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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.
Richard Collett
2 May 2023
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.
1 . 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£1586
Next available from30 Sep 2023
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2 . 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£1091
Next available from8 Jul 2023
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3 . 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£816
Next available from17 Aug 2023
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4 . 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£1852
Next available from1 Sep 2023
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5 . 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£2192
Next available from20 Oct 2023
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Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.

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