Arequipa

Overview

Gallery

Itinerary

• As the afternoon sun slips behind Arequipa's volcanoes, the White City begins to slow its pace. Office workers spill into cafu00e9s, charcoal grills flicker to life and the aroma of roasting meats drifts through streets carved from pale volcanic stone. For centuries, Arequipa has stood at the crossroads of the Andes and the Pacific, its kitchens shaped by Indigenous traditions, Spanish colonists and generations of immigrants who each left their mark on the city's table.nnBefore 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:u2028nnu26a0 Possible for lactose intolerance, no pork diets, mild peanut and tree nut allergies, and no seafood diets, though some tastings will be unsuitablenu2716ufe0f Unsuitable for vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerance, pescatarians and halal diets

• The best way to start an evening in Arequipa is with something fresh from the fryer. We'll tuck into golden buu00f1uelos, delicate aniseed fritters that arrive crisp on the outside and wonderfully soft within, before making our way into Mercado San Camilo as the day's trading draws to a close. Designed by the workshop of Gustave Eiffel, the market remains one of the city's great gathering places. Here we'll taste creamy queso helado, still prepared using the same traditional recipe that's delighted Arequipeu00f1os for well over a century, alongside Peruvian grown cacao, exotic seasonal fruits arriving from the Amazon and Andes, and the celebrated olives that thrive in southern Peru's sunny valleys.

• No city wears its regional pride quite like Arequipa. We'll continue grazing through local favourites, sipping chicha de guiu00f1apo, the distinctive fermented purple corn drink that has accompanied Arequipeu00f1o meals for centuries. Alongside come toasted giant corn, crisp papa rellena and wonderfully crunchy chicharrones, proving once again that Peru's greatest flavours are often its simplest. Next comes one of the city's favourite comfort foods: a succulent lechu00f3n sandwich, generously filled with slow-roasted pork and best enjoyed with an ice-cold bottle of Cola Escocesa, Arequipa's unmistakable bright-yellow soft drink and a source of fierce local pride.

• Passing the beautiful Santa Catalina Monastery, we'll uncover one of the most important chapters in Peru's culinary story.nDuring the nineteenth century, Chinese immigrants arrived in Peru, bringing new techniques, ingredients and the wok. Their influence gave birth to chifa, now considered one of Peru's defining cuisines. We'll discover this remarkable fusion through smoky lomo saltado, often regarded as Peru's national dish, alongside fragrant chaufa fried rice, proof that some of the world's greatest comfort food is born when cultures collide.

• As darkness settles over the White City, the grills begin to glow.nNight is the natural home of anticuchos, smoky skewers of grilled chicken hearts brushed with fiery uchucuta, the bold chilli sauce that Arequipeu00f1os proudly put on almost everything. It's the kind of street food that locals crave after sunset and one of Peru's most enduring culinary traditions. Our final stop celebrates Arequipa's most iconic pairing. Fiery rocoto relleno, generously stuffed and baked until tender, arrives alongside buttery layers of pastel de papa, a combination that's been comforting locals for generations. By the time we return to Plaza de Armas, you'll have experienced far more than a great meal, you'll have uncovered the markets, migrations and traditions that make Arequipa one of Peru's true culinary capitals.

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

• Public transportation options are available nearby

• Infants are required to sit on an adultu2019s lap

• Not recommended for pregnant travelers

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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