Flavours of Peru

An English-speaking Aracari representative will be waiting at the airport to greet you with a welcome pack, brief you on your trip, and escort you to your hotel to assist you with check-in. Within the welcome pack, you will find a hard copy of your itinerary for your trip with local times, maps, recommended shopping and eating and background information about the sites you will visit.

After settling into your luxury hotel, you’ll have time to spend at leisure before preparing for dinner at the world’s best restaurant.

Dinner in Lima | Depending on your arrival time, we recommend beginning your culinary adventure with a reservation at one of Lima’s top restaurants, such as Maido with Head Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura or Astrid y Gaston with Head Chef Gaston Acurio.

Lima with Zest | 5-hour tour led by our expert guide | There are many ways to get to know a city, but one of the most gratifying and interesting is through its food. This is especially true of Lima, with the infinite textures, colours, aromas and flavours that this generous land provides. “Lima with Zest” is a hands-on experience that gets everyone involved, from searching for a variety of local and seasonal ingredients from vendors at a local market right down to the preparation of a cuisine that is based on ancient traditions and long-established culinary styles. Your personal chef and instructor will give you more than a simple demonstration; you can expect to learn by getting directly involved, from the introduction to and tasting of foreign produce to getting your hands right in on the action in the kitchen. All cooking is done overlooking the Pacific, the district known for its bohemian character and home of famous Peruvian writers of the 20th century.

Guests may also choose a 4-hour cookery class with a professional chef as an alternative. Get to know the city’s thriving culinary scene today starting with a visit to one of Lima’s popular local markets, led by Peruvian professional chef Ignacio Barrios. Peruse the stalls and learn about exotic fruits, vegetables and other products that are essential elements of Peruvian cuisine. Ignacio will then accompany you to Urban Kitchen for your private cooking lesson where you’ll begin by preparing a classic chilcano cocktail a refreshing and popular Peruvian drink made with Pisco.

Ignacio will share insight into some of the social and cultural aspects of Peru’s rich culinary history as you learn to cook four dishes hands-on under his expert guidance, using fresh ingredients.

Private Dining Experience | Tonight, enjoy a private cooking demonstration and 5-course tasting menu hosted by an acclaimed Peruvian chef.

Into the Past | 4-hour tour led by one of our specialist guides | One of the main fascinations of Lima is the concentration of ancient history in the area; not only do the origins of the city pre-date the Spanish foundation of the city by several millennia, its museums are full of the artistic treasures of magnificent pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished throughout the coastal deserts of Peru. Begin to unravel this multifaceted history and discover the complex past of this fascinating city with a visit to the colonial area of Lima featuring the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Main Square with its beautiful neo-colonial style buildings.

Urban Eats | 4-hour food tour led by a friend in the city | Having exploded onto the global food scene, Peru is now widely regarded as one of the world’s principal food travel destinations. Home to colourful dishes inspired by the country’s dramatically diverse geography, rich ethnic make-up and long culinary history, on today’s sampling tour you will savour some of the flavours that have helped put Peru on the world food map. Visiting a local market, traditional bodegas and artisan eateries that collectively showcase some of the best of Peru’s produce, discover new ingredients and learn more about Lima’s trailblazing gastronomic status.

Dinner at Central Restaurant | This evening, you will enjoy dinner at Central Restaurant. #1 on the World’s Top 50 Restaurants List (2023), Central delivers ambitious and worldly fusion from chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz, who has crafted a series of modern, molecular dishes using ingredients native to Peru. We have booked a table for you. You will pay the restaurant directly for your meal and any other consumption. Start at a lively, local market brimming with ingredients that are core to Peruvian cuisine such as fish, crucial to the classic Peruvian Ceviche, the humble potato, of which Peru boasts more than 3,000 varieties, and grains like caiguas and cañihua. We will also introduce you to native fruits such as chirimoya and sacha inchi guaranteeing there will be some you have never come across before!

Leave Lima behind as you fly to Cusco in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Guided Visit to Pisac Ruins & Market | On route to the Sacred Valley from Cusco airport you’ll stop at Pisac, one of the most important Inca sites in the Urubamba Valley. With Inca masonry of superlative quality, the stunning terracing following the contours of the mountain and the superior view of the valley will leave you in awe. Explore at your own pace in this marvellous setting before heading to the town to experience the sights and sounds of Pisac’s famous market, with a variety of handicrafts and fresh produce.

Hacienda Sarapampa | 3-hour visit hosted by the owners | Protected by the mountains and its unique climate, the Sacred Valley is the cradle of one of the most exceptional corn varieties in the world: giant white corn. At Hacienda Sarapampa – meaning ‘cornfield’ in Quechua you will gain insight into the traditional customs of working Hacienda life and learn first-hand why giant white Cusco corn is so important for the economy of local families in the Sacred Valley.

Enjoy a private lunch with the hacienda owners served on the terrace, with a menu of seven courses based on both indigenous ingredients and cuisines introduced during colonial times. The ingredients and dishes will all be presented and explained to you. You then have the option to view a traditional Peruvian Paso Horse show, with explanations of the origin of the Peruvian Paso Horse.

Guided Visit to Maras & Moray | Today you will visit Maras, the site of the remarkable and unusual Salinas, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley and not far from Urubamba, afterwards heading to an organic farm and learn how to prepare a Pachamanca (a traditional Inca cooking technique cooking over hot stones). Enjoy the delicious meal alfresco with some homemade sides and some local drinks made from purple corn!

Alternatively, you can enjoy a tasting menu at one of the top restaurants in the Sacred Valley followed by a visit to a brewery where you can sample some craft beers along with a guided tour.

Guided Visit to Ollantaytambo Town & Fortress | Visit the fabulous town of Ollantaytambo and its ruins. After your visit, you will drive by private vehicle to the train station in Ollantaytambo to begin your journey to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu | Embark on a journey of pure luxury on board the Hiram Bingham train from Poroy to Aguas Calientes. This train guarantees the highest quality of service and has a total of four cars with room for 84 passengers, including two dining cars, a bar and observation car and a kitchen. Enjoy a gourmet brunch during this spectacular journey through the Sacred Valley, passing by lush landscapes and Andean villages.

On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel nearby to Machu Picchu where you’ll spend two days accompanied by an expert guide who will help select the best hikes for your fitness levels before heading on the journey towards Cusco.

Explore the ancient Inca capital of Cusco | Without a doubt one of the most beautiful towns in Peru and arguably in South America Cusco is filled with enriching history. Visit the Renaissance-style Cathedral, certainly one of the most imposing structures in the city, and admire the exquisite stonework of Koricancha, or the Inca “Sun Temple.” You’ll also get to walk around the bustling, open-air San Pedro market, where you will be mesmerized by the variety of unique fruits and potatoes, before sojourning to the outskirts of the city to view the important Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman.

Evening food tour on foot led by a culinary expert | On this sampling food tour learn about the many influences on Peruvian food that have helped position Peru as one of the world’s top culinary destinations, from Andean superfoods to Pacific seafood, to international influences assimilated through waves of immigration and rich history. Visit some of Cusco’s foodie hot spots to learn about and discuss the origins and influences of dishes and ingredients as you try them.

Cusco Cookery Class | An exciting immersive experience, you will then be given an introduction to Andean gastronomy and a demonstration of the different ingredients that can be found at an Andean marketplace: chilli, chocolate, potatoes, tomatoes, grains such as quinoa, and a variety of tropical fruits.

Waive goodbye to this beautiful country, or choose one of our optional extensions to Ica, Nazca and Paracas, or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime 4-day, 3-night cruise through the Amazon, or Lake Titicaca, or Arequipa.