The Best Food Tours in South and Central America
From authentic Mexican street food to cooking masterclasses in Ecuador, here are the best food tours in South and Central America you can book with Culture Trip.
Hungry for tacos and tamales? Or how about Colombian coffee fresh from the source? Maybe you’re craving fresh ceviche on the Caribbean, or cachaça cocktails on a Brazilian beach. Whatever your foodie passion, you’ll be sure to satisfy your hunger pangs with one of these Culture Trip adventures.
Sip rum and feast on fresh seafood on Colombia's Caribbean coast
Hungering for Colombian cuisine? This eight-day group trip with Culture Trip offers more than a taste of Colombia’s Caribbean coast – starting with a food tour of Cartagena and swiftly followed by an evening exploration of the city’s rum bars. Gorge on arepas and ceviche, then work off the calories with a snorkelling tour of the Rosario Islands and local dance lessons in the town of San Basilio de Palenque. Follow the coast to the beach town of Palomino – where you can feast on fresh seafood, hike through the Tayrona National Park and sit back with a Colombian-style lager or soda cocktail on the beach.
From US$1711
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cartagena, Colombia
ENDS AT
Santa Marta, Colombia
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Discover the essence of Ecuador as you prepare ceviche
Ecuador is the destination for thrill-seekers and foodies – and this eight-day Culture Trip tour combines volcanoes, waterfalls and hot springs with cooking masterclasses in Quito and Amazonian cuisine in the rainforest. Start with a local pilsener in the capital, before learning how to prepare ceviche and other classic Ecuadorian dishes at Altamira restaurant. Next up is a horse riding tour to Cotopaxi Volcano before you travel south to explore the waterfall route in Banos. You’ll be cycling from one waterfall to the next, zip line over valleys and brave the white waters of the Jatunyacu River on a rafting adventure along the Amazon tributary. The trip finishes with an overnight stay at the Kuyana Amazon Lodge – where you’ll learn all about local plant-based medicines and local cooking techniques.
From US$1459
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Quito, Ecuador
ENDS AT
Quito, Ecuador
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Tuck into tacos in Mexico City
Mexico City food tours are guaranteed to leave you full, but you’ll always be hungry for more tacos and tamales as you quickly plan your return trip to the Mexican capital. This five-day group trip gives you a fiery taste of Mexico City’s food scene. You’ll get to know your group over a Mexican feast at a local restaurant, before experiencing the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the capital on a guided tour through a food market. You’ll also see the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Chapultepec Park and Frida Khalo’s house, and you’ll visit a Mezcaleria. Try local beers at a lucha libre match and drink margaritas as you cruise along the Xochimilco canals.
From US$802
Next available from 9th Nov 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
ENDS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Easy
STYLE
Discovery
Cook up Peruvian dishes in Cusco and eat like a local in Arequipa
This nine-day premium Epic Trip to Peru takes you on a whistle-stop tour around the country. Start off in Cusco, where you’ll visit San Pedro market to pick up ingredients for your Peruvian cooking class – you’ll whip up your own pisco sour, appetizer and main course. Next, discover the history of the Incas when you visit the Sacred Valley and the iconic wonder of the world, Machu Picchu. Spot condors on a trek through Colca Canyon and marvel at the diverse landscapes here. The trip finishes in Arequipa, where you’ll take a tour of several picanterias. These local lunchtime restaurants feature regional dishes, and you’ll be able to see how they cook specialty dishes. Fill up with samples from each picanteria before a walking tour of the city.
From US$1824
Next available from 1st Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cusco, Peru
ENDS AT
Arequipa, Peru
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Barbecue on the beach and sip sunset cocktails in Rio
Our nine-day Dazzling Brazil trip is all about giving you the full Brazilian experience and, as much as soccer, samba and stunning stretches of sand, food and drink is a huge part of that experience. After exploring the trendiest spots in Sao Paulo we’ll head out to the coastal countryside and stay in the gorgeous old town of Paraty – home to several excellent seafood restaurants. Here we’ll enjoy the luscious forests and crystalline waters of Paraty Bay, included a boat tour and beach-stop barbecue. We’ll finish the trip in Rio de Janeiro, where we’ll have a beer at the local’s favourite spot, grab sunset cocktails at Classico Beach Bar on Sugarloaf Mountain and try a caipirinha (or few) at the end of an enlightening samba school experience.
From US$2099
Next available from 8th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Sao Paulo, Brazil
ENDS AT
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
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