Mistura, the largest food festival in South America, will be held for the seventh year in Lima, Peru. The festival dates recently announced by the Peruvian Gastronomy Association (Apega) for 2014 are September 5 - 11.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - March 19th, 2014 - Well over a half million people are expected to attend including chefs and foodies from all around the world with over 25,000 international tourists, mostly from the United States, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. For a second year, the sprawling 10-day festival will held seaside on the Costa Verde of Magdalena del Mar, a short distance north of the popular Miraflores district. More information can be found at www.mistura.pe.

To help travelers experience Mistura, the Florida-based tour company, Explorations is again offering a special tour to Peru that includes a day at Mistura and will be escorted by a local chef.

During Explorations' special cuisine and cultural tour, participants will explore Lima, including a tour of the Surquillo market and later a cooking class with professional chef, Sebastian Figueroa. In addition to incredible sights in Lima, participants may also join an escorted tour along the Northern Coast of Peru. The area is considered a cradle of civilization with such important archaeology sites as; Caral, Sechin, Chankillo, Hauca Del Sol, and Chan-Chan to visit. The tour will also include a visit to the famous Lord of Sipan Museum and the colonial cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo, along with stops in traditional small towns, and visits to "off-the-beaten path" archaeology sites, museums, and scenic nature areas. 

Explorations' tour will have a strong focus on archaeology, history, and a Peru's gastronomy - from farm to fork - with visits to local markets, cooking demonstrations, and special meals. The small group will be escorted by experienced tour leader and anthropologist Charlie Strader, along with resident guides. Participants may also combine Mistura with custom trip extensions to explore Cuzco, Machu Picchu in the Andes and the Amazon regions of Peru.

Like the Spanish word "mistura", which means mixture, Exploration's small group tour will mix cultures, cuisines, and geography. Explorations labels the trip, "A Cultural and Culinary Exploration". More information about the tour can be found online at www.adventuresofdiscovery.com/peru-mistura.

Explorations' previous clients to Mistura took full (no pun intended) advantage of the great diversity of food and drink, in addition shopping among the amazing variety of national food products. Besides the fun to be had, the participants were impressed with the organization and management of the event. Even without Spanish language skills, the expansive festival grounds were easy to navigate and buying products was easy. They appreciated that the grounds were kept so clean and all the polite people to help with directions or interpretations. 

Founded in 1992, Explorations Inc., offers educational adventures of discovery throughout Latin America, introducing discerning travelers to indigenous cultures and the natural world. Explorations’ staff are knowledgeable, sincere, and reliable.

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