Curious Monkey Street Food Walk

Taste papas, meats and sweets on a three-hour street food walk in Cusco, limited to 10 people or fewer. The small-group format leaves space to talk with the street food vendors along the way.

Overview

This is a three hour walking food tour run by Curious Monkey Food Tours Cusco, and it starts at 18:00 from Plaza Santa Catalina, just past the entrance to the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Groups are kept small, with a maximum of six travellers, so the guide can talk with vendors, answer questions, and point out dishes you would probably walk straight past on your own. The route mixes street stalls with restaurants, and stops mentioned by travellers include potato dishes, tamales, churros, pisco sours, and a coffee shop that one traveller called a true gem find.

Food is only half the point. Guides frame each stop with stories about Cusco's history and the blend of Inca and colonial culture in the city, and reviewers often say they came away with a better understanding of both the food and the place. The tour runs in all weather, so the listing asks travellers to dress appropriately for the conditions.

It suits travellers who want to eat rather than sample politely. One reviewer describes the portions as good sized. Vegetarians can be catered for if the request is made at booking, but anyone with a nut allergy cannot be accommodated, and the tour regularly includes wheat, sugar, dairy, meat, peanuts, and corn.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Plaza Santa CatalinaMeet your guide by the fountain near the red wall at Plaza Santa Catalina, just past the Monastery Santa Catalina entrance on Ca. Arequipa 401. Arrive a few minutes early to sign the waiver. This stop lasts 10 minutes.
2. Street food stopsWalk through Cusco with your guide, stopping at street vendors to taste local dishes. Reviews describe stops including potatoes, tamales, and churros from a bakery.
3. Restaurant and coffee stopsThe walk also includes restaurant stops and a coffee shop, with guides explaining the history of each dish along the way.
4. History between bitesBetween tastings, the guide covers Cusco's history and the stories behind the dishes you try.
5. Return to the meeting pointThe tour ends back at Plaza Santa Catalina, three hours after the 18:00 start.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what past travellers and the listing say to expect before you book.

• Come hungry. Plan for a full evening of eating rather than light snacking.
• Evening start. The tour starts at 18:00 and lasts three hours, so much of it happens after dark. Travellers should plan for an evening on foot rather than a daytime stroll.
• Small group. The listing caps the tour at six travellers. Reviews describe guides being attentive to individual guests and happy to answer questions about the food and the city.
• Dietary limits. Vegetarian options exist if requested at booking. Nut allergies cannot be accommodated, and the tour generally includes wheat, sugar, dairy, meat, peanuts, and corn.
• Dress for weather. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so the listing asks travellers to dress appropriately. Since it runs in the evening, it is worth checking the forecast before setting out.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, allows service animals, and is near public transportation. Infants must sit on laps, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Common issues. The experience requires a minimum number of travellers and may be cancelled if that minimum is not met, in which case a different date or a full refund is offered. One reviewer felt the price was a touch high for what was served. Gratuities are not included, and the tour cannot accommodate nut allergies, which rules it out for anyone with that restriction.

Common Questions