With its Inca temples and Spanish Colonial churches, cosmopolitan Cusco is one of the oldest cities in South America. It also has a rich food heritage and here are just a few things to look out for.

1. 4000 types of potato – in Peru, the humble potato means much more than just chips or mash and at the colourful San Pedro Market you’ll find a bewildering variety of ‘spuds’; the huayro (white potato), the peruanita (yellow potato), the canchan, the suytus and the compis. 
   
   
2. Norton Rats Tavern – a favourite with our local guides, this pub is right on the main square of the Plaza de Armas and serves all the regular Peruvian beers and snacks. It has a vibe unlike any other Cusco hostelry.
   
   
3. Mate de coca – it takes a little time to acclimatise to Cusco’s 3400 metre elevation and one of the things that can help is this mildly stimulating, greenish and bitter tasting ‘tea’ made by steeping fresh coca leaves in boiling water.
   
   
4. Guinea pig – you may know them as cuddly pets, but guinea pigs have been a popular delicacy in the Andean countries since the time of the Incas. Normally saved for special occasions such as fiestas, the meat is high in protein and low in cholesterol.
   
   
5. La Valeriana – for a real coffee, head to this well-known bakery/café which also serves delicious pastries and cakes. The traditional pan chuta (round, flat bread) found here and throughout Cusco actually comes from nearby Oropesa.
   
   
6. Pachamanca – not exactly a Cusco thing, but something you are likely to experience on your trek in Peru, this is a delicious meat and vegetable dish cooked on hot stones under a covering of earth.