Cusco: Walking Street Food Tour & Market Tasting with Pickup

Summary

Cusco flavors come alive on foot with local stories and street food

You’ll walk Cusco’s winding streets with a local guide, tasting market snacks and street food you’d never find alone. Expect laughter over mispronounced words, warm hands clutching fresh tamales, and time to soak up real city rhythms — not just sights.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was the steam curling up from a tiny cart near Plaza de Armas — that smell, something like sweet corn and frying dough, pulled us right in before we’d even met our guide. Li showed up with this easy grin, waving us over like we were old friends. We started walking the narrow streets of Cusco’s center, dodging taxis and kids in school uniforms. It’s noisy but kind of perfect — you can hear vendors calling out “choclo!” and someone somewhere always playing pan flute covers of 80s songs. I tried to say “anticucho” properly (Li laughed — probably butchered it), but honestly, the beef skewer was smoky and salty and just…warm in my hands against the morning chill.

The market part was wilder than I expected. We squeezed past women selling fruit piled high in colors I still can’t name — one handed me a slice of lucuma to try, soft as custard but sort of earthy? There was this moment where Li stopped to chat with a vendor about potatoes (I didn’t know there were so many types) and I just stood there listening to them banter in Spanish, catching maybe every third word but feeling included anyway. The floor was slick from someone hosing down their stall; I almost slipped but caught myself on a crate of onions. No one seemed to mind — people just smiled like they’d seen it all before.

We ended up sharing coffee at a little spot tucked behind the market stalls, the kind where you can hear spoons clinking and smell ground beans before you even sit down. My hands were sticky from syrupy picarones and I didn’t care at all. The whole thing felt less like a tour and more like wandering around with friends who know all the shortcuts. I keep thinking about that first bite of tamal, how it tasted both new and strangely familiar — maybe that’s what makes this day trip in Cusco stick with me.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Walking food tour in Cusco center

• Meet at starting point
• Walk through Cusco streets

Top questions

Is pickup included for the Cusco walking food tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points are included.

Are vegetarian options available on this street food tour?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

Can children join the Curious Monkey Cusco food tour?

Yes, children can join but must be accompanied by an adult.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions; dress appropriately.

Are nut allergies accommodated on this Cusco food tour?

No, nut allergies cannot be accommodated for safety reasons.

How long does the walking food tour last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect several hours exploring central Cusco on foot.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from an easy meeting spot in central Cusco, all tastings of street foods and market treats along the way, coffee or tea to wrap things up, plus guidance from someone who actually knows these vendors by name — so you don’t have to worry about anything except enjoying each bite.