Cooking Class Plus San Pedro Market

Combine a San Pedro Market tour with a hands-on small-group cooking class in Cusco. The four-hour session offers a way to discover Peru's food heritage without a restaurant reservation.

Overview

The class begins at door one of San Pedro Market on Plazoleta San Pedro, where a professional chef walks the group through the stalls. Travellers taste unfamiliar fruits, sample locally made chocolate, and gather the fresh ingredients for the meal ahead. The chef shares facts about the many foods on display as the group shops.

From the market the group heads to a nearby cooking studio, and the hands-on part takes over. Past participants describe making several kinds of ceviche, soup, and more, plus a pisco sour and chicha morada to drink. The chef teaches techniques and flavor profiles as the cooking goes along.

The whole experience runs four hours and takes a maximum of twelve travellers. It suits people who want an alternative to another restaurant meal, and reviewers mention solo travellers, parents with children, and mixed groups all having a good time. Note that the class finishes at San Andres 477, a different address from where it starts.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Plazoleta San PedroThe group gathers at door one of San Pedro Market, C. Sta. Clara 497. Arrive on time, since the market walk starts from here.
2. Tour San Pedro MarketThe chef leads a walk through the stalls. Expect tastings of fruits and locally made chocolate, plus the shopping for the ingredients used in the class.
3. Move to the cooking studioThe group moves from the market to the cooking studio at San Andres 477, where the rest of the class takes place.
4. Hands-on cooking classA professional chef guides the group through preparing a traditional Peruvian meal. Past sessions have covered several kinds of ceviche, soup, and pisco sours, among other dishes.
5. Eat and drinkEveryone enjoys the food prepared during the class, with soft beverages included. One reviewer said the portions left the group too full for dinner afterward.
6. End at San Andres 477The class finishes at a different address from the meeting point, so plan the rest of the day from there.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help the class go smoothly, from what gets cooked to how the day is paced.

• Come hungry. One reviewer describes leaving so full the group skipped dinner that evening. The class produces a lot of food across several dishes, so treat it as a full meal rather than a tasting.
• Flag dietary needs. The listing asks that any meal restriction be declared at the time of booking. Mention any restriction when reserving rather than on arrival.
• Group feel. The class caps at twelve travellers, and reviewers describe a social, chatty atmosphere rather than a formal lesson. Solo travellers and parents with children have both written about enjoying the mix of fellow visitors.
• Getting around. Expect to walk through the market during the first part of the experience. The class is not wheelchair accessible, though it sits near public transportation, and the end point differs from the meeting point.
• Drinks on offer. Soft beverages are included per the listing. Reviewers mention making and drinking pisco sours during the class, and one describes trying chicha morada, a purple corn drink, so the beverage side of the session is a real part of the experience.
• Booking and cancellation. A full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time, and changes inside that window are not accepted. One reviewer who booked the day before ran into a scheduling mix-up.

Common issues. The main practical limits come straight from the listing: the class is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and the full refund only holds if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. One reviewer reported waiting more than 20 minutes at the meeting point after booking the day before, unable to reach anyone by phone, and was offered a partial refund for the missed market portion. Group size is capped at twelve, which keeps the class personal.

Common Questions