Arequipa Cooking Class: Regional Dishes at San Camilo Market

Cook Arequipeño dishes with your own hands, guided through ancestral techniques

A hands-on cooking class in Arequipa where you shop at San Camilo Market with a local chef, select fresh ingredients, then prepare and taste regional dishes together. Hotel pickup is included. The class runs four hours and requires a minimum of two participants. Children from age 15 are welcome.

The experience

San Camilo Market is where the class begins. You'll arrive at 8:45 a.m. and walk through the stalls with your chef, learning how locals shop for potatoes, vegetables, fruits, meats and dehydrated foods. The chef explains what each ingredient is and how it's used in Arequipeño cooking, then you choose what you want to prepare. This isn't a tour of the market. You're buying the things you'll cook.

Back at the restaurant kitchen, you'll work through the preparation of regional dishes using ancestral techniques. The chef teaches the secrets for each one, then you prepare your chosen dish step by step. You handle the ingredients, work the dough, and learn how traditional Peruvian food actually comes together. Lunch is what you've made, shared with your classmates at the end of the class.

Hotel pickup and all kitchen materials are included. The class runs about four hours total. A guide who speaks English or Spanish leads the session, and you'll need at least one other person in the class for it to run.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• all kitchen materials and cooking equipment.
• market visit with your chef to select ingredients.
• hands-on preparation of regional dishes.
• lunch of what you've cooked.
• a guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (25 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 75 years) · Youth (15 to 24 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 12

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by PERUVIAN CULTURE TRAVEL

Is this one for you?This class works best for small groups of two or more who want to learn by doing rather than watching. The market visit and hands-on cooking mean you'll spend the morning working, not observing. Choose this if you want to actually make the food, not just taste it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 24 years). Children under 15 can't be included in the booking.

What dishes do I learn to cook in this class?

The menu includes salted loin and causa padding, both traditional Arequipeño preparations. You'll choose which dish to prepare yourself during the hands-on portion.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No experience is required. The chef teaches the techniques step by step, and the focus is on learning authentic methods rather than prior skill.

What time does the class start and how long does it take?

Pickup from your hotel happens at 8:45 a.m., and the full class runs about four hours, including the market visit, cooking, and tasting.

Is lunch included in the class price?

Yes, lunch is the meal you prepare during the class and share with your classmates at the end.