Arequipa: Hands-On Peruvian Cooking Class & Two-Course Meal

The sizzle of lomo saltado hits the pan before you've finished chopping the tomatoes.

You'll prepare and cook a two-course Peruvian meal under instruction in a garden kitchen, choosing from three menus and learning techniques you can replicate at home. The class includes all ingredients, refreshments, and lunch with other travelers. Groups cap at twelve, and the instructors adjust to your skill level and any dietary needs you mention at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hands-on Peruvian cooking class

• Arrive at garden kitchen setting
• Meet expert cooking instructors
• Prepare starter: Causa Party
• Cook main dish: Lomo Saltado
• Make dessert: Local fruit salad
• Enjoy meal with other travelers
• Receive detailed recipe to take home

The experience

The kitchen fills with steam and the smell of cumin and aji peppers the moment your instructor lights the burners. You're standing at a counter in a garden in Arequipa (the city that calls itself the cradle of Peruvian cuisine), and you're about to cook two courses from scratch, not watch someone else do it. The class runs for a few hours, and the whole thing is built around you actually holding the knife, stirring the pot, tasting as you go. Your instructor watches and corrects, but doesn't take over. That's the difference between this and a demo you'd sit through in a restaurant.

You'll start with Causa (those layered potato cakes with fish or vegetables, depending on which menu you picked), and move into Lomo Saltado, the beef stir-fry that tastes like it took hours but doesn't. The third course is a seasonal fruit salad, whatever's ripe that week in Peru. Three menus are available: the standard one, a local Andean menu, or a fish-based option. Vegetarian variations work too, and the instructors know how to handle allergies or dietary limits if you flag them when you book. Groups stay small, twelve people maximum, so there's room to move and ask questions without feeling like you're in a cooking school assembly line.

The garden setting is the real thing here. It's not a commercial kitchen squeezed into a tourist building. There's actual space, actual light, and a dining area where you sit down with the other travelers and eat what you made. You get a detailed recipe card with measurements that work back home, so the whole point isn't just the meal. It's that you leave knowing how to make it again. Water and refreshments are included, and by the time you're done eating, you've spent the afternoon with people who came to Peru for the same reason you did.

What’s included

Your experience includes access to the spacious kitchen and garden, professional instruction from experienced chefs who tailor the class to your skill level, all ingredients for a two-course Peruvian meal, refreshments and water throughout, the full meal you prepare together, and a detailed recipe card to take home. You'll choose from three menus (standard, local Andean, or fish-based), and can request vegetarian variations or notify the instructors of allergies when you book.

Before you book

Lasts 1h 40m, runs Monday to Saturday at 11:00 and 16:00, from US$ 43 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:00 and 16:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (17 to 80 years) · Youth (10 to 16 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Public transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Peru Tours and Culture EIRL

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to learn a skill you'll actually use, not just taste food someone else prepared. The hands-on format and small group size mean you get real instruction and time to ask questions, and you leave with a recipe and the confidence to cook it again.

Traveler reviews

4.81★★★★★★★★★★

215 verified traveler reviews

5 ★189

4 ★18

3 ★4

2 ★1

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 16 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is tailored to your skill level, and the instructors guide you through each step. No prior knowledge is required.

What are the three menu options?

The standard menu includes Causa and Lomo Saltado. There's also a local Andean menu and a fish-based menu. Vegetarian variations are available for any option.

Can I request vegetarian or allergy-friendly options?

Yes. Vegetarian variations are available, and you can inform the instructors of allergies or dietary limitations when you book. Contact them after booking to confirm your menu and any special requests.

How many people are in each class?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 12 participants.

Is there a recipe I can take home?

Yes. A detailed recipe card with measurements and equivalences is provided so you can prepare the dishes at home.

What's included in the price?

The class includes access to the kitchen and garden, professional instruction tailored to your level, all ingredients, refreshments, water, and the two-course meal you prepare.

Is there parking or public transport nearby?

Public transportation options are available near the location. Check locally for parking if you're driving.