Cusco: San Pedro Market Tour & Hands-On Peruvian Cooking Class

Summary

San Pedro market flavors meet colonial kitchen warmth in Cusco

You’ll wander Cusco’s vibrant San Pedro Market with a local chef, tasting unusual fruits and hearing stories behind every ingredient. Then step into a sunlit colonial kitchen for a hands-on Peruvian cooking class—think ceviche, quinoa risotto, Pisco Sours—with laughter and real conversation around the table. You’ll leave with new flavors stuck in your memory (and maybe a few flour smudges on your shirt).

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder what passion fruit smells like when it’s just been sliced open? That’s how our morning started in Cusco, right in the middle of San Pedro Market — not the quietest place, but honestly, that’s half the charm. Our guide, Chef Carla, kept pointing out things I’d never have noticed alone: tiny purple potatoes stacked next to bright corn, a woman laughing as she handed us a slice of lucuma (tasted kind of like maple, weirdly). I kept losing track of time because there was always another stall or story. The air was thick with spices and chatter — I tried to remember some Quechua words but mostly just smiled a lot.

After maybe an hour (I stopped checking my phone), we walked just two blocks to this old colonial house. It creaked a little when we stepped inside — cool stone floors, sunlight slanting through high windows. Carla handed us aprons and suddenly we were squeezing limes for ceviche. I got splashed right in the eye and everyone laughed. There was this moment when we were mixing quinoa risotto and someone asked if it was supposed to look like that (it wasn’t). The kitchen smelled like cilantro and roasted potatoes; outside you could hear distant horns from the street.

I didn’t expect to enjoy making a Pisco Sour so much — turns out shaking it is harder than it looks. Lunch (or dinner, depending on your slot) turned into this long table conversation about family recipes and travel mishaps. I still think about that first spoonful of fruit parfait; sweet but not too much, with something crunchy on top. We left with full bellies and slightly floury hands, wandering back out into Cusco feeling like we’d actually lived here for a minute. Not everything went perfectly — my tiradito looked wonky — but nobody cared.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — San Pedro Market visit and cooking class

• Visit San Pedro Market
• Learn about local products and history
• Walk to colonial cooking studio
• Attend modern Peruvian cooking class
• Prepare Passion fruit Pisco Sour
• Make Classic Ceviche or Tiradito Nikkei
• Cook Quinoa Risotto or Alpaca with potatoes
• Enjoy Local Fruits Parfait dessert

Top questions

How long is the San Pedro Market & cooking class tour?

The whole experience lasts about three hours from start to finish.

Is pickup included for this Cusco cooking class?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at the market area near the studio.

Are drinks included during the cooking class?

Yes, alcoholic beverages like Pisco Sour plus purified water, coffee or tea are included.

Can children join this Peruvian cooking class?

Yes, kids can join if accompanied by an adult; infants can come in strollers.

How far is the walk from San Pedro Market to the cooking studio?

The studio is about two blocks away—roughly five minutes on foot.

Do you need prior cooking experience?

No experience needed—the chef guides you through every step.

Are vegetarian options available during lunch or dinner?

The menu includes vegetarian-friendly dishes like quinoa risotto; check ahead for specifics.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through Cusco’s bustling San Pedro Market with a professional English-speaking chef, all ingredients and equipment for your hands-on Peruvian cooking class inside a colonial home just steps from the market, purified water, alcoholic drinks including Pisco Sour, plus coffee or tea—all wrapped up in about three hours of lively local flavor before you head back out into town.