World Expeditions has once again teamed up with acclaimed travel journalist, author and passionate food writer Ben Groundwater, this time for a new small-group journey through Peru, exploring the extraordinary connections between its land, ancient cultures and celebrated cuisine. Departing 15 July 2027, the 11-day Ancient Flavours of Peru with Ben Groundwater travels from Lima’s Pacific coast to Cusco and the Sacred Valley before reaching Machu Picchu, with a maximum of just 14 guests.
Groundwater first discovered the depth of Peru’s food culture while on assignment there several years ago and quickly saw the potential for a journey that could tell the story of the country through its food.
“Peru is one of those places that stays with you,” says Groundwater. “I was completely captivated by the food when I first visited, but what makes it so fascinating is the story behind it. The ingredients, the landscapes, the ancient farming traditions and the different cultural influences are all connected.
“This trip is about following those connections, from the markets and cevicherias of Lima to the farms of the Sacred Valley and the extraordinary food being created at high-end restaurant-laboratories like MIL Centro. And of course, we’ll throw in Machu Picchu and a little pisco along the way.”
Peru is one of the world’s great centres of agricultural diversity. Potatoes were first domesticated in the Andes thousands of years ago and today the country is home to more than 3,000 varieties. The new itinerary connects these ancient ingredients and farming traditions with the modern migration and local creativity that has made contemporary Peruvian cuisine famous around the world.
The journey begins in Lima, where guests will delve well beyond the restaurant scene to explore the markets, neighbourhoods and communities behind the city’s now famous food culture. Days take in the creative streets of Barranco, coastal Miraflores and the revitalised port of Callao, with everything from churros and chicharrones at Surquillo Market to ceviche at a harbourside cevicheria.
There is also time to explore Peru’s pre-Columbian history at Lima’s renowned Larco Museum before flying to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Here, Spanish colonial architecture sits alongside extraordinary Inca stonework, while the city’s food tells another story of cultural exchange. Guests will take part in a hands-on Peruvian cooking class and discover Nikkei cuisine, born from the influence of Japanese migration on Peruvian ingredients and cooking traditions.
And, naturally, there will be pisco, Peru’s national drink.
From Cusco, the journey continues into the Sacred Valley, where the connection between landscape and food comes vividly to life. Guests will meet local farmers and producers, including renowned agricultural innovator Manuel Choque, dubbed Peru’s “potato whisperer”, whose work celebrates the remarkable diversity of native Andean potatoes.
One of the culinary highlights will be a multi-course experience at MIL Centro, the acclaimed research centre and restaurant overlooking the archaeological site of Moray, helmed by star chef Virgilio Martinez. Its menu explores Peru’s biodiversity through ingredients sourced from different altitudes and ecosystems across the Andes, offering a contemporary interpretation of the ancient food systems encountered throughout the journey.
The cultural centrepiece is Machu Picchu. Guests will explore the 15th-century Incan citadel on a guided visit, discovering its remarkable terraces, temples and engineering before lunch in Aguas Calientes and a scenic return aboard the Vistadome train.
The experience has been designed to balance food and history with a strong sense of place, including character-filled accommodation throughout.
Groundwater’s relaxed hosting style has already won plenty of fans among World Expeditions guests. One past traveller described a journey with him as the “perfect blend of the scenery, the hikes, the dining experiences” and praised Groundwater as a “smart, calm” host with a great sense of humour. Another said: “Amazing food, each meal seemed to surpass the ones before. Good balance of organised activities and free time. Last but not least, Ben was a wonderful host.”
The Ancient Flavours of Peru with Ben Groundwater departs 15 July 2027 and runs for 11 days, priced from A$8,190 per person twin share.
