{"id":8840,"date":"2022-07-22T15:50:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T15:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/heres-look-real-perhaps-less-shiny-side-cusco-peru\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T09:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T09:58:03","slug":"heres-look-real-perhaps-less-shiny-side-cusco-peru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/heres-look-real-perhaps-less-shiny-side-cusco-peru\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring San Pedro Market In Cusco, Peru And What It\u2019s Like To Eat Guinea Pig In Peru"},"content":{"rendered":"

We saved the most unusual dish in Peru for last\u2026 and honestly, I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d go through with it.<\/p>\n

It was our final day in Cusco and yet somehow, we still hadn\u2019t managed to get round to trying one of the (unofficial) national dishes of Peru \u2013 Cuy.<\/p>\n

Cuy is roast guinea pig, given what it is you can probably guess why we\u2019d skipped this at every meal so far! My only experience with guinea pigs thus far was only ever as pets.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s not like we\u2019re in Peru every day and we had to embrace all parts of Peru so with this in mind, we decided that we would have to try it today (though at the back of our minds, we\u2019d have totally been okay with not trying it and going \u201cOh well, at least we tried\u2026\u201d<\/em>)<\/p>\n

After breakfast at our hotel (which was actually really good \u2013 definitely one of the stand-out features of the Hotel El Mercado<\/a>), we understandably were in no hurry to find more food.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

We headed off in search of more of a \u2018visual feast\u2019 instead \u2013 pounding the streets of Cusco and trying to see as many of the sights that we\u2019d missed as possible.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

We were very often distracted by the Llamas and Alpacas as we went around this city though \u2013 like seriously, how cute is this one below? \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

^ The lady looks like she’s thinking “Why the hell are these randos bothering my Llama?<\/em> \ud83e\udd14”<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

Eventually, we made our way through the city to San Pedro Market.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

San Pedro Market is definitely not a market for tourists. Yes, there are some stuff just as you step into the market that tourists can buy, but for the most part, it\u2019s a market run by and for the locals in Cusco.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

This is where people come to eat, to get the fruit and veg, grains, flowers and even toads!<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

You know what, rather than try to describe to you what it\u2019s like here \u2013 I\u2019ll just show you\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

^ Those are the toads mentioned earlier.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

You see what I mean?<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

Leaving the market, we remembered that we still hadn\u2019t been into the main cathedral and set off for the cathedral to right that wrong.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually quite impressive in the cathedral (although surprising dark) but you\u2019re not allowed photos in there so you\u2019ll have to go to Cusco to see what that\u2019s like. \ud83d\ude42 It\u2019s not too expensive to get in so it\u2019s worth checking out while you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

On leaving the cathedral, we decided to finally head off in search of Cuy for lunch \u2013 problem is, we wanted to at least try to have it somewhere that was actually \u2018good\u2019 \u2013 whatever that means; we had no idea what good cuy was supposed to taste like.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

We asked around and got recommendations from the locals (there are lots of places they recommended) and with that, we set off through lots of quiet side streets, sometimes think we\u2019d taken the wrong turn but trudging along anyway, until we found one of the restaurants we\u2019d been recommended.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\"Here\u2019s <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

As we\u2019d be leaving for the airport in just a couple of hours, I decided to for the full Peruvian whack with lunch \u2013 Pisco sours, roasted alpaca and, because none of us had the courage to order one on our own, we got a whole roasted guinea pig to share.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

When it came out of the kitchen, the sight of it did nothing to alleviate our nervousness \u2013 it still looked very much like a guinea pig, right down the front teeth sticking out.<\/p>\n

(Apologies for the ridiculous orangeness of the photos! Not even sure what happened here…)<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

With a gulp and a grimace, I took my first bite \u201cIt\u2019s actually not so bad\u2026\u201d<\/em> I thought… and then proceeded to laugh as the others tried the cuy.<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

In false bravado, I took a second bite of the piece on my plate and that\u2019s when it hit me \u2013 the cuy smelt and tasted very much like a guinea pig. I silently gagged and hurriedly washed it down with a big gulp of my pisco sours.<\/p>\n

Still feeling brave and refusing to accept defeat, I went for a 3rd<\/sup> bite and it somehow tasted even worse. I think I chewed for a bit before spitting it out.<\/p>\n

At this point, I accepted defeat. I have nothing wrong with cuy \u2013 I\u2019m pretty sure Peruvians would be shocked at some of the stuff we eat in the U.K., I just knew at that point that perhaps cuy wasn\u2019t for me.<\/p>\n

Same as mushrooms or pea shoots, there are just some things I just don\u2019t like and it\u2019s not because there\u2019s anything wrong with them, it\u2019s just because I don\u2019t like it \u2013 simple as.<\/p>\n

The consensus was generally the same across the table.<\/p>\n

Pleased with at least getting to try the cuy, we hurried off back to our hotel to pick up our stuff, grab a taxi and head off to the airport! Next stop \u2013London!<\/p>\n

\"Here\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

Peru had been absolutely amazing and our only regret was not having even more time here so that we could have seen the Amazon amongst other things. We genuinely enjoyed every single part of it and had such an amazing time here.<\/p>\n

It\u2019d been a big dream of ours to visit Peru (remember, how I said we\u2019d been planning on doing it over a year before and ended up going to South Africa instead because the logistics were just tricky for us to sort out?) and I\u2019m so glad we finally got to do it! <\/p>\n

\n

The 12 Best Hikes In Peru You Have To Do<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n