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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Anilu and Diego

Urubamba, Peru

USD
$110-$140 per person

Gourmet Peruvian cooking class in the Sacred Valley

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Anilu and Diego

Anilu and her husband Diego run a restaurant and B&B located in Urubamba, Peru’s Sacred Valley. Their home is an hour and a half drive outside Cusco through a beautiful, rugged mountain landscape. Diego is a professional chef and worked in restaurants in Lima. Anilu is not a chef, but she loves to eat and in her previous professional life she was a food engineer. They moved to Urubama for a slower pace of life and the chance to raise their young twins in the countryside. Their B&B has a warm, relaxed feel and is decorated with artisan furniture and curios made by local artisans. Diego cooks traditional Peruvian dishes with gourmet quality, so be prepared to eat well at their home!

Anilu says, “We believe the best way to travel is to get to know a place through it’s people!”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-20 guests) Join Diego in their outdoor kitchen where he will show you how to make classic Peruvian dishes like ceviche (fresh fish cured in citrus juice), lomo saltado (marinated beef sirloin, sautéed with onions, peppers and fried potatoes), tacu tacu (rice and roasted beans) and papa la huancaína (potatoes with a spicy, savory sauce) or causa rellena (potato puree garnished with yellow aji sauces and lemon, stuffed with onion, avocado and tuna) or arroz chaufa (sautéed rice with green onions and sesame seeds, a chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) dish). During this cooking demonstration, learn how to properly cut the fish for ceviche and how to carefully balance the flavors while Diego teaches you some of his favorite cooking tricks. Diego can demonstrate how to cook the dishes, or you can have a hands-on lesson (please note your preference during booking). After your meal is prepared, sit down together to savor fresh, authentic Peruvian dishes while music plays in the background.

Market visit: (1-20 guests) When you arrive at Pakakuna, Anilu will greet you with a friendly welcome and explain the day’s activities. Then you will set off in a rickshaw to visit to the local market. As you walk through the market Anilu will introduce you to the regional products for sale. You’ll see fruits and vegetables as well as livestock like chickens, guinea pigs, ducks, sheep and alpacas.

Notes: Pakakuna is located a beautiful 1.5 hour drive from Cusco. Anilu can arrange roundtrip transportation from Cusco at an additional cost. Just book optional transportation when you make your reservation and be sure to tell Anilu where you are staying. Please note that while alcohol is not included in the cost of the experience, alcohol is available for purchase onsite at their bar where they have a variety of local beers and cocktails on offer.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Ceviche
  • Lomo saltado
  • Tacu tacu
  • Papa la huancaína
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Diego and Anilu were amazing hosts. The space had a great vibe with artisan furniture and great design, and their home was welcoming with plenty of character. We got to hangout and learn about their culture, their backgrounds and why they decided to start Pakakuna. Seeing Ceviche being made and then eating it fresh was awesome, and the Lomo Saltado was mouthwatering.

Zubin, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (10)
We did the market tour and dinner with anilu. She took us to her local market and explained many of their local fruits and vegetables. Then a private dinner at their restaurant was amazing. The al fresco dining was really fun and the food was sooooo good. Definitely recommend.
- Marissa November 10, 2023
Fantastic Peruvian Cooking Class! Our group of 5 had a fantastic cooking class with Diego and Anilu! We learned how to cook ceviche y lomo de saltido. The food, fresh beverages and location were all great, as was their hospitality.
- Anna G October 11, 2023
My goodness, we got treated to some amazing experience with Anilou and Diego. We signed up for a market tour and cooking class and we ended up treated to the Peruvian food and when became friends as well. The market walk with Anilou, who speaks beautiful English was very informative, we learned a lot about locate fruits and vegetables and we ended up tasting everything we purchased during our dinner time as appetizers. After shopping a cool tuk-tuk ride took us to Diego and Anilou’s home, where they operate the restaurant named Pakakuña. Here we learned how to make fish and vegetarian ceviche. And then Diego shared with us his own creation, and the best vegetarian couscous meal, that I have ever had. The instructions are very clear and very descriptive of the ingredients needed. We truly experience a wonderful meal and company. I highly recommend it to anybody who has interest in cooking and enjoying original Peruvian food.
- arpadski May 23, 2023
When you travel you get to experience new things, but often you cannot bring that experience back home. However learning how to cook a native dish from people who know how to cook and teach allows you the ability to experience your trip again and again. We had a wonderful evening with Anilu and Diego. We learned how to make ceviche and aji de gallina, both of which will become part of our cooking repertoire. Infact, we have already made ceviche since returning home. All of the food was prepared safely, they were mindful to wash all of the fresh ingredients with filtered water, which I greatly appreciated. We were on a tour and scheduled this evening independently. We made our entire group jealous because our food was so much better than what was offered at the hotel restaurant! Please do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and book this experience!!
- tmdmkd March 17, 2023
When you travel you get to experience new things, but often you cannot bring that experience back home. However learning how to cook a native dish from people who know how to cook and teach allows you the ability to experience your trip again and again. We had a wonderful evening with Anilu and Diego. We learned how to make ceviche and aji de gallina, both of which will become part of our cooking repertoire. Infact, we have already made ceviche since returning home. All of the food was prepared safely, they were mindful to wash all of the fresh ingredients with filtered water, which I greatly appreciated. We were on a tour and scheduled this evening independently. We made our entire group jealous because our food was so much better than what was offered at the hotel restaurant! Please do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and book this experience!!
- tmdmkd March 17, 2023
Loved Everything About It. Diego and Anilu accepted our request to join the cooking experience at the last minute. We were very happy to be accommodated. The experience was exactly what we had hoped for! We toured their organic herb garden, learned how to make ceviche with river trout (amazing), and an Asian/Peruvian fusion dish using beef tenderloin and stir fry techniques. I also picked up a few new knife skills from Diego. We highly recommend this cooking experience as one of your dinner options while visiting the Sacred Valley.
- bishj5 March 11, 2020
Anilu and Diego were great hosts and instructors. Their restaurant is a super cool space. We took a tour of the gardens in the back where they grow much of the ingredients they use and then had our first tutorial for which we made ceviche. we had time to relax and eat before the second lesson which was lomo saltado. both tutorials were fun and informative. In addition to being specific to the dishes we went over knife skills that would carry to other recipes. I highly recommend booking with them.
- ekleigh November 06, 2018
We loved our cooking class at Paka Kuna! It was really more of a cooking demonstration with us helping out a bit, but that was perfect for us. Anilu and Diego are both so warm and welcoming that it felt like cooking with family. The food was delicious and the atmosphere relaxing. We highly recommend!
- TrekkerMom09 July 18, 2018
Our experience with Anilu and Diego was just incredible and truly a highlight of our time in Peru. Anilu met us at our hotel and took us on an amazing tour of the market where we got to try delicious produce and chocolate. It was a delight to be able to taste and learn about all the amazing indigenous ingredients and rich food culture or this region.At the restaurant, we truly learned invaluable cooking techniques and made the best meal we’ve had on our trip, maybe ever! We’re still talking about how delicious it was and what a beautiful restaurant Anilu and Diego put together. Don’t hesitate to book this experience! It’s simply incredible. Thank you again, Anilu and Diego, for a wonderful night.
- sandy007858 July 07, 2018
Anilu and Diago treated us to an informative and delicious experience in Urubamba, Peru. Anilu took us to the food market in town and showed us all the local fruits, vegetables and grains/legumes etc. We were able to smell and taste amazing ingredients we never see in Australia. Anilu’s knowledge of ingredients was so valuable to the experience. We then returned to their outdoor restaurant where experienced chef Diago demonstrated two Peruvian dishes; cerviche and lomo saltado. We were amazed by his skills and greatly valued the ‘chefs secrets’ shared with us. The food was beautifully presented, utterly delicious and very satisfying. Mucho gracias!
- 772bradleyj June 18, 2018
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Anilu and Diego

$110-$140 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $110 $110 $110
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $140 $140 $126
Transportation
 $88 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $110 $110 $110
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $140 $140 $126
Transportation
 $88 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-1:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:30am-1:30pm 4:30pm-8:30pm

Meet Anilu and Diego

Anilu and her husband Diego run a restaurant and B&B located in Urubamba, Peru’s Sacred Valley. Their home is an hour and a half drive outside Cusco through a beautiful, rugged mountain landscape. Diego is a professional chef and worked in restaurants in Lima. Anilu is not a chef, but she loves to eat and in her previous professional life she was a food engineer. They moved to Urubama for a slower pace of life and the chance to raise their young twins in the countryside. Their B&B has a warm, relaxed feel and is decorated with artisan furniture and curios made by local artisans. Diego cooks traditional Peruvian dishes with gourmet quality, so be prepared to eat well at their home!

Anilu says, “We believe the best way to travel is to get to know a place through it’s people!”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-20 guests) Join Diego in their outdoor kitchen where he will show you how to make classic Peruvian dishes like ceviche (fresh fish cured in citrus juice), lomo saltado (marinated beef sirloin, sautéed with onions, peppers and fried potatoes), tacu tacu (rice and roasted beans) and papa la huancaína (potatoes with a spicy, savory sauce) or causa rellena (potato puree garnished with yellow aji sauces and lemon, stuffed with onion, avocado and tuna) or arroz chaufa (sautéed rice with green onions and sesame seeds, a chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) dish). During this cooking demonstration, learn how to properly cut the fish for ceviche and how to carefully balance the flavors while Diego teaches you some of his favorite cooking tricks. Diego can demonstrate how to cook the dishes, or you can have a hands-on lesson (please note your preference during booking). After your meal is prepared, sit down together to savor fresh, authentic Peruvian dishes while music plays in the background.

Market visit: (1-20 guests) When you arrive at Pakakuna, Anilu will greet you with a friendly welcome and explain the day’s activities. Then you will set off in a rickshaw to visit to the local market. As you walk through the market Anilu will introduce you to the regional products for sale. You’ll see fruits and vegetables as well as livestock like chickens, guinea pigs, ducks, sheep and alpacas.

Notes: Pakakuna is located a beautiful 1.5 hour drive from Cusco. Anilu can arrange roundtrip transportation from Cusco at an additional cost. Just book optional transportation when you make your reservation and be sure to tell Anilu where you are staying. Please note that while alcohol is not included in the cost of the experience, alcohol is available for purchase onsite at their bar where they have a variety of local beers and cocktails on offer.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Ceviche
  • Lomo saltado
  • Tacu tacu
  • Papa la huancaína
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Diego and Anilu were amazing hosts. The space had a great vibe with artisan furniture and great design, and their home was welcoming with plenty of character. We got to hangout and learn about their culture, their backgrounds and why they decided to start Pakakuna. Seeing Ceviche being made and then eating it fresh was awesome, and the Lomo Saltado was mouthwatering.

Zubin, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (10)
We did the market tour and dinner with anilu. She took us to her local market and explained many of their local fruits and vegetables. Then a private dinner at their restaurant was amazing. The al fresco dining was really fun and the food was sooooo good. Definitely recommend.
- Marissa November 10, 2023
Fantastic Peruvian Cooking Class! Our group of 5 had a fantastic cooking class with Diego and Anilu! We learned how to cook ceviche y lomo de saltido. The food, fresh beverages and location were all great, as was their hospitality.
- Anna G October 11, 2023
My goodness, we got treated to some amazing experience with Anilou and Diego. We signed up for a market tour and cooking class and we ended up treated to the Peruvian food and when became friends as well. The market walk with Anilou, who speaks beautiful English was very informative, we learned a lot about locate fruits and vegetables and we ended up tasting everything we purchased during our dinner time as appetizers. After shopping a cool tuk-tuk ride took us to Diego and Anilou’s home, where they operate the restaurant named Pakakuña. Here we learned how to make fish and vegetarian ceviche. And then Diego shared with us his own creation, and the best vegetarian couscous meal, that I have ever had. The instructions are very clear and very descriptive of the ingredients needed. We truly experience a wonderful meal and company. I highly recommend it to anybody who has interest in cooking and enjoying original Peruvian food.
- arpadski May 23, 2023
When you travel you get to experience new things, but often you cannot bring that experience back home. However learning how to cook a native dish from people who know how to cook and teach allows you the ability to experience your trip again and again. We had a wonderful evening with Anilu and Diego. We learned how to make ceviche and aji de gallina, both of which will become part of our cooking repertoire. Infact, we have already made ceviche since returning home. All of the food was prepared safely, they were mindful to wash all of the fresh ingredients with filtered water, which I greatly appreciated. We were on a tour and scheduled this evening independently. We made our entire group jealous because our food was so much better than what was offered at the hotel restaurant! Please do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and book this experience!!
- tmdmkd March 17, 2023
When you travel you get to experience new things, but often you cannot bring that experience back home. However learning how to cook a native dish from people who know how to cook and teach allows you the ability to experience your trip again and again. We had a wonderful evening with Anilu and Diego. We learned how to make ceviche and aji de gallina, both of which will become part of our cooking repertoire. Infact, we have already made ceviche since returning home. All of the food was prepared safely, they were mindful to wash all of the fresh ingredients with filtered water, which I greatly appreciated. We were on a tour and scheduled this evening independently. We made our entire group jealous because our food was so much better than what was offered at the hotel restaurant! Please do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and book this experience!!
- tmdmkd March 17, 2023
Loved Everything About It. Diego and Anilu accepted our request to join the cooking experience at the last minute. We were very happy to be accommodated. The experience was exactly what we had hoped for! We toured their organic herb garden, learned how to make ceviche with river trout (amazing), and an Asian/Peruvian fusion dish using beef tenderloin and stir fry techniques. I also picked up a few new knife skills from Diego. We highly recommend this cooking experience as one of your dinner options while visiting the Sacred Valley.
- bishj5 March 11, 2020
Anilu and Diego were great hosts and instructors. Their restaurant is a super cool space. We took a tour of the gardens in the back where they grow much of the ingredients they use and then had our first tutorial for which we made ceviche. we had time to relax and eat before the second lesson which was lomo saltado. both tutorials were fun and informative. In addition to being specific to the dishes we went over knife skills that would carry to other recipes. I highly recommend booking with them.
- ekleigh November 06, 2018
We loved our cooking class at Paka Kuna! It was really more of a cooking demonstration with us helping out a bit, but that was perfect for us. Anilu and Diego are both so warm and welcoming that it felt like cooking with family. The food was delicious and the atmosphere relaxing. We highly recommend!
- TrekkerMom09 July 18, 2018
Our experience with Anilu and Diego was just incredible and truly a highlight of our time in Peru. Anilu met us at our hotel and took us on an amazing tour of the market where we got to try delicious produce and chocolate. It was a delight to be able to taste and learn about all the amazing indigenous ingredients and rich food culture or this region.At the restaurant, we truly learned invaluable cooking techniques and made the best meal we’ve had on our trip, maybe ever! We’re still talking about how delicious it was and what a beautiful restaurant Anilu and Diego put together. Don’t hesitate to book this experience! It’s simply incredible. Thank you again, Anilu and Diego, for a wonderful night.
- sandy007858 July 07, 2018
Anilu and Diago treated us to an informative and delicious experience in Urubamba, Peru. Anilu took us to the food market in town and showed us all the local fruits, vegetables and grains/legumes etc. We were able to smell and taste amazing ingredients we never see in Australia. Anilu’s knowledge of ingredients was so valuable to the experience. We then returned to their outdoor restaurant where experienced chef Diago demonstrated two Peruvian dishes; cerviche and lomo saltado. We were amazed by his skills and greatly valued the ‘chefs secrets’ shared with us. The food was beautifully presented, utterly delicious and very satisfying. Mucho gracias!
- 772bradleyj June 18, 2018
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $110 $110 $110
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $140 $140 $126
Transportation
 $88 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $110 $110 $110
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $140 $140 $126
Transportation
 $88 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-1:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:30am-1:30pm 4:30pm-8:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

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    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

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    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

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