Foodie Tourism in Peru

Peruvian cuisine is having a moment around the world, and an increasing number of foodies are visiting the country to experience it at home. From fresh fish ceviche to lomo saltado, the iconic national dishes are everywhere around the country. Vendors run the gamut from informal family-run stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants in the capital of Lima.

Regional specialties are also worth looking for. The food changes drastically from the sweltering jungle regions to the high mountains of the Andes and the long coastline. This biodiversity means Peruvian chefs have a huge amount of ingredients at their disposal.

There are more than 3,800 varieties of potato in Peru, and the country is also home to superfoods such as the maca root, quinoa and cacao. Top chefs such as Gaston Acurio, Virgilio Martinez and Rafael Osterling make use of indigenous ingredients at their restaurants in the country.

Check out Amaz in the Miraflores area of Lima for haute cuisine made with ingredients from the Amazon jungle, and dig into beef heart kebabs (anticuchos) at Restaurante Grimanesa Anticuchos, both in the upscale Miraflores area.

Head to the Central Market in Lima to check out some of the more weird and wonderful concoctions Peru has to offer, such as a toad smoothie. While the locals swear the juice boosts energy and sexual performance, it’s made from an endangered species and campaigners do not recommend drinking any yourself.

Peru is an amazing place for food lovers and the country comes highly recommended for those who want to experience real culinary diversity. Provecho!