Cultural Peru Tour: Flavors, Villages & Ancient Ruins

Ruins at Moray in the Sacred Valley near Cusco, Peru

What to expect on this itinerary

Devour sensational recipes and unique heritage during your 8-day Peru culture tour divulging the essence of the Andes. The majestic plateau of Machu Picchu will shine above the waters of the Urubamba River while the saltpans of Maras glint in the sunlight. Irresistible ruins will create unique visions across the Andean Altiplano and delicious cuisine will fill towns with the aroma of Peruvian mint as you discover Peru.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Lima, Miraflores, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Maras, Moray, Aguas Calientes

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Lima – The Essence of Flavor

Welcome to Lima where the hint of ceviche drifts in from the beachside. The zesty lemon perfumes much of the city, mixing with the scent of fresh-crusted herbs of famous Peruvian roasted chicken. The sweeping city of Lima is filled with neighborhoods as diverse as the moon to the sun. The culture, food, and even the slang changes, giving Lima an eclectic mixture of smells, flavors, and experiences. Stroll along the coastal walkway through the trendy neighborhood of Miraflores. The waves crash against the sandy shores. The lighthouse stands proud over the sea, its white and black stripes shining in the open sky. The fresh ceviche drifts through restaurant doors and beckons to you. The cool maritime breeze brushes against your cheeks and Lima welcomes you with a taste of the city’s uniqueness.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Lima – Enjoying a Taste

Day 3

Cusco – Andean Flavors Abound

Day 4

Sacred Valley – Savoring the Valley

Day 5

Aguas Calientes – The Essence of Wonder

Day 6

Cusco – The Savoring of Grandeur

Day 7

Cusco – The Exploration of Flavor

Day 8

Cusco – The Grand Taste of Peru

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the hypnotic awe of Machu Picchu
  • Explore the depths of the Sacred Valley and get a taste of traditional Andean life
  • Traverse the ruins and history of Cusco from the cultural remnants of the Inca to the architectural footprints of the Spanish
  • Witness the incredible saltpans of Maras and the fabulous circular terraces of Moray
  • Enjoy the delightful flavors of a quintessential Peruvian Arcade
  • Experience the traditional textiles and life of the famous Pisac Market

Detailed Description

Devour Peru on this 8-day tour meant for amateur or professional chefs, food lovers, culinary enthusiasts, culinary novices, travel lovers, travel novices, and anyone with an appetite for more. Experience the zest of Lima on a tour of a traditional market. Taste the incredible food of the Andes with a journey through Pisac. Explore the surrounding towns of the Sacred Valley and discover the essence of the Lost City of Machu Picchu. Your journey through Peru will give you a sample of the magnificent: the food, the culture, the history, and the country.

Your adventure through Peru begins in Lima where each neighborhood boasts its own traditional dish, with the aromas of eclectic cooking gliding from restaurants and homes. Tour the culinary wonders of the city, through a traditional market, and past the aromas of citrus and seafood. Fly to Cusco and venture into the Sacred Valley where divided ruins are spread through the mountains and the famous Pisac Market boasts centuries of textiles and simmering culinary flavors. The village of Ollantaytambo fills the once Inca city, where ruins climb the hillside and are carved into the mountain.

Your train ride to the foothills of the Lost City gives you a taste of the jungle, the smell of coffee, and the panorama of the Sacred Valley. Ascend into Machu Picchu and discover a taste for history among the breathtaking ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Return to Cusco and enjoy a tour of the Spanish architecture centered on Inca foundations, where the city and its surroundings sing like an open-air museum. From the food to the culture, the magnificent essence of the cities and villages isn’t relegated to the cooking but to the people, the ruins, the architecture, the history, and the overall connection of Peruvian life. 

Related Information: Zicasso offers a variety of Peru tours with visits to Machu Picchu. Browse the Machu Picchu trip reviews to read about the customized experiences of Peru travelers on Zicasso.

Starting Price

$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 904 reviews

Jennifer S.
Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador Tour Review: Galapagos, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Tambopata, Valle Nevado, Rio, Cruise, Island Hikes, Swimming with Penguins, Wildlife, 22 Nights

This was a big and complex trip, but it went very smoothly and we were delighted with each segment of our travels.

See more

Cheryl F.
Peru Anniversary Travel Review: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Scenery, 1 Week

My husband and I had a fantastic time on our trip to Peru. I would highly recommend Zicasso’s travel agency! Our agent listened to all of our wants and needs, and certainly delivered! She even made a point to meet us in person and give us an anniversary gift, which was so thoughtful and unexpected.

A couple of things:

It would be great if the travel agency had an app that showed your daily itinerary. Other agencies have this and it makes it very convenient to understand where you are going and at what time.

Second, travelers, beware of the altitude! It really affected me, to the point where I needed oxygen. (By the way, the hotels make this readily available to guests.) I would ensure anyone going to Cusco/Machu Picchu is well aware of this. Also, we did not visit the Rainbow Mountain and I am glad we didn't. The altitude there is 5,000 meters, which is over 16,000 feet, which my body would not have been able to handle.

Overall, this was a trip of a lifetime and I want to thank the travel agent again for planning such a wonderful trip!

See more

Dana B.
Peru Trip Review: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Mountain Bike Ride, Cooking Class, History, Scenery, Local Cuisine, 10 Days

We loved working with Zicasso’s tour operator for our trip to Peru. Our agent was incredibly responsive and organized. She listened to our ideas and preferences, and immediately got to work planning a trip that was perfect for us. She answered messages immediately and was flexible, but also gave honest and helpful feedback and suggestions. We would recommend this tour operator wholeheartedly to anyone planning a trip to Peru!

See more

marla H.
Peru Travel Review: Machu Picchu, Cuisine, 10 Nights

Fantastic!!!! I can't say enough good things about this trip. Zicasso's travel partner did an excellent job at everything! Communication was excellent, our tours were perfect, and our guides and drivers were so helpful.

The guides were beyond our expectations with their knowledge, flexibility, and always going above and beyond. I ended up in the hospital and our guide came to the hospital and helped with all the details, getting me a refund on parts of my bill and getting us to our flight home in less than three hours from being released from the hospital!!

See more

Amanda T.
Peru Family Trip Review: Machu Picchu, ATV Ride, 10 Nights

From the first communication, Zicasso's travel partner listened to our hopes for the trip (multiple locations, epic adventures, keeping teenagers engaged) and crafted a perfect itinerary. Every aspect of the trip was seamless, with the best tours and the best guides, and perfectly appointed hotels.

Our trip coordinator was super-accessible and helpful before and during the trip for any questions that came up. She had great recommendations and insights that we appreciated as first-timers to Peru. She even came by mid-week to say hello, which was an incredible surprise and so wonderful to get to meet her in person!

When one of our return flights home was cancelled, she quickly pivoted and took care of everything to ensure we could still enjoy our last day without stress. The whole family is still talking about the trip and I am so grateful to our trip coordinator for helping us to create a lifetime of incredible memories!

See more

Jesse D.
Peru, Ecuador Trip Review: Lima, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Luxury Galapagos Cruise, Cuisine 13 Nights

Overall, the trip was outstanding. It was on our bucket list for a long time and it lived up to all expectations. Zicasso's tour company and travel agent were very knowledgeable and helped plan all the details. As with all travel, there were a few small things that came up, but they resolved the issues quickly and effectively. I would highly recommend this travel agency.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews
Zicasso in the News