Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour

Come hungry, and leave with a better sense of Cusco. This small-group walking tour combines market bites, street food, coffee, tea, and local stories as you wind through streets near the main square. I like the chance to try foods you could easily miss on your own, and I like that guides such as Flor and Lisbet add context about preparation, customs, and Cusco’s past. The main drawback is the firm cancellation policy, plus the tour’s food list includes dairy, wheat, meat, peanuts, corn, and sugar, so people with allergies need to plan carefully.

At $75 per person, this is not a cheap snack walk. Still, the price includes a substantial range of tastings and a local guide, and past participants have described leaving very full. The tour lasts about two to three hours, starts at 10:30 a.m., and returns to its meeting point, making it a useful first or second-day activity once you have begun adjusting to Cusco’s altitude.

Key points to know before you book

• Expect a full meal’s worth of tasting: Several portions of sweet and savory food are served, so breakfast should be light.
• The route stays near Cusco’s main square: You walk through local streets and market areas rather than riding between distant sights.
• Flor and Lisbet receive especially strong praise: Flor has accommodated a gluten-free request, while Lisbet is praised for explaining food preparation, Peruvian customs, and local places to eat.
• The group is intended to be small: The detailed information gives a maximum of six people, although another description says ten. Confirm the final group size when booking.
• Nut allergies cannot be accommodated: Wheat, dairy, meat, peanuts, corn, and sugar are part of the food offered.
• Do not schedule it for arrival day: The operator advises waiting until you have had time to adjust to Cusco’s altitude.

Starting at Plazoleta Santa Catalina

Your morning begins at Plazoleta Santa Catalina, at Sta. Catalina Ancha 304, a short walk from Cusco’s main square. The tour starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Curious Monkey Food Tours meeting place, then heads into the surrounding streets on foot.

That location matters. You are not spending the first part of the morning on a long transfer, and you do not need to find a distant restaurant or market outside the center. The route lets food and place work together: as you walk, the guide can connect what you eat with Cusco’s streets, traditions, and daily routines.

The exact sequence of food stops is not fixed in the information provided, so you should not expect a printed menu or a formal restaurant crawl. Instead, think of this as a guided introduction to local tastes, with stops at markets, small food sellers, and personal vendor contacts. That flexible format is one reason the tour can reveal foods you might otherwise walk past.

Wear shoes you can comfortably walk in and bring a layer. The experience operates in all weather, and Cusco’s conditions can change quickly. A small umbrella or rain shell is sensible, especially because the route is outdoors and includes walking between stops.

Following Cusco’s streets toward the market

The tour winds through streets around the main square rather than treating food as a series of isolated samples. That gives you a more useful introduction to Cusco than simply sitting down for one fixed meal.

Your guide provides the local setting for what you are tasting. The tour is designed to explain food preparation and the role of different ingredients in Cusco and Peru. Lisbet, one of the praised guides, has been noted for explaining both the history of food and the way dishes are prepared. That kind of explanation can turn an unfamiliar bite into something you understand, even if it is not immediately your favorite.

The market portion is especially appealing for curious eaters. One memorable activity involves choosing fruit at the market and eating it later as part of the tour. It is a simple idea, but it gives you a more direct role than simply receiving plates from a restaurant kitchen.

The route also includes small local places that you might not identify as food destinations by yourself. Lisbet has taken groups to restaurants that are easy to miss unless a local points them out. This is the practical value of a guide here: not just translating a menu, but helping you notice the ordinary-looking places where people actually buy and prepare food.

Do not expect a polished culinary presentation at every stop. Market food is often direct and informal. You may be standing, sharing space, or eating quickly before continuing along the route. If you prefer a long, quiet lunch with a fixed menu, this will feel less comfortable. If you want to taste several things and understand where they fit into local life, the format makes sense.

Sweet, savory, and plenty of food

The tour includes a mix of sweet and savory dishes, plus coffee and tea. The operator does not publish a complete tasting menu, which is useful to remember if you need to know every item in advance. The food can change with availability, vendor schedules, and dietary needs.

The strongest practical advice is simple: eat lightly before you arrive. People who have taken the tour describe receiving enough food to feel very full. At two to three hours, this is more than a quick nibble between sights. Plan it as a late breakfast or early lunch, not as a small pre-lunch snack.

You may taste foods that are not already familiar to you. That is part of the appeal, but it also means the tour is better suited to an open-minded appetite than to a strict eater who wants only known dishes. I like that the experience does not limit itself to one famous Peruvian plate. A range of samples gives you a clearer sense of how Cusco eats.

The included coffee or tea adds a useful finish, but drinks beyond that are not included. If you want other beverages, carry money for them. Since the tour price is $75, you should factor that extra cost into your budget rather than assuming every drink is covered.

What the $75 price really buys

At $75 per person, the tour sits in the higher range for a two to three-hour food walk. The value depends on how much you care about guidance and variety.

You are paying for more than food portions. The fee includes local taxes, tastings, a local guide, and coffee or tea. You also get a route built around personal food connections and market visits, rather than having to guess which vendors are worth trying. For someone newly arrived in Cusco, that can save time and reduce the risk of spending money on a meal that does not suit you.

The tour also has a strong social advantage if the group remains small. The detailed booking information lists a maximum of six people, while another description gives a maximum of ten. That discrepancy is worth checking before payment. Either size is manageable, but six allows for easier questions and a more personal exchange with the guide.

The food volume improves the value. If you arrive hungry and treat the tasting as a meal, the $75 feels more reasonable. If you are mainly looking for one or two samples, the cost may seem high. I would book this for the explanations, access to small local vendors, and broad tasting range, not simply for the calories.

How Flor and Lisbet shape the experience

A walking food tour depends heavily on its guide. The clearest praise goes to Flor and Lisbet, each for a different reason.

Flor has accommodated a gluten-free diet, which is encouraging for people with that specific need. You should still state your requirements when booking and again at the start, since the operator does not promise that every allergy can be handled.

Lisbet is praised for explaining food preparation and the wider history of Peruvian food. Her strength appears to be connecting a dish to the way it is made and the place where it is sold. She has also introduced small restaurants that are not obvious from the street, giving the tour a useful afterlife: you may have somewhere new to eat later in your stay.

The guide’s role is not limited to naming ingredients. You can ask why a food is sold in a market, how it is prepared, or how it fits into local habits. That conversation is often more valuable than a memorized speech. Since the group is small, you should have room to ask questions, though the final group size should be confirmed because the supplied details give two different maximums.

Dietary limits you should take seriously

This is not a suitable tour for people with nut allergies. The operator clearly states that nut allergies cannot be accommodated.

The standard food may include wheat, sugar, dairy, meat, peanuts, and corn. That list covers many common ingredients, so read it carefully before booking. A vegetarian option is available if you request it in advance, but the information does not promise vegan food.

Gluten-free visitors should also communicate clearly. Flor has successfully accommodated a gluten-free request, but food safety can vary from one vendor to another. You should not assume that a general dietary note on a booking form guarantees complete separation from wheat.

Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but children must be accompanied by adults. The route is on foot, and the tour operates in all weather, so practical clothing matters more than dressing up.

Why arrival day is the wrong day

Cusco sits at high altitude, and the operator specifically advises against booking this tour on the day you arrive. That is good advice for a food walk, even one that lasts only a few hours.

The route involves walking, standing, eating several foods, and moving through streets and market areas. A body still adjusting to altitude may not welcome a large meal and a steady walking pace. Give yourself time to settle in before scheduling the tour.

The 10:30 a.m. start is convenient once you are acclimatized. It leaves the afternoon open for another activity or a slower rest period. You return to the same meeting point, which also makes it easier to continue exploring central Cusco afterward.

Weather, timing, and practical comfort

The tour runs in all weather unless conditions force a cancellation. Dress for changing conditions and choose comfortable walking shoes. The information does not give a precise distance, so you should not treat this as a measured city hike, but the food stops are connected by walking.

The experience usually lasts two to three hours. Allow extra time afterward if you have another appointment, since a market walk can run toward the longer end when the group has questions or food service takes time.

The return to the starting point is useful. You do not need to arrange a taxi from an unfamiliar neighborhood, and you can easily continue around the central area after the tour. Public transportation is nearby if you need it.

The booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The activity requires a minimum number of people, and it can be canceled if that minimum is not met. Poor weather can also lead to cancellation, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

The standard cancellation rule is strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Do not book until your schedule is firm.

Who will enjoy this Cusco food walk?

I would recommend it most strongly to people who:

• Want several tastings rather than one formal meal
• Enjoy trying unfamiliar sweet and savory foods
• Like learning about food preparation and local customs
• Prefer a small group to a large bus-style outing
• Are staying near central Cusco
• Want a guide to point out places they might otherwise miss

It is also a good fit if you have just arrived in Cusco but have enough time to acclimatize first. The tour can help you understand the city through everyday food, not only through major monuments.

I would be more cautious if you have a nut allergy, require a strictly controlled kitchen, dislike market-style eating, or want a precise menu in advance. The vegetarian option helps, and a gluten-free request may be possible, but you must communicate early and understand the limits.

Should you book Curious Monkey Cusco?

Book it if you want a generous tasting session with local explanation, small vendors, market food, and a guide who can connect dishes to Cusco’s culture. The strongest reasons are the variety, the generous amount of food, and the chance to find small places you would probably overlook.

Skip it if $75 feels too high for a walking meal, if you need guaranteed allergy control, or if your arrival schedule leaves no time for altitude adjustment. For everyone else, this is a useful early-stay activity, provided you book a day after arrival, eat lightly beforehand, and confirm the group size and dietary arrangements.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Plazoleta Santa Catalina, Sta. Catalina Ancha 304, Cusco 08002, Peru.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 10:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The experience ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts approximately two to three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $75 per person.

What is included in the price?

The price includes local taxes, food tastings, a local guide, and coffee or tea.

Are other drinks included?

No. Drinks other than the included coffee or tea are not included.

Can vegetarians join the tour?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you must advise the operator when booking.

Can people with nut allergies join?

No. Nut allergies cannot be accommodated. The tour also includes wheat, sugar, dairy, meat, peanuts, and corn.