Savoring Peru’s Culinary Treasures

Welcome to Peru! Arrive at your hotel in Lima, the City of Kings.

When your international flight arrives in Lima, look for your Kuoda host holding a sign with your name on it! We know you’ll most likely be a little tired after your long flight, so we’ll save you the stress of trying to navigate and bring you straight to your hotel where you can shake off that icky flight feeling with a shower and a sleep. Relax into the evening and enjoy a good night’s rest.

Take a private colonial tour of Lima’s Historic Center and visit the renowned Larco Herrera Museum.

Wake up refreshed and enjoy breakfast in your hotel this morning. You have the morning to spend at your leisure, exploring the vibrant neighborhood of Miraflores, a foodie paradise.

At the appropriate time mid-day, we’ll collect you and bring you to the Pueblo Libre neighborhood, home to the Larco Herrera Museum. Housing the country’s largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including extensive gold and silver collections, as well as the infamous erotic archaeological collection and providing rare open access to their exquisitely cataloged storage area, this museum is the perfect introduction to Peru’s multi-faceted cultural history.

First, you’ll begin your visit with a delicious lunch enjoyed on the vine-covered terrace of the museum’s café, and then you’ll have time to explore the exhibits.

Next, we’ll delve into the heart of Peru’s “City of Kings,” where you’ll visit the Plaza Mayor, featuring the current President’s palace, the Convent of San Francisco (including subterranean catacombs!), and the Casa Aliaga, which is the western hemisphere’s oldest mansion and still owned and inhabited by the 17th generation of the Aliaga family.

Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you to an exclusive, highly praised restaurant in Lima such as Central or Maido, both currently on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Fly to Cusco to tour an ancient local hacienda and stop by the agricultural ruins and vibrant market of Pisac. We’ll escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco in the morning. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

Your journey will take you to an ancient hacienda, nestled in the fertile valley next to the pueblo of Pisac. Step onto the family-owned hacienda grounds and step into centuries past while your hosts expound upon the growing process of Giant White Corn and its profound cultural significance in the Andes Mountains. This hacienda dates back generations, and you’ll immediately be immersed in local customs steeped in the spirits and mysticism of the Andes, and embraced by the warmth of local Peruvians.

Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch with sample dishes featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn, and make sure to visit the on-site stables housing the renowned Peruvian Paso horses. Watch the horses dance with their human counterparts in a “marinera” demonstration, and even go for a quick trot yourself if you feel up to the task.

From there, your exclusive tour of Peru will take you to another valley town – Pisac – where you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with locals as you survey the artisan offerings of the market. Vegetables, textiles, and silver jewelry are just some of the items that are sold here.

Visit Ollantaytambo’s iconic ruins and Pisac market.

Start your tour of the Sacred Valley in the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, where the centuries-old influence of the Incas is still very much visible. Water from the mountains trickles down to the Inca-built street canals, while the original Inca walls and trapezoidal doors are still standing.

With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above the town. This is the spot where the Incas secured an important victory over the Spanish conquistadors. Inspect the intricately hewn stone constructions and have your guide show you the distant quarries from which the Incas sourced their materials. This site also affords fabulous views of the valley and the Urubamba River that meanders through it.

Afterward, your exclusive tour of Peru will take you to another valley town – Pisac – where you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with locals as you survey the artisan offerings of the market. Vegetables, textiles, and silver jewelry are just some of the items sold here.

End the day with one more archaeological site visit, this time to the abandoned mountainside ruins of the original Inca Pisac village. Look out across verdant Inca farmland that has since been transformed into agricultural farms for modern-day Quechua people. Later, return to the hotel of your choice.

Embark on an exclusive trek up the highly coveted Huayna Picchu!

Today you have the option to hike two different trails – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, so it’s completely up to you! This will be the culmination of your Machu Picchu luxury tour, so enjoy it however you want. Adventurous travelers who desire something off-the-beaten-path should hike the steep slope of Huayna Picchu, offering unrivaled views of Machu Picchu. Please note that only a limited amount of hikers are allowed to climb Huayna Picchu each day and tickets will need to be purchased in advance along with your Machu Picchu entrance.

In the afternoon, reconvene in Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Your Kuoda host will meet you at the station and bring you to your hotel for a well-earned evening of rest.

Connect with Andean locals and visit the Andean village of Maras and the famous archaeological site of Moray.

At Moray, experts today believe these grassy amphitheaters served as a farming laboratory, with the varying temperatures and soils of the ascending terraces providing different growing environments. We’ll pass through the town of Maras – known for its beautiful colonial doorways – before arriving at the town’s still-in-use salt pans. The small white evaporation pools that cover the hillside are still harvested by locals in a traditional manner. We’ll pause for a delicious local lunch, where you’ll be able to sample some regional fare.

Post lunch you’ll have a chance to mingle with the locals during a visit to an off-the-beaten-track highland village on the shore of the icy blue Lake Piuray. This rural community subsists on agriculture and many of the women are master weavers, creating exquisite textiles using generations-old techniques. You will have the opportunity to communicate with the residents, visit their houses and fields, and experience what day-to-day life is like in the Andean highlands. If it is a weekday, you might also get to meet some of the local children who attend Kuoda’s after-school program – they love sharing their art with visitors. Later, you’ll return to your luxury hotel to privately enjoy the evening.

Explore the hidden cobblestone streets of historical Cusco and taste your way through the most iconic Peruvian products.

It’s time to get acquainted with Cusco, a picturesque city that is loved by travelers from all over the world. Wander through the cobblestone streets in the company of your guide who will help illuminate the history of this colonial city. As you explore the city’s sights, Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery, a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun, Cusco’s striking cultural blend will soon become apparent. Roam the atmospheric streets of the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, which is known for its free-spirited scene; see where the locals make their grocery runs at the open-air San Pedro market and pass the famous 12-angled stone, whose image appears on the bottle of the local Cusqueña beer.

At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest places to enjoy a delicious light local lunch, but make sure to save some room for the snacks that await you in your Peru culinary tour this afternoon.

First make your way to the Coffee Museum, just a ten-minute walk from your hotel, where a stimulating aroma will welcome you in. After a workshop detailing coffee’s history as well as how it is grown, sorted, and roasted, you will be whisked away to the Chocolate Museum. Did you know that Peru is the birthplace of chocolate? Here you will learn about its spectacular history and the unique process that chocolate undergoes from plant to plate. Best of all, make your own chocolate truffles to bring home with you! Lastly, you will find yourself in the Republica del Pisco to taste an assortment of the country’s spirit of choice paired with Peruvian fusion appetizers. This is the perfect way to know which Pisco variety you’ll want to take home with you.

Spend the morning at your leisure and spend the afternoon whipping up some traditional Peruvian fare.

Today you have a free morning to sleep in and relax, or get up early to watch the Plaza de Armas come to life with the sunrise! You could also opt to roam around and discover Cusco and its fascinating streets and shops. Have a late-morning snack or light lunch, but nothing too heavy, as you will want to show up to your afternoon activity hungry.

In the early afternoon, continue with your Peru culinary tour by heading to one of Cusco’s best restaurants and spending the afternoon learning about Peru’s culinary history and current cuisine from one of the best area chefs. You will learn how to make Peruvian starters and entrees, accompanied by a never-ending stream of snacks and samples fresh from the restaurant’s oven. Delight your palate with exotic fruits, make Pisco-based cocktails, learn a traditional way to slice vegetables, and spend the afternoon laughing and enjoying this truly special cooking class.

Tour the bohemian streets of Barranco and bid farewell to Peru!

Bid farewell to Peru!

After nearly two weeks of unforgettable memories made in Peru, it’s time to depart home. First, we’ll bring you to Tumbes airport for your return flight to Lima. In Lima, a Kuoda host will meet you and take you to a restaurant in Costa del Sol before returning to the airport for your journey home! Buen viaje!