Top 5 Lunahuana Food & Drink: Must-Try Local Flavors

So, you are off to Lunahuana, are you? That tiny spot, just a short hop from Lima, it’s almost more famous for adventure than, say, just plain relaxation. Still, beyond the river rafting and ziplining, you’ll find this area actually boasts some seriously scrumptious food and drink that, honestly, will tickle your taste buds. So, get ready to check out my rundown of the five eats and sips you totally need to try out when you visit this particular Peruvian paradise. Think of it, like your own treasure map, but instead of gold, you get tasty memories.

1. Shrimp Dishes: A River Runs Through It, Deliciously

Lunahuana sits, very prettily, on the Cañete River, right? That does, seriously, influence what ends up on your plate. Shrimp, or *camarones* as they call them there, is pretty much the star here. That said, these are not your average tiny shrimps; these, are hefty river shrimp with, that rich, savory taste that screams, “Eat me!” So, many eateries compete for the title of ‘Best Shrimp,’ it’s more or less an event. I mean, the “Camarones al Ajo,” that’s shrimp in garlic sauce, a classic, I guess. Also, don’t miss the “Chupe de Camarones,” a hearty shrimp chowder that, seriously, feels like a warm hug, but from the inside. That first taste, it’s almost pure comfort.

And here is something neat. Some restaurants literally let you pick your shrimp right from a tank. I swear, that experience turns the whole meal into something quite special, that it adds a little bit of “did that just happen?” To experience more on shrimp, check out this full review: Lunahuana Shrimp Restaurants Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check the menus)

2. Pisco Sour: The Quintessential Peruvian Cocktail

Now, you can’t go to Peru without knocking back a Pisco Sour, right? That cocktail is pretty much Peru in a glass. Made with pisco (a grape brandy), lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and a dash of bitters, you get this drink that, is somehow both tart and sweet, yet incredibly refreshing. Very many bars in Lunahuana claim they make the ‘real’ Pisco Sour. That’s up to you to test out, I suppose! Many places have, very showily, mastered the art of making it. Watch, I guess, the bartender mix it right in front of you, that, in a way, it’s half the experience.

Some joints even add, say, a little local twist, maybe, use some fruits grown nearby or that special pisco made, probably, right down the road. Honestly, that sip, it’s almost like liquid sunshine. So, you want to really experience the cocktail? Read our full review: Best Pisco Sour in Lunahuana Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find a bar)

3. Local Wine: Grape Expectations Met

That’s right, folks, Lunahuana makes wine! You, could be picturing just, say, endless desert. Well, actually the climate in this zone lets grapevines blossom. It does feel very unexpected. But hey, many family-run vineyards there do crank out their bottles of wine. Many visitors find it surprising when they actually tour a bodega, I mean, see vines clinging to the hillsides. Typically the wines out here are a little more rustic compared to, well, Argentina, but with a taste that’s totally uniquely Peruvian.

Specifically, keep your eye out for the dry whites and light reds. They typically, will match those shrimp dishes amazingly. You may also like to check out a full tour guide at: Lunahuana Wine Tours Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book a tour)

4. Pachamanca: An Earth-Cooked Delight

Wanna get a bit closer to Peru? So, try pachamanca. What happens is you dig a hole and line it, yet very neatly, with heated rocks. That method then slow-cooks marinated meats, potatoes, beans, and other vegetables underground. I find the result creates a truly special, earthy, smoky flavor that you won’t find cooking, actually, any other way. Lunahuana still keeps to its tradition, that a number of restaurants offer up pachamanca. It does seem like a very community-involved, shareable dish that has quite a long history and brings that Peruvian flavor directly from the soil onto your plate.

Want something really genuine? Maybe try looking out for places that whip up this feast outdoors on the weekends. It definitely, makes it way more of an immersive cultural thing. For additional details and place: Pachamanca Restaurants in Lunahuana Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve your place)

5. Picaronnes: Sweet Endings with a Twist

You definitely need something, I suggest, sweet to finish it all up, huh? Picaronnes will totally handle that job! Similar to doughnuts, but somehow more interesting, you get these rings made with squash and sweet potato, deep-fried until that crisp outside with a light inside. They usually drown those picaronnes with molasses syrup to add, even more to the sweet indulgence. Find lots of street sellers slinging warm picaronnes that make a totally convenient sugary end to all your adventures in food.

Those small bits of tastiness are best when they have come right out of the fryer, burning, still just hot sufficient enough to kindly melt in the mouth. In need for suggestions of places with excellent desserts? You can discover spots and more by reading our review: Picaronnes Stands in Lunahuana Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Find street food)