Arequipa, founded in 1540, is located in a strategic position between the valleys of the coast and the highlands. Therefore, since ancient times, it became an obligatory stop for travelers and “muleteers” who went through the area exchanging goods from different origins.
In this Tasting and Historical Tour of Arequipa, you will follow the traces of the muleteers and experience a “picantería“, where products brought to the city by the muleteers were mixed for centuries giving rise to the well-known Arequipa’s gastronomy.
Going out for lunch in the city is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the “arequipeños”. These restaurants, the “picanteras”, are mostly run by creative and generous women, pioneers in combining Andean and Hispanic culinary traditions, as well as products of the coast, the valleys, and the Andes.
At 11, the adventure begins. Just follow your guide and enjoy the ride because after picking you up from your hotel downtown (in case your accommodation is outside of downtown, we will agree on a pick-up and drop-off point the day before the tour) you’ll take a local bus heading west.
Buses here are usually packed tight with passengers, and you should pay attention to what’s going on around you. After the bus ride, we’ll arrive at the picantería Cau Cau, after about 30 minutes.
The picantería Cau Cau is run by Saida, our host, and heir of the Arequipa culinary art. If we are lucky enough, we will meet Saida herself and share a glass of chicha (a traditional fermented corn-based drink) with her. We will taste and get to know the jayaris (a type of snack) and the chupes (which may vary according to the day of the week) or another inevitably good spicy main dish. We’ll finish with a shot of anise and drink to good health.
On days when picantería Cau Cau is not open, lunch will be hosted at the no less delicious picantería La Nueva Palomino.
In the afternoon, you will follow the route that muleteers used to travel to enter the city center. You start in Yanahuara and then walk through the Recoleta area, where you will visit the Recoleta Convent, a little-known place that houses many surprises. Its library has more than 20 thousand books about religion, science, history, literature, and art. You can also discover some interesting exhibition rooms with pre-Hispanic art and one room dedicated to Amazon rainforest goods.
Then, you’ll get closer to the city center. You’ll climb to a hotel’s rooftop and have a cup of tea while having a great view of the area, and especially of one of the oldest “tambos” in the city (former resting places for travelers, and used for storage of goods) called “Tambo de Ruelas”. After enjoying the view, the Arequipa Tasting and Historical Tour will end at around 4 pm. You can easily cross the Bolognesi Bridge (the oldest one in town) and walk back to the Plaza de Armas to explore more of the city at your own pace.
If you are a great fan of food tours, we invite you to have a look at our other Peru culinary experiences in various parts of Peru. Or maybe you prefer to learn more about the area? In that case, our Arequipa Walking Tour might be just for you!
Price Includes
Walking on the routes that once were the connection between small and large communities in the southern Peruvian Andes allows us to appreciate the progress achieved whilst valuing the work of the first muleteers. Nowadays, they are replaced by railroads, paved roads and air transport. Here, we connect to the past to value the present.
This Arequipa Tasting and Historical Tour is full of local, off-the-beaten-path attractions that you support not just with your payment, but also with showing your appreciation for their efforts of preserving our ancient culture! The culinary tradition of eating at a pincatería is thus kept alive.
Patricia is passionate about nature, culture and the power of regenerative leadership. She was born in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, a place that strongly influenced her identification with the Andean culture. Like most young women, she started by going to university and pursuing a career in Arequipa where she got to know the world of conservation, which changed her course. That’s how she started traveling around Peru working in ecotourism, tourism and sustainable development.
Today she sees the need to help travelers connect in a different way with their chosen destination and to show the hosts the value of their culture to empower them and strengthen their natural environment. Since 2020 Patricia has been working with Impactful Travel (formerly known as RESPONSible Travel Peru), with which she shares a philosophy of sustainability.
We do offer vegetarian options, such as: Soltero de queso, Tortilla de verdura, Escribano, Choclo con queso, Ají de calabaza, Pastel de papa, Pastel de tallarines, Mote de habas.
These options are all made with potatoes, vegetables, eggs and cheese.
Even though Arquipa sits lower than Cusco, you should already prepare for “mountainous” weather. That means: the sun gets very strong and you can burn quickly (make sure to wear a hat and sun cream). But as soon as the sun sets or it gets cloudy, it gets cold because the air itself is quite chilly. Prepare for that by taking a sweater or something similar with you.
By starting at 11 am you arrive early to the picantería and have the afternoon for the walk, at this time the sun won’t be as aggressive. For this reason, we strongly recommend 11 am as the start time. However, if needed, you can request a schedule change, and we will try to accommodate it.
This is a private tour for a maximum of 5 people. If you have a larger group, please reach out via the inquiry form on this page.
General questions
For questions about booking a tour, prices, preparation for your trip, health and safety or other themes, please check our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can’t find your question & answer, email us and we’ll add it!
