Our Peru Cooking Vacations
Culinary Vacations in Peru and Bolivia: Exploring Andean Cuisine
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There’s a reason our culinary tours in Peru are so popular
Culinary Tours In Peru
A cooking vacation in Peru means exploring a cuisine that is incredibly diverse. Peruvian gastronomy bears the traces of pre-Incan and Incan civilizations, as well as of the Spanish, African, Cantonese, Japonese, Basque, Italian, French and British immigrants who have made Peru their home. This makes it an ideal destination for a South American cooking vacation, with dishes that combine flavor profiles from many continents into a cuisine that is truly unique.
In fact, Peru’s cuisine is so unique and so highly respected that it has been given several awards and accolades, such as the World Travel Awards’ naming of Peru as the top culinary vacation destination in South America.
Peru is also home to many lost civilizations. The ruins of Machu Picchu in Cusco are one of the most visited archeological sites in the world, bearing testament to the Incan empire that made its capital there. To the north, the Chachapoya, or cloud warriors, left behind their own artefacts and ruins in the tropical cloud forest. But Peru is more than just archeological sites, it is also home to the bustling Lima, one of South America’s great cities, and the many villages and towns that bear the signs of their Andean and Incan heritage, and are home to the local agriculture with the production of such crops as sugarcane, rice, and cotton.
FAQ on Food Travelling in Peru
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What is the culinary culture in Peru?
Peru’s culinary culture represents a unique fusion of ancient Andean traditions with influences from Spanish, African, Chinese, and Japanese immigrants. At its heart lies the concept of “pachamanca” — respect for the earth and its bounty. This is evident in the way Peruvians utilize ingredients from all ecological zones: seafood from the coast, potatoes and corn from the highlands, and tropical fruits from the Amazon. Meals are social events, often lasting hours, with lunch being the most important meal of the day.
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What is the most unique food eaten in Peru?
While ceviche might be Peru’s most famous dish internationally, cuy (guinea pig) remains one of its most unique traditional foods, particularly in the Andean highlands. However, Peru’s true culinary uniqueness lies in its potato diversity — with over 4,000 native varieties, each with specific uses in traditional dishes. The country’s ability to combine ingredients from its three main geographical regions (coast, highlands, and jungle) in single dishes creates flavors found nowhere else in the world.
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What is the most popular drink in Peru?
Pisco Sour reigns as Peru’s national cocktail, crafted from grape brandy (pisco), lime juice, egg white, and bitters. However, traditional beverages like chicha morada (made from purple corn) and chicha de jora (fermented corn beer dating back to Inca times) remain deeply embedded in Peruvian culture. In the Andes, coca leaf tea helps visitors adjust to high altitudes while connecting them to ancient traditions.
Recipes
From coastal ceviche to highland lomo saltado, our Peruvian recipes showcase the country’s diverse culinary landscape.
