8 Day Culinary Tour: Lima, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

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Simply enter your details in the enquiry form to start personalising your experience or if you have any questions about booking this tour.

IMPORTANT

Machu Picchu tickets often sell out months in advance, especially for Circuit 2, the most popular route. Many dates between January and June already have limited availability.

If Circuit 2 is not available for your preferred date, we will secure the best alternative.

For a better chance of securing your preferred circuit, we highly recommend booking as early as possible, as availability can change quickly.

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Availability : Every Day
Depart: Lima
Destination: Machu Picchu
Max People : 12

About the 8 Day Culinary Tour: Lima, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

This culinary journey to Peru is not to be missed. Whether you are eating ceviche by the coast, preparing aji de gallina in a Peru cooking class, gathering ingredients for your meal in Cusco’s San Pedro market or dining at a 5 star restaurant in the Andes, your taste buds are sure to be pleased delighted in this Peru culinary tour?

Peru has emerged as a culinary destination made popular by Gaston Acurio and Coque Ossio – but also for its fresh tastes and abundance of ‘super foods’!  From local market food right through to silver service experiences we celebrate all types of Peru food on our luxury culinary tours!

Pisco, Peru’s prized grape brandy is worth plenty of exploration – and the emerging Peruvian wine scene is also worth some time!

We seek restaurants that feature either traditional or fusion dishes that utilise traditional ingredients.  Our chefs work with seasonal local ingredients, and we support restaurants with organic, sustainable values.

As we believe that one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a country is through its food, and so get close to Peru with its marvellous maca, quinoa and chia seeds which were used by the Andean peoples for centuries before they were famous!

Want even more culinary inspiration? Dive deeper into Peru’s incredible food culture with our blog posts on traditional Peruvian cuisine and iconic dishes, the best restaurants in Cusco, and the must-try street foods that locals love.

Best of 8-Day Culinary Tour in Peru

  • Experience Peru through its food, from colorful market stalls to expertly prepared dishes that showcase the country's incredible biodiversity.
  • Discover the stories, customs, and traditions behind everyday life in the Andes while exploring one of Cusco's most authentic cultural spaces.
  • Learn the secrets behind Peru's world-famous gastronomy with a hands-on cooking experience and the chance to prepare classic local dishes.
Price
Prices are per person in USD, based on group size.
# of People Classic Boutique Luxury
2 $ 2,095 $ 3,170 $ 4,394
3 $ 1,900 $ 2,965 $ 4,065
4-5 $ 1,695 $ 2,750 $ 3,774
6-7 $ 1,575 $ 2,625 $ 3,620
8+ $ 1,509 $ 2,534 $ 3,484
WHY BOOK WITH US?

High quality personalized experience

Unique, off-the-beaten track routes

Experienced staff

Verified sustainability practices

$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru

Important Details About the 8 Day Culinary Food Tour

What is Included?

  • All ground transfers in comfortable, private service
  • 7 nights’ accommodation in handpicked hotels
  • All entry fees
  • Train & Bus to/from Machu Picchu
  • Professional – and Passionate – English-speaking Guide
  • Meals at specially chosen restaurants (see day-by-day itinerary)
  • Return Train tickets in Vistadome coaches which feature large glass windows, glass roofs, and rotatable seats for passengers that can turn up to 180 degrees

What is Not Included?

  • Domestic Flights (though we are delighted to assist if you wish)
  • Meals not specified, and all drinks
  • Tips
  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Travel insurance (but strongly recommended)
  • Incidental personal expenses like snacks, laundry and shopping.

Optional Extras & Upgrades

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your tour and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Optional Activities

Important!

  • Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

What to Pack

Cusco can experience every season in a single day, so you should be prepared for sun and rain, cold and hot weather on your Machu Picchu tours! We recommend a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, sweater, rain gear or plastic poncho, winter hat or toque and gloves. In addition, you should bring:

  • A light day pack to carry your things
  • Water bottle and snacks
  • Money for snacks, souvenirs and tips

Available Discounts

  • Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
  • Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 0-4 years: 75% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group, but will be charged 25% of the per person price based on final group size. For example, a group of 4 adults and one child under 4: adults will be charged the full price per person based on a group size of 4 and the child will be charged 25% of the per person price for a group of 4. Children under 3 will not be considered to occupy a seat on any train or bus, and instead must ride on a parent’s lap. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
  • 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Trekkers Wanted

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

Important Info

  • Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here. 
  • The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots or other elements of the itinerary, depending on the progress of the group.
  • Please note: This is a true adventure and things may not go exactly according to plan! Keep an open mind and let yourself enjoy the cultural differences you may experience. There is always an opportunity to learn something!

Ready to Book?

  • Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
  • Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

8 Day Culinary Tour Itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Lima & Welcome Dinner

Today we arrive in Lima, the cosmopolitan capital of Peru. After a transfer to your hotel you have the opportunity to rest, or for earlier arriving flights, to stretch your legs and get to know the vibrant neighborhood of Miraflores. 

As a nice introduction, you will enjoy a wonderful show, which mixes dancing and Peruvian food. 

Finishing this tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals: Dinner
Included: Private airport transfer, and welcome dinner
Hotel: Tierra Viva Miraflores / or similar

Important!  You need to arrive before 12 noon on Day 1 for this itinerary to operate.
If you arrive after 12 noon,  that will be Day 0,  with Day 1 starting the day after arrival. Please discuss with your travel consultant, to ensure correct nights in hotels are booked. 

Day 2Local Market Tour & Peruvian Cooking Class

Many Peru tour itineraries focus on high Andes indigenous markets – and we will take you to these too – but in terms of diversity of colors, flavours and food representing all of Peru, there is no better place to delve head first into a food market like in Lima!

This local, sprawling market features a fascinating range of fresh fruits and vegetables from all over Peru. This is an amazing place to understand the culinary diversity of Peru, from the products produced in the coast, to the high-altitude crops, to the delicious variety of the jungle fruits. 

Finishing the Lima food tour, we continue with a very memorable interactive culinary experience. On this very unique tour you can chat with Peruvian chefs about ingredients and trade secrets that make their dishes delicious while getting a behind the scenes look where the magic happens in the kitchen.

From a traditional Pisco sour to learning more about Peru’s signature dish – ceviche, and a fresh Causa Peruana, this is the ultimate foodie introduction to your Peru culinary vacations. (Note, there are some options available within this tour – please ask for more information).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions: Private transportation, English-speaking guide, cooking class and ingredients.
Hotel: Tierra Viva Miraflores / or similar

Day 3Historic Center Tour & Flight to Cusco

We start this day learning more about the City of Kings. This is fantastic tour that shows the fantastic colonial architecture. You will have unique insights into Lima’s history as you stroll around its main colonial buildings with some stops at special places for quick bites of Peruvian food.

From the bustling Historic Center, we’ll head straight to the Lima airport for your late morning flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, the dry mountain air hits you and the light tunes of the panpipes. In order to assist with acclimatization, we’ll travel by car directly from Cusco to the Sacred Valley.  Both Sacred to the Incas and green and gentle sanctuary in the high mountains, the Sacred Valley is a perfect place to relax.

Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions: Private transportation, English-speaking guide, entry tickets to San Francisco Church
Hotel: Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado / or similar

Day 4Andean Community Visit

No culinary tour is comprehensive enough without a visit to a local community to speak with real experts in Peruvian biodiversity. 

Today we will travel to one special local community of where we will learn about Andean life. You will gain insight into the ancient agricultural practices which are still used by local farmers, and passed down through generations. 

We will also learn about typical Andean crops, the people’s connection to the Pachamama (Mother-Earth), the different rituals for each part of the growing season, and the use of traditional tools for the planting and harvest of native products. Here, you will enjoy a delicious home-made meal with organic and fresh farm-to-table ingredients.

Time-permitting, you will be able to visit some surrounding, crystalline lakes or attractions.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions: Private transportation, English-speaking guide, demonstration
Hotel: Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado / or similar

Day 5Ollantaytambo Tour & Train to Machu Picchu

We will depart from your hotel. and make our way to Ollantaytambo, a lovely Sacred Valley village where people enjoy strolling the quaint streets and shopping from local vendors in the markets, or enjoying a meal overlooking the Plaza de Armas (Town Square).

The design of Ollantaytambo and its foundations date from the Incan era when it was a strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre. Ollantaytambo also has an impressive Inca fortress which guarded the entry of this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long staircases

We’ll catch an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. This is an approximately 2-hour, picturesque journey through changing landscapes. 

Arriving in Aguas Calientes, we check into our hotel and then have a chance to explore or indulge at the many markets.

In the evening, enjoy a celebratory dinner as you prepare for tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu – the highlight of our 8-day tour!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Inclusions: Private transportation, English-speaking guide, tourist ticket, Expedition train tickets.
Hotel: Tierra Viva Aguas Calientes 7 or similar

Day 6World Wonder of Machu Picchu

We will wake up early and take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. A short climb and suddenly the whole of Machu Picchu is spread out before you in all its glory – a very special sight for most people.  We spend the rest of the morning with a guided tour of the highlights and some individual exploring among Machu Picchu’s multitude of hidden nooks and corners.

Once we finish our tour, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where we board our return train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy just outside of Cusco.

Option: For those with a passion for trains, and elegant experiences, the Belmond Hiram Bingham offers a magical train journey and unforgettable end to your Machu Picchu visit. Named after the explorer who rediscovered the Inca citadel, the train has two dining cars, an observation/bar car and a kitchen car. As you board, the tables are exquisitely set with gleaming crystal and polished cutlery. The maître d’ will invite you to enjoy a gastronomic dinner, specially created by the onboard chef.

For Active Travellers: We recommend hiking up Huayna Picchu. Meaning ‘Young Peak’ in Quechua, Huayna Picchu is the steeply sloping hill that serves as the backdrop in which most iconic shots of the Machu Picchu ruins are framed. Temple remnants sit atop the mountain’s summit, which can be reached via a steep trail that climbs over 1,000 feet higher than the ruins. The hike to the summit is achievable; taking most fit travellers about 2 hours roundtrip, though parts of the trail are exposed with unguarded drop-offs. Children under 12 are not permitted by the government, people in poor physical condition or those with a fear of heights or vertigo.  Permits should be purchased at the time of booking.

Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions: Private transportation, English-speaking guide, Machu Picchu tickets, bus tickets (up and down), Expedition train tickets.

Hotel: Tierra Viva San Blas / or similar

Day 7Cusco Foodie Walking Tour

Today we will enjoy a walking tour of the city in the morning before having the afternoon to rest!

Our walking tour explores the Inca roots, the history of the conquest of Cusco, and Cusco’s rich gastronomy. Begin at the San Pedro Market, sampling some tamales, among other flavors.

Other important stops are the Plaza de Armas, the iconic Qorikancha and the Twelve-Angled Stone, blended with delicious Peruvian dishes. Finish in San Blas, enjoying a local dessert and a breathtaking view of the city of Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast, Tastings
Inclusions: Private English-speaking guide
Hotel: Tierra Viva San Blas / or similar

Day 8Departure & Onward Travel

After a refreshing night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time to catch your next flight.

Keep in mind: it is recommended to be at the airport at least 1.5 hours prior to domestic flights, and 3 hours prior to international flight departures.

Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions: Airport transfer

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