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Food tours in Cusco: what to eat and which tour to book
Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres, and its food is Andean: hundreds of potato varieties, corn with huge kernels, quinoa, alpaca, trout from mountain lakes and rivers, and cuy (guinea pig) roasted for celebrations. Cusqueños have their own set dishes for particular days, such as adobo for Sunday breakfast and chiriuchu for Corpus Christi in June, and chicharrón (fried pork) is a weekend institution. The streets around the Plaza de Armas are full of restaurants aimed at visitors; locals eat at San Pedro Market, the chicharronerías on Pampa del Castillo, the picanterías that hang a red flag or bag on a pole to show they have chicha, and in the cuy villages south of the city.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when to go. The tours listed are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and schedules change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Cusco
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast guinea pig cuy al horno / cuy chactado | Guinea pig, an Andean food for centuries, either roasted whole in a wood oven stuffed with herbs (al horno) or flattened and fried under a stone (chactado), served with potatoes and stuffed rocoto pepper. Usually ordered whole or by half for sharing. | Restaurants in Cusco, but locals go to the villages south-east of the city on the road towards Urcos, especially Tipón and Saylla area restaurants and Lucre, at weekends. | roughly S/ 60–100 for a whole cuy (€15–25), more in restaurants by the Plaza de Armas |
| Fried pork chicharrón cusqueño | Pork pieces cooked in their own fat in large pans until crisp outside and tender inside, served with large-kernel corn (mote), potatoes, fried bread or mint and onion salad. | The row of chicharronerías on Pampa del Castillo street, a few blocks from Coricancha, and in Saylla, which is known for it. | roughly S/ 25–45 a plate (€6–11) |
| Sunday pork stew adobo cusqueño | Pork marinated in chicha de jora (corn beer), chilli, garlic and spices, slow cooked into a dark, spicy broth and eaten on Sunday mornings with bread as a cure for Saturday night. | Picanterías and local restaurants on Sunday mornings; ask in the San Blas and Santiago neighbourhoods or at the markets. | roughly S/ 15–25 a bowl (€3.70–6) |
| Corpus Christi cold plate chiriuchu | A cold feast plate of roast cuy, chicken, dried beef, sausage, cheese, toasted corn, seaweed, fish roe and rocoto, eaten during the Corpus Christi festival in June. | Around the Plaza de Armas and San Cristóbal during Corpus Christi; some restaurants serve it at other times. | roughly S/ 30–50 a plate (€7.50–12.50) |
| Alpaca and trout lomo de alpaca / trucha | Alpaca meat is lean and mild, served as steak, in stews or grilled; river and lake trout is fried or grilled. Both are common on Cusco menus. | Restaurants around the centre and San Blas; trout is also cheap in market lunch stalls. | alpaca roughly S/ 40–70; trout roughly S/ 20–45 (€5–17) |
| Corn and cheese choclo con queso | A cob of giant-kernel Andean corn (choclo) with a slab of fresh salty cheese, sold from baskets on the street and at markets, especially around harvest from about March to June. | Street vendors, markets and roadside stands on the way to the Sacred Valley. | about S/ 4–8 (€1–2) |
| Quinoa soup and Andean soups sopa de quinua / chairo / caldo | Hearty soups with quinoa, potatoes, freeze-dried potato (chuño) and meat or vegetables; light and warming at altitude and part of every menú lunch. | San Pedro Market lunch stalls and local menú restaurants. | roughly S/ 6–15 a bowl (€1.50–3.70) |
| Chicha and coca tea chicha de jora / chicha morada / mate de coca | Chicha de jora is a lightly fermented corn beer, sold in picanterías marked by a red flag or plastic bag on a pole; chicha morada is a sweet non-alcoholic purple-corn drink; mate de coca is coca-leaf tea, offered everywhere to help with altitude. | Picanterías in the San Blas, Santiago and San Sebastián areas; chicha morada and coca tea at almost every restaurant. | about S/ 3–10 a glass (€0.75–2.50) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
San Pedro Market
Cusco's central market, opened in 1925 and with around 1,180 stalls, a short walk south-west of the Plaza de Armas. Inside: rows of fruit-juice stalls, cheese, bread from Oropesa, potatoes, herbs and meat, and long lunch counters serving soups, trout and menú plates to locals.
Pampa del Castillo
Short street south of the Plaza de Armas lined with chicharronerías serving fried pork, mote and potatoes, popular with Cusqueño families.
San Blas
Steep artisans' quarter above the Plaza de Armas with cafés, bakeries, small restaurants and vegetarian places; more relaxed than the main square.
Tipón, Saylla and Lucre
Towns south-east of Cusco along the road to Urcos known for cuy al horno (Tipón) and chicharrón (Saylla); combine a cuy lunch with the Inca terraces at Tipón.
Plaza de Armas and Calle Procuradores
The main square and the narrow street off it are packed with restaurants for visitors: convenient and sometimes good, but prices are higher and touts are constant.
Food tours in Cusco compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cusco: Hands-On Peruvian Cooking Class | 1.5 hours | from €36 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Cusco: Walking Food Tour & City Tour | 4 hours | from €70 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings | 4 hours | from €58 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Cusco Night Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local | 1 hour | from €27 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Food Tour around Cusco and Sacred Valley | 10 hours | from €215 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Cusco Cooking Class with a Local: Andean flavors | 3 hours | from €61 per person | max 8 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Cusco: Hands-On Peruvian Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by Ivanna Lescano Cooking Class
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €36 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 8 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 1.5-hour hands-on cooking class Professional chef instructor All ingredients and cooking equipment Peruvian ceviche preparation Lomo saltado preparation Passion fruit chilcano cocktail making with pisco Lunch (the lom…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- C. Palacio 135, Cusco 08002, Perú
Cusco: Walking Food Tour & City Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Exquisito Peru – Food Tours
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €70 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 37 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by A Chef's Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €58 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 4 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- 15+ food tastings included, more than any other Cusco food tour Moveable feast with 7-8 stops around the streets of old Cusco Max 8 exclusive guests, smallest group size in Cusco (private / larger groups by request) B…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Mercado de Wanchaq, Av. Huascar, Cusco 08002, Peru
Cusco Night Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local
On GetYourGuide · run by CuscoWalks
- Length
- 1 hour
- Price
- from €27 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 4 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- All food tastings (anticuchos, papa rellena, picarones, arroz con leche) 1 traditional emoliente drink Local expert guide Visits to carefully selected street food stalls Cultural and historical explanations of each di…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Starbucks
Food Tour around Cusco and Sacred Valley
On GetYourGuide · run by Experience Perú
- Length
- 10 hours
- Price
- from €215 per person
- Group size
- private
- Included
- food included in all the restaurants to visit drinks included transportation during the tour water extra food or drinks souvenirs any other stuff
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- at the church of the plaza
Cusco Cooking Class with a Local: Andean flavors
On GetYourGuide · run by Cook in Fiesta
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €61 per person
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- Cooking class with a local host Hands-on preparation of the menu Multiple tastings and drinks that you will create Cultural explanations throughout the experience Small-group setting Water included and local drinks in…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Ca. Isidoro Flores, Cusco 08003, Peru
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Cusco is simple and mostly daytime: choclo con queso, tamales and humitas in the morning, emoliente (warm herbal drink) from tricycle stalls, and anticuchos on some corners in the evening. Choose stalls where food is hot and cooked to order, and avoid raw salads and uncooked sauces if your stomach is still adjusting to altitude.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants range from cheap menú places (often S/ 10–20 for soup, main and drink) and picanterías serving Andean dishes, to Novo-Andino restaurants in the centre that reinterpret Andean ingredients at Lima-level prices. Eat lightly for the first day or two at altitude, and book the better restaurants in high season (May to September).
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are common in Cusco and usually include a visit to San Pedro Market to learn about potatoes, corn, fruit and herbs, then a class making dishes such as ceviche (with trout), lomo saltado, causa or quinoa dishes and a pisco sour. Some are in the city; others are on farms in the Sacred Valley.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | S/ 40–70 (€10–17): market breakfast and juice, menú lunch, simple dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | S/ 120–200 (€30–50): café breakfast, sit-down lunch and a Novo-Andino or Andean dinner with a drink |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | S/ 400+ (€100+): a tasting menu at one of the top restaurants in the centre or the Sacred Valley |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Reasonably easy because of the visitor numbers: San Blas and the centre have many vegetarian cafés, and quinoa dishes, Andean potatoes, corn, cheese and soups can be vegetarian. In local menú places, soups are often made with meat broth, so ask 'sin carne, con caldo de verduras'.
Halal: Very limited: there are almost no halal-certified restaurants. Pork is central to local food (chicharrón, adobo). Vegetarian dishes, trout and quinoa dishes are the practical options; ask about lard and pork broth.
Gluten-free: Fairly good: potatoes, corn, quinoa, trout and grilled meats are naturally gluten-free. Watch soy sauce in saltados, bread with soups, flour-thickened sauces and fried foods. Restaurants used to visitors usually understand 'sin gluten, soy celíaco/a'.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Touts on the Plaza de Armas and Calle Procuradores offering 'free pisco sour' or discounts to pull you into restaurants with inflated prices and service charges. Pick restaurants yourself, check menu prices and whether service is included before ordering.
- Cuy ordered in a tourist restaurant for well over S/ 100, sometimes small or reheated. Go to the cuy restaurants in Tipón, Saylla or Lucre at weekend lunch, or ask the price and size before ordering.
- Fruit juice and food prices at San Pedro Market quoted higher to visitors than to locals. Ask the price before ordering and look at what locals pay at neighbouring stalls; carry small notes and coins.
- Unlicensed taxis at night after dinner overcharging or worse. Use a ride-hail app or ask the restaurant to call a registered taxi.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Should I eat differently because of the altitude in Cusco?
Yes, for the first day or two. At about 3,400 metres, digestion slows and heavy meals and alcohol make altitude symptoms worse. Eat light soups, drink plenty of water and coca tea, and leave chicharrón, cuy and pisco for later in your stay. If you arrive from Lima, many travellers go down to the Sacred Valley (lower) first.
Where should I try cuy in Cusco?
Many restaurants in the centre serve cuy, but locals go to the villages south-east of the city, especially Tipón and the Saylla–Lucre area, where restaurants roast it in wood ovens at weekend lunch. It is usually served whole for sharing with potatoes and stuffed rocoto. Ask the price and size first.
When is San Pedro Market open?
San Pedro Market opens daily from early morning until late afternoon. Mornings are best for the juice stalls and fresh produce, and the lunch counters are busiest around 12:00–14:00. Some stalls close earlier on Sundays and holidays, so check current hours. Keep valuables close in crowded aisles.
Is it safe to eat street food and drink tap water in Cusco?
Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water. Cooked street food served hot, such as choclo con queso, tamales and anticuchos, is generally fine. Be cautious with raw salads, unpeeled fruit, fresh sauces and ice in very cheap places, especially in your first days at altitude when stomachs are more sensitive.
How much should I tip in Cusco?
About 10% in sit-down restaurants is normal if service is not already on the bill; check, since tourist restaurants sometimes add it. Menú places, market stalls and street vendors do not expect tips, though rounding up helps. For a food-tour or cooking-class guide, about S/ 20–40 per person is common.
How much should I budget for food per day in Cusco?
On a budget, about S/ 40–70 (€10–17) covers a market breakfast with fresh juice, a menú lunch and a simple dinner. A comfortable day with sit-down meals and a drink is roughly S/ 120–200. Tasting menus at the top restaurants start at about S/ 400 per person.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.