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Taking Cusco cooking classes in Peru, a top culinary destination in the world, is an exquisite experience.
While Cusco is most famous for Machu Picchu, the Cusco food is also a big attraction.
While exploring the local food specialties in Cusco, we were in constant awe of the unique ingredients, surprising fruits, and amazing flavors.
While in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Cusco, you don’t want to miss taking a cooking class and diving into Peruvian cuisine.
To help guide you, here’s our review of the 7 best cooking classes in Cusco to take based on depth, authenticity, and overall experience.
Comparison Table of The Best Cooking Classes in Cusco
| Cusco Cooking Classes | Price ($ USD) | Start Time | Duration (hours) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco | $59 | 9:00 am and 3:00 pm | 4h | Best overall |
| Private Market Tour & Traditional Cooking Class | $53 | 9:00 am and 3:00 pm | 4h | Tailored experience |
| High-End Peruvian Cooking Class with Market Visit | $55 | 10:00 am and 3:00 pm | 4h | Contemporary Peruvian cuisine |
| Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo | $49.50 | 5:00 pm | 4h | Traditional recipes |
| Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop | $25.65 | 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm | 2h | Chocolate lovers |
| Group Cooking Class at Marcelo Batata in Cusco | $90.00 | 2:00 pm | 3h | Popular Peruvian dishes |
| Private Cooking Class in Cusco | $130.00 | 9:00 am | 3h | Exclusivity |
Top Cooking Classes in Cusco To Choose From
1. Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco – Best Overall
Cost: $59 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 4 hours. Tours start at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
One of the best ways to dive into Peruvian cuisine in Cusco is by taking a cooking class that includes a market visit.
This 4-hour Peruvian cooking class begins at San Pedro, the city’s largest and most vibrant market.
You will be being guided through the market, where you will be introduced to local foods and ingredients.
Back at the cooking studio with ingredients in hand, you’ll start your cooking experience with a Peruvian Pisco Sour, which you will make.
You will learn, step by step, how to make Peruvian appetizers, main courses, and desserts from your professional Peruvian chef.
This is a hands-on class where you will learn new cooking techniques and dive into Cusco’s culinary heritage and scrumptious Peruvian recipes.
What You’ll Love About This Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Visit
- Visiting the city’s largest market to pick up fresh ingredients for the class.
- Hands-on cooking experience with a Peruvian chef.
- Tastings of unique Peruvian fruits and local products.
2. Market Tour & Traditional Cooking Class in Cusco – Best Tailored Class
Cost: $53 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 4 hours every day. Class starts at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm
Group Style: Private class
For a personalized Cusco culinary adventure, enjoy a private market tour and cooking class experience with a local.
During this 4-hour market tour and traditional Peruvian cooking class, you’ll start at the local San Pedro market in Cusco.
Accompanied by your local chef, you’ll learn about the local ingredients and taste delicious breads, cheeses, and exotic fruits.
In the cooking workshop space, you’ll prepare three Peruvian traditional dishes and sip on various local beverages.
As this is a personal class, you can tailor the menu for vegetarian or vegan dietary preferences, if necessary.
Examples of some of the traditional dishes you’ll learn to make include avocado and quinoa. A variation of ceviche known as ceviche tiradito will delight you.
While Lomo Saltado, a main dish, will surprise you with a local Andean tarwi sauce, with hints of lemon or lime juice.
This personalized cooking class in Cusco with a Peruvian chef will be a highlight of your trip to the region.
What You’ll Love About This Private Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class
- Exploring local Peruvian products at the main local market.
- A tailored cooking class experience easily adapted to your needs.
- Have a fantastic time learning about Peru’s culinary culture as well as new recipes and cooking skills.
RELATED: 7 Must-Try Cooking Classes in Lima To Discover Peru’s Flavor
3. High-End Peruvian Cooking Class – Best For Contemporary Peruvian Cuisine
Cost: $55 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 4 hours every day. Classes start at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Group Style: Small group cooking class, maximum 8 people
Learn how to make Peruvian cuisine from a professional chef in Cusco, Peru.
This 4-hour cooking class will teach you how to prepare authentic Peruvian dishes with a modern twist.
You’ll spend the first hour at San Pedro Market. Your Peruvian chef will showcase a variety of Peruvian delicacies, including fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, and locally produced cheeses.
Back in the Peruvian cooking studio, you’ll start making your 3-course lunch or dinner.
This class is set up to allow you to cook alongside the chef and learn the steps of preparing each dish.
Expect to mix pisco sours from passion fruit for drinks. Starters include ceviche, Peru’s most famous dish. Or, tiradito nikkei, Peruvian Japanese fusion.
Hearty traditional savory dishes like mushroom quinotto, Alpaca steak, and potatoes are also on the menu. And, for dessert, you’ll be making exotic fruit parfait.
This high-end Peruvian cooking class blends traditional ingredients with modern cooking techniques.
What You’ll Love About This High-End Peruvian Cooking Class with Market Visit
- Taking a journey into contemporary Cusco and Peruvian culinary traditions.
- A guided tour of the market by a professional chef.
- Cooking in a beautiful colonial home.
4. Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo – Best For Traditional Recipes
Cost: $49.50 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 4 hours. Classes start at 5:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 25 people
Beyond teaching you how to make Peruvian chocolate, ChocoMuseo also offers Cusco cooking classes.
This 4-hour ChocoMuseo cooking class combines a visit to the local San Pedro Market with a unique cooking experience.
Unsurprisingly, the dessert offered in this Cusco cooking class is chocolate-based.
After discovering fresh Peruvian ingredients at the vibrant local market, you’ll head back to the cooking studio to start cooking.
Under the guidance of your local chef, you’ll learn how to prepare several traditional Peruvian dishes.
You’ll learn about the different types of ceviche, as well as how to make them. Other dishes traditional dishes you’ll make are lomo saltado, and chocolate fondue with Peruvian chocolate for dessert.
As you cook, you’ll sip on Peru’s most famous cocktail – Pisco Sour, as well as other local non-alcoholic beverages.
Expect to have a great time learning about Peruvian culture and traditional recipes.
What You’ll Love About This Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo
- A laid-back and relaxed cooking class atmosphere.
- Touring the local market and learning about Peruvian gastronomy in Cusco.
- Peruvian chocolate dessert, a treat for the taste buds.
5. Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop – Best For Chocolate Lovers
Cost: $25.65 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 2 hours. Classes start at 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
The ChocoMuseo in Cusco is one of the most unique museums in South America. Its goal is to educate and showcase the artisanal world of bean-to-bar chocolate making.
This 2-hour bean-to-bar chocolate workshop teaches you how to make your own chocolate from start to finish.
Under the guidance of a master chocolate instructor, you’ll be immersed in the world of chocolate.
From growing the beans to refining the cacao beans and then transforming them into chocolate.
You’ll learn about Peruvian chocolate and how it is made with extremely high-quality Cacao beans.
You’ll also experience the traditional chocolate processing methods, which have been refined over time.
As you make your own chocolate creations, you’ll also have the opportunity to add unique flavors.
Depending on your taste, you can add sea salt, truffles, chili powder, and many more options.
Appropriate for all ages, it is an amazing experience with delicious Peruvian chocolate that you can have to savor again.
What You’ll Love About This Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop
- Learning how to make your own artisanal chocolate.
- Fun activity for families and chocolate lovers of all ages.
- Leave with your own tasty chocolate.
6. Cooking Class at Marcelo Batata Cusco – Best For Popular Peruvian Dishes
Cost: $90.00 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 3 hours. Classes start at 2:00 pm
Group Style: Group class, maximum 12 people
Having fun while learning to make popular Peruvian dishes is at the heart of this Cusco cooking class.
The Marcelo Batata cooking studio was created by six professional Peruvian chefs to promote Peruvian culture through food.
In this 3-hour cooking class at Marcelo Batata cooking studio, you’ll learn how to make some of Peru’s most popular dishes.
Alongside your professional chefs, you’ll master the culinary techniques to make lomo saltado, ceviche, aji de gallina, pisco sour, and more.
This Cusco cooking class starts at the local market, where you’ll shop for fresh ingredients.
You’ll also visit market stalls for exotic fruit tastings like lucuma, camu camu, maracuyá, and others.
This is a hands-on cooking class that combines Peruvian food culture with cooking techniques.
What You’ll Love About This Cooking Class at Marcelo Batata
- Cooking experience designed by professional chefs.
- Learning how to make a variety of Peruvian popular dishes.
- Hands-on cooking class with a focus on techniques.
7. Private Cooking Class in Cusco – Best For Exclusivity
Cost: $130.00 per person
Time and Length of Class: Approximately 3 hours. Classes start at 9:00 am
Group Style: Private
If you want to dive into cooking techniques and the history of Peruvian cuisine, this private cooking class is for you.
This 3-hour private cooking class in Cusco takes a 6-step approach to learning about the Peruvian kitchen and gastronomy.
Getting familiar with Peruvian gastronomy begins with an understanding of the local produce.
Your private chef will introduce you to a variety of Peruvian superfoods and superfruits from the Andes mountains.
The cooking experience focuses on the techniques and ingredients needed to make flavorful Peruvian foods.
For instance, the techniques to make mind-blowing fresh ceviche will be revealed to you.
You’ll also learn to make the tastiest emblematic lomo saltado Peruvian dish and a variety of Peruvian Pisco-based drinks.
While cooking, you’ll try a number of Andean and Peruvian specialties. Some of the delicacies include cuy or guinea pig, causa potatoes, aji de gallina chicken, and much more.
This private Cucso cooking class is a great experience and a fun way to learn about Peruvian food culture and the emblematic foods found in the country.
What You’ll Love About This Private Cooking Class in Cusco
- A comprehensive understanding of Peruvian gastronomy from ingredients to traditional recipes.
- Personalized attention from your private chef.
- Ability to easily adapt recipes for food allergies or preferences.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If you want to dive into one of the best cuisines in the world, see our book, Authentic Food Quest Peru. This delicious guide takes you on a culinary journey through Lima and Cusco, two of the top food cities in the country. Get to know the regional cuisines in Peru and the typical dishes, desserts, beverages, street foods and unique produce. Find Authentic Food Quest Peru on Amazon.
What to Consider When Choosing a Cooking Class in Cusco
These best cooking classes in Cusco all offer authentic Peruvian cooking experiences.
Some classes dive deep into the traditional cuisine, while others offer you a vast menu and market visits. As you plan for your cooking classes in Cusco, here are some considerations.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Make your culinary travels worry-free! With the right travel insurance, you’ll enjoy a delicious experience. From medical emergencies, flight cancelations, car rental protection, or tour cancelations, a good travel insurance has got you covered. Check out our travel insurance review for food lovers to get started.
What Kind of Peruvian Cooking Class Experience Do You Want?
During our trip to Cusco, we were amazed by the range of authentic Peruvian dishes, drinks, and desserts.
Choosing the perfect cooking class has to be based on your personal tastes and preferences.
What time of day works best for you? Do you prefer a morning or evening cooking class?
Would you like to take a trip to the market before the class and learn about the local fresh ingredients?
Do you prefer a private class, or are you comfortable in a small group setting?
Based on your personal preferences, make sure you choose the one that suits your taste.
What Is Your Budget for Your Cusco Cooking Classes
These cooking classes in Cusco all differ in experiences and price points.
The best Cusco cooking classes range from about $25.65 to $130 USD.
All cooking classes in Cusco have a free cancellation policy that allows you to opt out up to 24 hours in advance.
Which one of these Cusco cooking classes would you like to take? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor the Adventure!
More Local Food Experiences and Recipes
A Guide To Cusco San Pedro Market: How To Best Visit Cusco Main Market
Cusco Food Guide: 10 Foods To Have And Where To Eat Them
How to Visit A Pisco Winery: A Day Trip From Lima To Lunahuana
10 Best Wine Tours in Santiago: A Guide To Chilean Wine Tasting
Buenos Aires Food Tour Review: How To Learn About Argentinian Food Culture
Maca Drink from Peru: A Guide to The Incas Superfood (With Recipe)
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Claire is co-founder of Authentic Food Quest and a lover of simple and exquisite cuisine. Since 2015, with her partner, Rosemary, she has been traveling the world as a digital nomad, creating content about local food experiences.
Her advice from visiting 45 countries and more than 240 food cities has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post. She has also co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube.
When Claire is not eating, she can be found running or cycling. Find out more about Authentic Food Quest
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