes will be waiting for you. Locals in this less known area are not visited by mass tourism yet and they will introduce you to daily activities and customs of their Quechua community. In the afternoon, you will be taken back to the city of Puno, visiting the Uros islands on the way. The inhabitants of this floating reed-made islands still preserve some of their ancient customs and traditions. Return to Puno city.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Travel to Cusco by Train
This morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the train station to board the train to Cusco. This classic train journey cuts across the formidable Peruvian Altiplano. The first half of the journey will see you cross the rolling Andean Plains where vicuna and alpaca can be seen with the second half of the trip being dominated by the magnificent Andean mountains which tower over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. The glass-walled observation car will provide the perfect opportunity to view the beautiful scenery. The journey is broken up by scenic stop at La Raya, which is also the highest point on the route. A delicious three-course lunch is served on board. Upon arrival into Cusco you will be met at the train station and transferred to your hotel.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

City Tour
Today you will be met for your guided tour of Cusco and its archaeological sites. Your Cusco tour will include highlights such as Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Koricancha Temple. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco which were once the former capital of the Incan Empire. After your tour, you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Cooking Class at Marcelo Batata
Make your way along with your private English speaking walking escort to a tasty half day master class at Marcelo Batata Culinary Experience this afternoon. After an insight into Peruvian cuisine, techniques, native products and culture the class begins awaking your senses differentiating the aroma of 'ají' red chili pepper, herbs and spices before learning about some Andean grains as kiwicha, quinoa and a variety of fruits native to Peru. You will produce four delicious courses including the classics of the Peruvian cuisine: 'ceviche', 'papa rellena' and 'lomo saltado'. After a Pisco tasting it is time to mix your own Pisco Sour. Enjoy then your own creations at 'Uchu' the restaurant next door (we suggest you to skip lunch or eating only a light lunch). Return to your hotel on your own.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Sacred Valley Tour with Lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa
Today, we discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this full day excursion. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. Travel to the scenic town of Pisac, where you'll visit the colourful local market and have free time to search for a souvenir or two before enjoying a typical Andean lunch at a local restaurant.

Enjoy a quintessential lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa - a charming farm in the Sacred Valley growing Giant White Corn. Toasted corn has been a common snack in Peru before the Inca times. In fact a new study reveals the ancient Peruvian man was preparing corn-based foods up to 6,700 years ago. And at Sarampampa you'll have the chance to learn how the Incas developed this extra large variety and about its relevance for the local economy. Ancestral techniques are still in use at Sarapampa to produce chewy kernels highly valued as unique source of health benefits. Savor then a delicious 3-course lunch made with local produce and techniques used since colonial times, while enjoying a traditional Peruvian dance 'Marinera' and an exhibition of Peruvian Paso horse.

Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes by Train
At the scheduled time today you will be met at your hotel by our representative and transferred to Ollantaytambo train station where you will board the Vistadome train which will take you to Aguas Calientes. Sit back and enjoy this scenic journey.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Machu Picchu Day Tour
This morning you will have an early start to visit Machu Picchu at sunrise and see the vivid colours brightening up this amazing destination. You will have a guided tour of the ruins and monuments such as the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries. The citadel was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer and academic, Hiram Bingham. Many theories on the citadel exist, but most agree it was a holy site, hidden for centuries and never found by the invading Spanish.

Includes guided tour and return bus from Aguas Calientes village.

Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge
A well deserved buffet lunch will be served after the excursion in the restaurant of ‘Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge', the only hotel located right next to the Machu Picchu Inca citadel.

Train to Ollantaytambo & Vehicle to Cusco
You will take the Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo station where you will continue your journey to Cusco by road transfer. Upon arrival, our representative will meet your and transfer you to your hotel. In case you have left any luggage in the hotel in the Sacred Valley, it will be picked up en route.

The Vistadome train has large panoramic windows located both beside and above your seat, bringing you close to nature unlike anything you've experienced before. During the train trip you can enjoy some live entertainment, a snack and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

History, Coffee & Cacao
Do you love history, coffee, and cacao? Then today's activity is perfect for you. After a short walking escort to the Coffee Museum, listen to the exciting history of cacao while learning how to make chocolate from bean-to-bar and cacao tea. Once at the Coffee Museum learn about three different coffee brewing methods. Finally, you will taste three varieties of coffee and discuss different flavor profiles. Return to your hotel on your own.

The remaining of your day will be at leisure.

Dinner suggestion: MAP Cafe

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Breakfast included.