Taste of Peru
Nine days across the Andes and down to the coast. Spend time making drinks with Luis, weaving with Juan and Elena, and exploring archeological sites with Cristo.
“[Dinner with Anilu] was like eating at Auntie's house with good food and fun atmosphere. I think it is always special to have someone who is passionate about food along with culinary expertise take you on an old market tour. There's nothing more interesting than meeting the "real" people in their "real" environment to get to know them.“ - Coralie K.
→ Cusco → Lima
Imagine yourself…
Kayaking on a serene lake, strolling cobblestone streets on a Cusco walking tour, and sipping on a Pisco Sour before enjoying a traditional Peruvian meal cooked in the ground.
From the terraces and the salt flats, all the way to the table.
Most food tours start at the plate. We start where the food does and follow it the whole way. Peru isn't one kind of meal, so we don't build one kind of trip.
The fields
The agricultural terraces the Incas engineered.
The makers
Alpaca wool sheared, washed, dyed, spun, and woven.
The hands
Cooking traditional dishes with a local chef.
The history
Why any of this food exists here, learned by visiting historical sites.
The table
A pachamanca out of the ground, eaten outdoors surrounded by the impressive Andean mountains
Friends You Haven't Met Yet
Our personal relationships in Peru with local chefs, guides, artisans, and families open doors to experiences most travelers never have - a chef sharing the secrets behind the perfect ceviche, an artisan revealing the craft of Andean weaving, or a warm invitation to dine with a family in their home in the Sacred Valley.
Cristo - Sacred Valley
Cristo guides us through the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with quiet humor and a deep well of stories of Andean history.
Luis - Cusco
Luis welcomes us into his cozy, closed-for-us bar for an intimate tasting of Peru’s most iconic spirits.
Juan and Elena - Sacred Valley
Juan and Elena open their home and hearts to us, sharing the weaving techniques passed down through generations.
Pablo - Sacred Valley
Pablo, a well-known local ceramicist, leads a hands-on workshop where you paint your own piece in his studio.
Be fully present. We’ve handled everything else.
✓ 4-5* Boutique Accommodations
✓ Airport meet and greet with private transfers
✓All ground transportation
✓Flight from Cusco to Lima
✓ All meals listed in the itinerary
✓ Wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals
✓ All activities, experiences, tours, and sightseeing
✓ All taxes and tips for all drivers, guides, restaurants, and more
✓ 24/7 Tour Host
Exclusions: mandatory travel insurance, international airfare, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.
Just 6 – 12 travelers — small enough to fit inside a family kitchen.
"It was like visiting old friends or relatives which made us feel very special."
"The emphasis on the people, culture, local food, and small group size fit all my boxes for a perfect tour. We loved meeting all the contacts that TTLT has made over the years."
"This was possibly the best organized and most personalized tour we’ve ever taken."
"While this trip seemed expensive, it was worth every penny and was a great value."
"The tour host has extensive local knowledge and relationships that enhanced the experiences we had."
Taste of Peru Small Group Trip
To the market, then a chef’s own kitchen
A private driver takes you from Cusco airport on the scenic route down to our lodge in the Sacred Valley. After time to settle in, we meet Anilu. She walks us through the local market to choose our ingredients, then teaches us to prepare traditional dishes in her restaurant.
Nature, pachamanca, and salt flats
Kayaking on a nearby lake or a nature stroll with our guide, then a pachamanca lunch - an ancient Andean meal cooked underground with herbs, meats, and vegetables. We visit the Maras salt flats and learn how important they are to hundreds of families. The evening is yours.
Wool in your hands, then the train to Machu Picchu
In a small Andean village, learn from local weavers how they wash, dye, and spin alpaca wool using traditional techniques. Lunch at a favorite local spot, then the panoramic train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo and dinner at our hillside hotel.
Machu Picchu
A full morning on an in-depth tour of the archeological site with plenty of time for photographs. Lunch, then back to the hotel. A leisurely dinner, with optional spa treatment or souvenir shopping in town.
Ceramics Workshop
The scenic train back to Ollantaytambo, with a farm-to-table lunch and a hands-on ceramics workshop led by a local artisan. Dinner and evening in Cusco.
Last of the Andes
Our last full day in the mountains is spent on a guided walking tour through Cusco and the blend of Incan and colonial heritage. We close the morning with a cocktail workshop led by our friend Luis where we make Peruvian craft spirits. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore the city, shop, or rest.
Down to the coast and into Barranco
We fly to Lima and dive straight into the food scene on a progressive dinner tour, stopping at multiple places around the city, tasting all that the country's gourmet capital has to offer.
Chocolate & Coffee, Maido Tasting Menu
We spend the morning on a tour of the Barranco neighborhood with our local guide, and enjoy a chocolate and coffee tasting. Then a light lunch at our friend Marilyn's home at her apartment overloaking the ocean. After a free afternoon, we have our final dinner at Maido, where Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion tasting menu closes the trip.
Hasta Luego
Farewell to your tour host and new friends before your driver takes you to the Lima airport or onward, if you’d like to see more of Peru.
Our itinerary is always evolving as we coordinate with our friends in Peru around their schedules. Consider it a vivid preview of what travel with us feels like.
This tour does not include the Inca Trail hike or camping.
Let's start with a conversation.
Whether you're wondering about the group dynamic, the activity level, or exactly what happens on day 7 — we're here. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked
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Travelers should be comfortable engaging in activities like walking tours (lasting up to 4 hours), walking over uneven terrain like cobblestone streets, climbing steep stone steps, and standing for extended periods.
This tour is appropriate for those who are comfortable with some longer and moderately active days, mostly spent outdoors.
If you have any specific questions you’d like to discuss with the tour host, contact us!
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There are only 6 - 12 travelers on this group trip. With fewer travelers, we can explore unique, off-the-beaten-path spaces that larger groups can't access, such as family-owned kitchens, bustling markets, and private homes.
This small size also fosters meaningful connections - whether it’s sharing stories over a meal with a local host or bonding with fellow travelers, our trips feel more personal.