South America · WALKING TOURS IN PERU
The good walking tours in Peru fill first, and the cheap ones are not always the weak ones. Below: 11 of them, what each costs and how they differ.
Start near Plaza de Armas with a guide holding an umbrella, then walk through Arequipa’s arches, Company cloisters, old mansions, Mundo Alpaca, and San Lazaro. Guides such as Edgar, Johan, Beatriz, and Jorge Echeandia add history, humor, food tips, and local context. The tour lasts about two hours and costs $10, plus a voluntary tip.
“some parts were boring some fun. still worth doing”
Meet your English- or Spanish-speaking guide at Terrua for Peruvian coffee, then walk through Miraflores for chicharrones, bakery treats, market fruit, ceviche, pisco, and churros. Guides such as Andres, Alina, Miguel, and Brendon have led the tour. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, and an appetite.
“Amazing tour, the best guide, had an amazing time would highly recommend”
Walk Arequipa’s historic center with a local guide such as Joss, Jose, or Joseph. In about two hours, you’ll see the Cathedral, colonial cloisters, old tambos, lesser-known corners, and a rooftop viewpoint facing Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Small groups, English or Spanish, and practical city tips make this a useful first tour.
“Very nice tour guide - Joss, he explained the history and the cultural influences very well. He was extremely kind. I recommend it very much! He also shared his whatsapp number and helped with tips and recommendations later, after the tour. We were a small group - only 3 people. Great experience and unique, hidden spots discovered!”
Walk Arequipa’s historic center with guides such as Paolo, Jorge, or Johan Paolo. Visit Mundo Alpaca, colonial streets, Fundo El Fierro, and Plaza de Armas, with Peruvian chocolate, tea, snacks, and a rooftop view of the city and volcanoes. The tour lasts about 2 hours and 37 minutes, costs $10, and is limited to 10 people.
“I had a great time on this tour with Jorge! He is very knowledgeable about the historical significance of Arequipa and I can see he take a lot of pride in his work. The tour gave me an opportunity to see shops and restaurants that I later visited on my own.”
Walk from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas through the Cathedral, Qoricancha, Inca stonework, and San Blas. Visit a luthier, watch an Andean music show, see 7 Borreguitos Street, and finish with a pisco sour or chicha morada. English and Spanish tours hold up to 10 people, with guides such as Erick, Nilo, and Niki.
“Erick was fun and informative. A great tour of Cusco. Easy way to acclimate to Cusco. Pisco samples were great!”
Start at your Lima hotel with a private guide, explore Miraflores and its market, then use public transportation to reach Lima’s historic center. Walk through Plaza San Martín, Plaza de Armas, and San Francisco’s catacombs before finishing in Barranco. Guides including Joselyn, Julio, and Allyson are praised for flexibility and clear local insight.
“We had an excellent tour of Lima with Julio earlier this month. He showed up promptly at the Westin to pick us up from the lobby. We utilized the bus system and that was easy for us to navigate the traffic. We did the Historic Center, Barranco, Miraflores, Lover's Park. We had lunch together at Popular in Larcomar. He took tons of pictures for us and was very passionate about his country. He has a wealth of knowledge and was happy to share it with us. We had a lovely time browsing and exploring his lovely city. It was so nice to have a leisurely tour at our own pace.…”
Start at Terrua Coffee Shop at 9:30 am for a four-hour walk through Miraflores and Surquillo. Guides such as Rudy, Miguel, Sergio, Pablo, and Alina connect Peruvian food with local culture. Expect coffee, chicharrones, unusual fruits, ceviche, pisco, desserts, and churros in a group of no more than 10.
“Very informative and a good variety of food. Trip to the market was great and had a little free time on our own to roam around and see things.”
Ride a panoramic bus from Miraflores through Huaca Pucllana, San Isidro, and the Magic Water Circuit, then walk Plaza San Martín and Plaza Mayor with an English or Spanish guide. Finish with a 30 to 40-minute underground visit to the San Francisco catacombs. The tour returns to Miraflores and is wheelchair accessible.
“Comunicación más con el guía,, quizás especificar más en el tour que incluye ,,”
Explore Lima’s historic center with an English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Pamela, Saul, or Vilma. Visit Plaza San Martín, Jirón de la Unión, Plaza Mayor, San Francisco Monastery, and its underground catacombs. Hotel pickup, return transport, entry, and a snack or water are included.
“Fantastic tour, our guide Pamela was wonderful , so knowledgeable, answered all of our many questions, a joy to travel with, and gave us a great historical and current overview of Lima. Thoroughly enjoyed it!!! I highly recommend. This tour.”
Start at 5:30 pm with a chef or guide from Marcelo Batata Cooking Class, then sample restaurant dishes, Pisco pairings, anticuchos, picarones, and other Cusco favorites. Guides such as Cristina, Fabricio, and Elvira explain the food, culture, and history during this two-hour walk. Groups are capped at eight.
“If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Definitely the best tasting good or off all the food tours I've ever taken. I 100% recommend this!!! One little thing- it was a little hard for me to find. Once you get to the address, there is a small hallway to the back right of the courtyard. Go through there to find your trip :)”
Meet guide Miguel or Jonathan at Terrua Coffee Shop in Miraflores for Peruvian coffee, then ride the Metropolitano to central Lima. Taste Chinese-Peruvian bites, chicha morada, papa a la huancaina, churros, dessert, and a pisco sour while exploring Mercado Central, Chinatown, Plaza Mayor, Congress Palace, and San Francisco Church.
“Excellent tour! I happened to be the only one who booked the tour and Miguel made kr extremely interesting”
Pick a coastline, an altitude or a kitchen.
