Itineraries for Your Trip to Cusco
3 Days in Cusco for Foodies
Lima often hogs the limelight when it comes to Peruvian cuisine, but Cusco's prime location in the midst of the country's fertile mountain ranges means it boasts some of Peru's best and freshest ingredients.
Local cuisine bursts with flavor and creativity, and it's also steeped in Inca mythology and tradition. In my exploration of local markets, I found all manner of weird and wonderful potions said to cure ailments—I was offered frog juice to boost my intelligence and endless cups of maté tea to help with altitude sickness. Here’s how to sample the best of Cusco’s meals in three days.
Cusco can get cold, so stay warm with hearty dishes such as chicken soup.
If you have time for just one thing, make it San Pedro Market, where you’ll find hundreds of food stalls.
Introduce your palate to the rich and varied ingredients of Peruvian cuisine on a visit to San Pedro Market, where stalls stacked high with fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and spices compete for your attention. Sample local staples such as pan de chicharrones (roasted pork sandwich) and, if you’re feeling brave, buy a steaming bowl of calda de cabeza (sheep’s head soup) or sample a roasted cuy (guinea pig).
Tonight, treat your tastebuds to Peru’s most famous cocktail—the pisco sour. On a guided experience, learn to master the cocktail, which contains lemon, egg whites, and brandy with an evening stroll of Cusco—which looks magical when illuminated at night.
This morning, combine sightseeing with food sampling as you explore Cusco’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. Grab a freshly steamed corn on the cob rolled in tangy cheese called choclo con queso from a vendor at Plaza de Armas, before following the smoky scent of anticucho, which are grilled skewers most commonly made with beef or chicken hearts.
Peru’s biodiverse landscapes aren’t only perfect for growing coffee beans, they also produce some of the world’s best cacao. No visit to Cusco is complete without satisfying your sweet tooth at the ChocoMuseo, where you can learn more about the process and make your own chocolate bar.
Now that you’ve sampled a selection of Peruvian classics, master the art of making them in a hands-on cooking class. Make classic dishes such as quinoa risotto and lomo saltado (slow-cooked beef in spices) and delve deeper into local culture.
End your time in Cusco by sampling elevated signature dishes at an upscale restaurant. Local favorites include El Tupay at the Belmond Monasterio Hotel, where you can dine on Peruvian fusion food in an elegant setting, and Limo on Plaza de Armas, which specializes in ceviche and panoramic views.
