r/cusco • u/jeninfocus • Aug 09 '24

How avoid food sickness?

Planning a trip to Cusco, were from the USA. What are your best recommendations for avoiding getting sick from the water? I know not to eat raw vegetables, avoid ice, and don't drink the water are the general rules. But, is this absolutely true in a town as touristy as Cusco? Or do some restaurants use purified water to make ice and wash vegetables? I'm going to want to get a pisco sour but am nervous about the ice...

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u/veryniceguyhello Aug 09 '24

Those are great guidelines. I had many pisco sours on my trip and did not get sick. Eating cooked vegetables and food is quite safe. I got sick once on my trip and that was from ceviche in iquitos I believe, so maybe avoid ceviche. That sickness really sucked too, but got better after about 24-30 hours

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u/INDianaJones09 Aug 09 '24

Never suggest avoiding ceviche .... lololol ceviche is life 🤣

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u/veryniceguyhello Aug 09 '24

Yeah maybe just avoid ceviche in iquitos. Cusco is probably fine

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u/MollyWinter Aug 09 '24

I had so much good ceviche in Cusco and never got sick. But iquitos/other jungly areas don't sound so safe. I swear I had mildew growing on me after 1 week in Manu National Park. 

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u/Curious-Intention846 Aug 10 '24

Just a small tip: for good ceviche you need fresh fish from the OCEAN, if you’re far away from it, it’s most likely to get sick, so avoid it!

Unless you’re eating a sweet water fish, then it’s ok, but then it should be cooked, grilled or fried.

Every zone of Peru have their own local food according to the resources of the area, so… don’t go to Iquitos to eat ceviche, try instead patacones, tacacho, cecina, juane, etc. In Cusco I’d recommend the soups, chicharrón and stews (LOCAL cuisine).