Food Tours · Tour

Anticuchos and Churros Between Plaza San Martin and the Mercado Central

Four hours on foot through the historic centre, and it starts the way a Lima morning starts: tamal, emoliente, and a shot of pisco, in a bar rather than a restaurant. From there it is Jiron de la Union, the commercial street the city walks down, then the Mercado Central, which is the largest market in Lima and the place to understand what Peruvian biodiversity actually means when it is stacked on a counter. There is fruit to taste, most of which you will not have seen before. Along the way: anticuchos, the grilled skewers that are beef heart and are better than that sounds; creole churros; and whatever the old eateries are doing that day. The guide is a local who explains what each thing is for rather than just handing it over. You also pass the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and the Basilica de San Francisco, which are not the point of the tour but are on the route. Up to fifteen people, in English, with the food, drinks, snacks and the guide. Pick-up is not included on group departures. Two practical things. Send your passport number and date of entry to Peru at least a day beforehand and they will take the 18% local tax off the price; you do not need to bring the passport itself. And the menu cannot be adapted: if you are vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian, or have a severe nut or gluten allergy, this is not the tour. Moderate fitness. Eighteen to drink. They wait five minutes and no longer.