Cuy
Peru's festive whole roast guinea pig
Think of it as: Like rotisserie chicken thighs with crackling skin
Not a pet. A feast.
What does it taste like?
Crackly skin and meat close to chicken thigh. Fragrant with garlic and cumin.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureCrackly and tender
What is it?
Guinea pigs raised for food, roasted or fried whole. High in the Andes, it has long been a dish for special occasions.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
A treat for birthdays and festivals. It's roasted whole and eaten by hand with potatoes.
Watch it
JapaneseTap to play (YouTube)This video is not in English. YouTube auto-translated captions can help.
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇵🇪Peru
CapitalLima
Populationabout 34.9 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesCopper and gold mining, Fishing (anchovies), Tourism (Machu Picchu)
Famous peoplePaddington BearBeloved picture-book character who, in the story, comes from Peru
HelloHola
CurrencySol
And JapanHome to many descendants of Japanese immigrants (Nikkei)
Fun factHome of the sky city Machu Picchu, and the place where potatoes come from
The flag🇵🇪 Legend says the red and white were chosen from the colors of flamingos seen by independence hero San Martín.
From Tokyoabout 15,490 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Lima
Getting thereabout 22 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeFor Machu Picchu, the dry season from May to September is best. Also try🐟 CevicheLomo saltadoAjí de gallina More from here🐟 Ceviche🍢 Anticuchos🪨 Pachamanca
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeFor Machu Picchu, the dry season from May to September is best. Also try🐟 CevicheLomo saltadoAjí de gallina More from here🐟 Ceviche🍢 Anticuchos🪨 Pachamanca
🇵🇪 Sounds & life in Peru
HolaHello（Hola）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
Anthem"National Anthem of Peru" (Himno Nacional del Perú)
MusicFolklore (Andean music) Mountain music with the sound of the quena flute
SportSoccer (volleyball is popular too)
Paolo Guerrero (soccer; Peru's goal scorer) World HeritageHistoric Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and more National animalVicuña National flowerCantuta FestivalInti Raymi (June 24, festival of the sun)
MusicFolklore (Andean music) Mountain music with the sound of the quena flute
SportSoccer (volleyball is popular too)
Paolo Guerrero (soccer; Peru's goal scorer) World HeritageHistoric Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and more National animalVicuña National flowerCantuta FestivalInti Raymi (June 24, festival of the sun)
Ingredients
- 1 cuy raised for food
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Salt
- Chili paste
How to make it (one way)
- Rub the prepared cuy with garlic, cumin, salt and chili paste
- Let it sit for a few hours to soak up the flavors
- Slow-roast over charcoal or deep-fry in plenty of oil
- It's done when the skin is crisp
- Eat by hand with potatoes
⚠️ Cuy raised for food is nearly impossible to find outside the region. It's a dish to try on location.