Almuerzo Arequipa Food Tour with 15+ Tastings

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Plaza de Armas

  Surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes and built from brilliant white volcanic stone, Arequipa is known as La Ciudad Blanca - the White City. But beyond its beautiful monasteries and grand plazas lies one of Peru's richest culinary traditions. Blessed with fertile valleys, high-altitude farms and trade routes stretching from the Andes to the Pacific, Arequipa has spent centuries developing a cuisine so distinctive that Peruvians often speak of it as a world of its own.
 Before we get started, our tour reflects the local cuisine and the limitations of traditional eateries mean we unfortunately cannot cater for every dietary restriction. Here's an honest appraisal so nobody is disappointed:
 ⚠ Possible for lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, no pork diets, mild peanut and tree nut allergies, and no seafood diets, though some tastings will be unsuitable ✖️ Unsuitable for vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, and halal diets.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Mercado San Camilo

  Every great food city begins with its market, and in Arequipa that means Mercado San Camilo. Designed by the workshop of Gustave Eiffel, this beautiful nineteenth-century market remains the beating heart of local life. Beneath its iron roof we'll discover an astonishing variety of produce, from tropical fruits arriving from the Amazon to ingredients cultivated high in the Andes. Along the way we'll sample refreshing seasonal fruits, creamy queso helado—Arequipa's famous iced cinnamon and coconut despite containing no cheese, earthy chuños potatoes served with local cheese, and the rich olives that have become one of southern Peru's signature crops.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Arequipa

  If there's one dish that wakes up Arequipa, it's adobo. This deeply flavoured pork stew has long been the city's traditional Sunday breakfast, slow-cooked overnight before hungry locals arrive in the early hours to claim a bowl. We'll enjoy it the authentic way with crusty pan de tres puntas, Arequipa's distinctive three-pointed bread, perfect for soaking up every last drop of the rich broth. Alongside come crisp golden torrejas, savoury vegetable fritters that prove Peruvians know their way around a frying pan. As we continue through the historic streets, we'll snack on toasted giant corn, comforting chicken tamales and wonderfully crisp chicharrones, one of Peru's great pork traditions.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Arequipa

  To understand Arequipa, you have to understand its picanterías. Long before restaurants became fashionable, these lively neighbourhood taverns were feeding farmers, traders and travellers with hearty regional cooking, local chicha and recipes that rarely appear elsewhere in Peru. Many remain proudly family-run, preserving traditions that have earned Arequipa recognition as one of the country's culinary capitals. Inside a century-old picantería, we'll feast on two of the city's defining dishes: fiery rocoto relleno, where spicy peppers are generously stuffed and baked, and buttery layers of pastel de papa, comfort food at its finest. Alongside comes the ever-changing caldo del día, washed down with a warming sip of Prende y Apaga - iterally "Switch On and Off" - the aniseed spirit that's become something of an Arequipeño rite of passage.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Plaza de Armas

  Every memorable meal deserves a sweet ending. We'll finish with an indulgent handmade chocolate truffle infused with pisco and almonds, a fitting tribute to Peru's finest ingredients and centuries of confectionery tradition. By the time we return to Plaza de Armas, you'll have discovered far more than Arequipa's famous white stone architecture. This is a journey through family recipes and proud culinary traditions that have made the White City one of Peru's most rewarding places to eat. While it's easy to find a good meal in Arequipa, uncovering the stories behind its markets, picanterías and local specialities is something best experienced with our tastemaker guides.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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