15 Workshops & Classes in Cusco to Plan Your Trip Around

1.Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 512 reviews · 4 hours · from $67Our pick

Start at Door 1 of Cusco’s San Pedro Market, then walk to a historic-center cooking studio. An English-speaking chef guides a small group of up to 10 through two cocktails, cebiche, causa limeña, quinoa tamal, and picarones. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and non-alcoholic options are available.

“Highlight of Cusco, great way to spend any adjusting days before you head on the Inca Trail. Eric was informative, and probably one of the most knowledgeable guides we had our whole trip. The cooking section was great fun”

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2.Cooking class and market tour with a local chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · 4 hours · from $57Top rated

Chef Ronal, a Cusco native, leads a four-hour visit to San Pedro Market and a hands-on cooking class. Taste local fruit and cheese, prepare a shared starter and your choice of lomo saltado or ceviche, then make a pisco cocktail or nonalcoholic drink. Dietary needs can be accommodated.

“Awesome activity, as a solo traveller I found it very fun and easy to become friends with other group members. Ron and his team were awesome. 10/10!”

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3.The First Class Machu Picchu Train by Inca Rail

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 182 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $855

Ride Inca Rail’s First Class train to Machu Picchu, with an observatory carriage, live music, a three-course lunch and dinner, drinks, a certified citadel guide, and bus transfers to and from the site. The experience is listed at about two to four hours, with a four-hour Machu Picchu visit. Check what your hotel transfer includes before booking.

“Everything was great - from Machu Picchu pick-up, complimentary dinner in the restaurant near the station to the train experience and live music. I got to be the only first class passenger so it felt even more luxurious.”

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4.The Textile Workshop Experience in Cusco Region

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 118 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $79

At Andean Colors in Racchi ayllu, learn the steps behind traditional Andean textiles, from cleaning and dyeing wool to spinning yarn and weaving a bracelet or bookmark. Guides including Miguel and Paulita lead the hands-on work, with an alpaca and llama encounter, regional lunch, mountain views, and an on-site boutique. Transport from Cusco is not included.

“A beautiful experience learning about cleaning, dying and threading wool. What stood out the most was the stunning views of the countryside and the kind hearted Paulita! It was just me there and no other tourists so I felt personally taken”

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5.Sacred Valley Textile Workshop – Dyeing & Weaving in Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $420

Spend a full day near Cusco learning textile-making with Ruth Pimentel and local master weavers. Gather plants for natural dyes, prepare and dye alpaca yarn, then try spinning and backstrap weaving. Private transport and lunch are included, and you take home a handmade piece.

“This was the most amazing day. I feel so lucky to be welcomed into this family for the day and learn all about natural dyeing and weaving. It’s such a beautiful art form and so nice to learn about an important element to another culture’s history. 10/10 would recommend for an amazing day.”

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6.Chocolate Workshop in Cusco with Premium Organic Cacao

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45

Spend about two and a half hours making pralines, mendiants, ganache, and hot chocolate with 100% organic Chuncho cacao from the Sacred Valley. You choose local jams, nuts, and other toppings, then pack your creations in a personalized box. Instructors have included David, Abelardo, and Randy; the workshop meets in central Cusco and offers views over the city.

“A last minute activity the night before we left Cusco! What fun we had! What a view ! What beautiful food at the restaurant after the CACAO CHOCOLATE making experience. A delightful, sassy and fun chocolate making teacher! They have other activities which are fun! Defiantly worth doing! The whole building has a vibe as soon as you walk in wish we had of discovered this area of town earlier!”

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7.Private Andean Cooking Class, Pachamanca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

At Marcelo Batata Cooking Class in central Cusco, spend three hours with a professional chef preparing Andean dishes and tasting local ingredients. The advertised class includes tamales, uchucuta pepper sauce, chicha, and food cooked in clay pots. It is private, runs in English or Spanish by request, and costs $150 per person.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Peruvian cooking class provided by Chef Fernando in Cusco. It was one of the highlights of our trip!! His recipes, instruction, personality, and overall presentation were all fantastic. He followed up by emailing us the recipes we made. Highly recommend!”

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8.Pisco Sour Secrets: Hands-On Mixology in Historic Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Best value

At Casa Intrepid, a restored Cusco venue with original Inca walls, a local English-speaking bartender guides you through the story and flavors of Peruvian Pisco. Taste three varieties, then use fresh lime, syrup, egg white, bitters, and professional tools to mix your own Pisco Sour. The class lasts about two and a half hours, starts at 4:00 pm, and is limited to 12 adults.

“This night was so fun. The walking tour was full of information that we did not know about Cusco. The tour guide was excellent. When we went to the bar all of the employees behind the bar were so welcoming. Each of us could make a Pisco Sour of our choice mine was chocolate. We had so much fun that we stayed two additional hours and had another drink and appetizers.”

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9.Vegan Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Local Market in Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $69

Start at Cusco’s San Pedro Market to learn about local fruits, grains and other ingredients, then head to a central cooking studio for a hands-on vegan class. Make ceviche, causa limeña, quinoa tamal and two cocktails with a chef such as Jesus or Jorge. Ingredients, equipment, water and recipes are included.

“Can’t recommend this class highly enough. Able to accommodate vegan diets really well. A must-do activity if you are visiting Cusco!”

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10.Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $54

Spend about four hours visiting San Pedro Market and cooking Peruvian dishes, including ceviche, with a bilingual chef. You’ll make a pisco sour, eat the meal you prepare and take home printed recipes. The class starts and ends at ChocoMuseo near Plaza Regocijo.

“We had a phenomenal experience during our Cusco cooking class!! Loved the market trip, making piscos and especially Ceviche!”

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11.Chocolate Workshop with the Best Local Organic Cacao

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 2h 30m · from $47

Spend 2.5 hours at Limbus Restobar in central Cusco learning about local Chuncho cacao, making Belgian-style pralines and mendiants, and preparing hot chocolate. Instructors such as David, Marco, Alex, Ken, and Angel have led sessions. You’ll leave with about 21 pralines and 10 mendiants in a take-home box.

“De chocolade workshop was heel erg leuk om te doen. Onze chefs David en Marco legde alles goed en grappig uit, hadden veel kennis en waren erg gezellig! We hebben veel gelachen en heerlijke bonbons gemaakt. Echt een aanrader!”

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12.Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 19 reviews · from $65

Meet at a square fountain for a bilingual cooking experience with a walk through San Pedro Market, a pisco tasting, and hands-on instruction from an expert chef. Make traditional dishes such as ceviche, Chilcano soup, lomo saltado, or ají de gallina, then enjoy lunch. Chef Ronald is one instructor named in connection with the class.

“Had an amazing time, chef Ronald was the best!”

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13.3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 16 reviews · 3 hours · from $49

Start with a guided look around Cusco’s Central Market, then cook ceviche, a main of lomo saltado or ají de gallina, pisco sour, and chocolate fondue with local fruit. Instructors including Miguel and Yil have led classes in English and Spanish. The three-hour class is held at ChocoMuseo near Plaza Regocijo.

“Una delle migliori attività che abbiamo fatto durante il nostro viaggio in Perù, una vera immersione culturale. Miguel è stato un maestro eccellente. Ci ha guidati passo dopo passo nella scelta degli ingredienti, nella preparazione dei piatti e nel loro impiattamento. Ha arricchito la lezione raccontandoci moltissime curiosità sia sul cibo che culturali. Esperienza da provare assolutamente se si passa da Cuzco.”

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14.1.5h Cusco Chocolate Workshop – Truffles & Hot Chocolate

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 8 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

At LIMBUS restobar in San Blas, a guide walks you through making, shaping, and coating 20 chocolate truffles with a choice of toppings. While they chill, you sip hot chocolate and chat. Workshops run for 90 minutes in English, Spanish, or French. Erika has led sessions praised for clear instructions and a fun atmosphere.

“It was so much fun to learn about the process of making truffles and chocolate in general. We had the best time! Erika explained everything perfectly❤️”

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15.Best of Cusco: Night Tour, Pisco Sour Lessons, and Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · from $90

Spend four hours walking Cusco’s historic center and San Blas with a local guide, stopping at streets, plazas, and night viewpoints. Then make or taste a Pisco Sour at a local bar and try Peruvian food at a traditional restaurant. Guides have included Jose, Jose Luis, and Alex.

“We did this our first night in Cusco and our guide was Jose. He was amazing! He took us to the Pisco Museum where we got to go behind the bar and made our own Pisco Sours. Jose is so knowledgable about Cusco and the history of the Inka civilization. He was so gracious and he offered us advice on the rest of our trip including our trek to Machu Picchu. If you go to Cusco you should definitely take a tour with Jose you will learn and see a lot of this amazing city. We would definitely go back and do another excursion with Jose and this company.”

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