Join us at COPA (107 W Main Street, Durham) for a special, in-depth information session about our upcoming trip to Lima. We'll be serving light appetizers and wine.

We'll be spending 4 nights at the beautiful 4-star boutique hotel, Casa Republica. Located Barranco, Lima's beloved bohemian neighborhood, the hotel is a short walk away from restaurants, galleries, street art, and more.

We'll start off our trip with a morning walking tour of Barranco, led by a knowledgable local guide. You'll get oriented in the neighborhood, which will be your home base for the trip. We'll visit some of the local galleries, the famous murals, and stop for a light snack and refreshment part-way through.

Currently ranked #6 in the World's Best Restaurants, Maido is a feast for the senses. Through 12 paired courses, Chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura will introduce us to Nikkei cuisine, a mix of Peruvian ingredients and Japanese techniques. The Nikkei experience is a truly Peruvian experience that makes the most of the nation's bounty and its cultural ties to Japan. After lunch, you'll have free time to explore on your own or choose from one of our recommended activities.

Chef Eduardo Fujihara, one of Peru's top Nikkei chefs, and Chef Hector Aguilar Valle, the former Creative Chef at Maido, will take us through a step by step Nikkei demonstration from breaking down a whole tuna to making key sauces to preparing Nikkei style food at home. Hosted outdoors in the evening, this demonstration will be an extension of our experience at Maido and help us contextualize the importance of the Nikkei tradition in Peru's culinary history.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic center of Lima is rich with immaculately preserved colonial architecture and is home to some of the city's most significant landmarks. We'll tour the highlights of El Centro with a local expert, learning about the architecture and history along the way.

We'll dine at Central, currently ranked the World's #1 Best Restaurant. With the Mundo Mater menu, we'll explore 14 different dishes, each showcasing a different ecosystem in Peru. Each course will be paired with a wine or spirit from South America for a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The menu at Central is more than a meal—it's an adventure in tastes and textures and an education in the biodiversity of Peru, presented with exceptional skill, artistry, and creativity. After lunch, you'll have free time to explore on your own or choose from one of our recommended activities. "Central is more than a restaurant; it's a symbol of Peru." –Nicholas Gill, Co-founder, New Worlder. For a preview of Virgilio Martínez and his approach at Central, watch Chef's Table, Season 3, Episode 6.

We'll rise early to catch Peru's world-famous wholesale fish market. Renowned Chef Hector Aguilar Valle will guide us through the market, teaching us about the extreme biodiversity found in Peru's waters. We'll learn about the different fish and how to select the freshest seafood.

After the fish market, Chef Hector will take us to Chicho Restaurant where we'll have a light breakfast before beginning a 5-course cooking class. Chef Hector has worked at multiple Michelin-star restaurants, including Maido, where he served as the Creative Chef. We'll eat the meal we cook together. After the cooking class, we'll return to the hotel for free time before dinner.

Chef Hector will pick us up at the hotel and take us to the highly regarded Chicho Restaurant in Miraflores. We'll enjoy a casual dinner of small plates served family style. A tasting of Peruvian wines, presented by one of the Lima's top sommeliers, will accompany the dinner. After dinner, we'll make our way to the famed Huaca Pucllana restaurant and enjoy dessert and a nightcap at the base of an Incan Temple.

Thursday, November 9 is a travel day, and no activities are planned. We'll meet up at the hotel. Transportation is provided from the airport to Casa Republica. For those arriving earlier in the day, we are happy to provide a list of recommended activities and restaurants.

Monday, November 13 is a travel day and no activities are planned. Transportation is provided from the hotel to the airport. If you wish to extend your trip and would like assistance with planning, we are happy to connect you to a reputable Peruvian travel agency.