Explore the soul and creativity of Peru’s food scene on a journey of extraordinary gastronomic experiences. Discover Lima’s hottest openings, immerse yourself in the tongue-tingling natural larder of the Amazon, and explore traditional foodways and culinary innovation in the Andes, all larded with expert masterclasses in chocolate- and ceviche-making and seats at the country’s top tables—many among the World’s Top 50 Restaurants.
April and May are arguably the best months to visit Peru as the rainy season has ended, the air is clear and the countryside is lush and green.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on two adults travelling for 12 nights and does not include international flights.
3 nights in Lima, 3 nights in Tarapoto, 3 nights in the Sacred Valley, 2 nights in Cusco and 1 night in Lima
What makes this Peru journey special?
- Experience Peru’s traditional foodways and cutting-edge gastronomy with top food industry insiders.
- Immerse yourself in the producers and ingredients of the Amazon with a leading chef and food researcher.
- Dine at some of South America’s most acclaimed and innovative restaurants from Maido and Central in Lima to Efimero in Cusco.
- Explore Mater Iniciativa, Virgilio Martinez’ experimental food laboratory in the Sacred Valley.
- Private masterclasses in everything from chocolate to ceviche.
Your luxury Peru culinary itinerary
Peru’s Melting Pot
Lima
Arriving in the Peruvian capital, settle into Villa Barranco, a stylish retreat in Lima’s most creative district and a wonderful base for exploring the city’s dynamic gastronomy. Join artist and gastronaut André Bordarampe, visiting Lima’s markets, sampling Amazonian fruits like camu camu and aguaje, and enjoying a behind-the-scenes chef-guided ceviche tasting menu at the city’s top seafood restaurant La Mar.
And you’ll meet celebrated chef Penelope Alzamora for a stroll through her favourite local market to select ingredients, heading back to her coastal home to learn some of the techniques of Peruvian gastronomy and enjoy the fruits of your labours together. Wander Barranco’s galleries and cafés, including El Cacaotal, a temple to Peru’s finest single-origin chocolate, before taking in the spectacular pre-Inca ceramics and gardens of the Larco Herrera Museum. By evening, savour the exquisite Nikkei cuisine of visionary chef Micha Tsumura at world-renowned Maido, and cutting-edge Amazonian cuisine at Awa.
Explore the world’s greatest natural larder
Tarapoto
Fly to Tarapoto and settle into your beautiful jungle lodge, Bosque Guardian. Spend your time here learning about the remarkable natural larder of the Amazon. Discover the haunting taste of wild melipona honey, made by stingless bees, and explore the world of cacao as you trace the journey from pod to bar in a jungle community, naturally enjoying the fruits of your labours afterwards.
You’ll also visit the pioneering Mijano Lab, where Amazonian ingredients from citrus ants and jungle herbs to tree barks and ferments are researched, transformed and reimagined through contemporary techniques shaped by close collaboration with local producers. The journey then moves to the table at Patarashca, guided by chef Elia Garcia, whose long-standing influence has helped bring Amazonian cuisine into the wider cultural conversation. Back at the lodge, enjoy seriously creative cuisine featuring unusual local ingredients such as peach palm and smoked river fish.
Andean foodways
Sacred Valley
Fly to the highlands and settle into the quiet elegance of the Belmond Rio Sagrado as you begin exploring the foodways of the Andes. Explore the extraordinary variety of potatoes grown in the Andes with a visit to the farm of ‘potato whisperer’ Manuel Choqque Bravo, who is on a mission to safeguard as many of the 5,000 varieties of potato as he can.
Then visit Moray to understand how the Inca used its astonishing concentric terraces as open-air laboratories to study microclimates and agriculture. At Virgilio Martinez’ nearby MIL Centro, enjoy a seven-course, high-altitude immersion into Andean terroir paired with distilled infusions, followed by a private tour of his culinary research centre Mater Iniciativa. Your time in the Sacred Valley culminates with a private exploration of Machu Picchu before travelling back on the storied Hiram Bingham train to Cusco.
Savouring the Sacred City
Cusco
From your Cusco base at Belmond’s lavish Palacio Nazarenas, explore the sacred city of the Incas, uncovering with your guide the stories behind the city’s iconic squares, churches and architectural gems. Continuing to the charming neighbourhood of San Blas, known for its artisan workshops and bohemian character, you’ll find one of the city’s oldest chapels, famed for its intricately carved pulpit made from a single piece of cedar.
In the evening, we’ll reserve a table for you at what we think is one of South America’s most exciting restaurants, Efimero, where Mugaritz- and Central-trained chef Christian Veliz produces mesmerising dishes that focus on seasonality, texture and storytelling.
Signing off in Style
Lima
Fly back to Lima to enjoy a final night of elegance at the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel, capped off with a reservation at Virgilio Martinez’ groundbreaking restaurant, Central, one of the continent’s most important restaurants and in so many ways the springboard for new Peruvian gastronomy.
Where you'll stay in Peru
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Villa Barranco
Set in a restored 1920s mansion, Villa Barranco captures the quiet elegance of Lima’s coastal charm with the polished flair of a boutique hideaway. Soft light filters through airy rooms, highlighting curated Peruvian artworks and vintage accents. A leafy courtyard and rooftop overlooking the Pacific create calming spaces to unwind after exploring Barranco’s galleries and cafés. Thoughtful, personalised service and a gently romantic mood give the property an inviting sense of ease that is ideal for travellers looking for a quiet and refined base in one of the city’s most creative neighbourhoods.
Bosque Guardian Lodge
Set amongst 100 hectares of lush protected rainforest filled with rare and colourful birds, butterflies and frogs, Bosque Guardian is one of Peru’s loveliest and most intimate jungle lodges. The lodge is located near Tarapoto at the eastern foot of the Andes, and is not only easy to reach but immerses you both in nature and a rich variety of cultural experiences from bean-to-bar cacao experiences to artisan paper making. Cabanas are spacious and stylish, while the food is simply sublime – some of the most inventive and delectable expressions of new Amazonian cuisine you’ll find.
Belmond Rio Sagrado
Set among lush gardens by the meandering Urubamba River, Belmond Rio Sagrado offers a chance to relax among the beauty of Peru’s Sacred Valley in characteristic Belmond style. Its elegant and spacious rooms, suites and villas offer breathtaking valley views, and there’s a superb spa and gourmet restaurant on-site to nourish and pamper you. Ideally positioned for exploring the nearby Inca ruins, sacred sites and colourful market villages, and even boasting its own train stop for travellers going on to or returning from Machu Picchu, it provides an unforgettable gateway to the rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of the Sacred Valley.
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
An impeccably restored former 16th-century Carmelite convent on a cobbled street in the heart of colonial Cusco, Belmond’s Palacio Nazarenas is without doubt the city’s smartest address. Oozing historic character, but with mod cons to appease the most demanding contemporary traveller, its suites and courtyards have a cloistered hush in keeping with a hotel that does not need to shout its credentials. Each suite is enriched with oxygen and has a private bar with drinks accented with fresh ingredients grown at or around the hotel. On site you’ll find a restaurant helmed by luminary chef Pia Leon, a fabulous spa and the city’s only heated outdoor swimming pool.
Belmond Miraflores Park
Set atop coastal cliffs in elegant Miraflores, the Belmond Miraflores Park is Lima’s grande dame hotel. There’s a calm and unhurried feel here, with wide ocean views that soften the city’s energy and bring a sense of space and light to your stay. Interiors are understated and contemporary, bringing comfort and quiet sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the sea, while neutral tones and natural materials create a soothing atmosphere. Relaxing by the rooftop infinity pool is a must. Dining is equally polished, with fresh Peruvian flavours thoughtfully presented. Attentive yet discreet service completes the experience, making the Belmond Miraflores Park the perfect choice for travelers looking for that comme il faut stay in Lima.
Customise your journey
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Spend time exploring the vibrant wine-making and artisan pisco producers of Ica in the southern Peruvian desert.
Immerse yourself in the ancient culinary traditions of the Colca Valley, foraging for wild herbs and delving into recipes over a thousand years old.
Add a few days in Bolivia, where you can sample the Noma-inspired cuisine of Gustu in La Paz and marvel at the silent immensity of the Salar de Uyuni.
Consider combining Peru with a cruise in the Galápagos Islands.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Peru specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Latin America team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
“There are so many products in Peru that are unfamiliar to people. When you eat this food, it’s not like, well, this is something like… it’s not kind of like anything. It’s really awesome.”