Who loves to travel and shop at the same time? When we travel, it is nice to discover new things that we can display at home to remember our trip. On a trip to Peru, you will be delighted at the range of colors on offer. Peru is good for shopping because of its original souvenirs, its variety, and its cost.
Vegetable dyes give life to these vibrant colors feature in all the markets around the country. Shopping in Peru could be one of the highlights of your trip so remember to set aside some money to buy some wonderful souvenirs.
Therefore, the expert team of Machu Travel Peru wants to bring you this selection of the best places to buy souvenirs in Peru. Because it is not only the souvenirs acquired but also the shopping experience, let’s take a look together!
The best places in Peru to acquire charming souvenirs without getting lost
- Larcomar Lima
- Mercado Inca Lima
- Dedalo Arte & Artesania Lima
- San Blas Neighborhood Cusco
- Pisac Handicraft Market Cusco
- Handicraft Center Qosqo
- Chinchero Colonial Town Cusco
- Pucara town in Puno
- Fundo El Fierro in Arequipa
Larcomar Lima
When you arrive in Peru, you will land in its capital. Lima is a vibrant city with a fabulous mix of old and new to keep you occupied for days on end. There are several types of shopping in Peru, especially in Lima, from markets to trendy upscale shops, that will set back the budget.
Larcomar in Lima is considered the coolest place to shop in Lima. Built into the side of the cliff, it is a great place to visit even if you do not want to shop. Try one of the great restaurants that have some of the best views anywhere. This is a great place to hang out in the summer months and sip a few cocktails on one of the terraces at Larcomar.
Larcomar has some of the more upmarket shops as well as some very nice Peruvian jewelry stores.
Mercado Inca Lima
While in Lima, be sure to visit the Mercado’s Inca, one of the best places to shopping in Peru. It is the perfect place for colorful handbags, shawls, sweaters, and jewelry. There are many stalls selling Peruvian crafts to take home to family and friends. Polish up on your bargaining skills, and do not buy from the first stall.
As there are plenty of stalls and variety to choose from, try to use your Spanish and a smile, as this will go a long way.
Dedalo Arte & Artesania Lima
Now, if you want to see charming contemporary Peruvian art pieces made of ancestral Andean techniques. Moreover, beautiful contemporary masterpieces contain locally sourced materials (Andes). There are rooms with beautiful souvenirs where you can lose yourself, appreciate the quality of the finish, and buy some.
The store is in the most touristic and cosmopolitan district of Lima, Barranco. In this way, Dedalo brings together the work of national artists from all parts of Peru. In addition, it holds two exhibitions and fairs a year.
San Blas Neighborhood Cusco
Par excellence, San Blas is the most touristy neighborhood in Cusco. Its beautiful narrow streets, cobbled squares, and colonial houses are home to Cusco artist families with a long tradition. They show their masterpieces in their own houses of open doors. Renowned families such as The Mendivil and The Allers, among others, show their works transmitted from generation to generation.
Many of them are sculptures, Alpaca clothes, and paintings with Religious themes but in Andean landscapes; beautiful! Its visit is one of the best things to do in Peru. The neighborhood is on the same Historic Center, just four blocks behind the Cathedral.
Pisac Handicraft Market Cusco
The Sacred Valley is not only a culture but also an archaeological site of quaint Inca villages. There is also art, colors and one of the best place to shopping in Peru. Pisac is the name of the most complete Inca neighborhood in the south of Sacred Valley.
The Inca site is on the top of the eponymous hill. The Inca site is on the top of the eponymous hill, and a cozy colonial village is on its slopes. The current Peruvians still inhabit the village with a colorful handicraft market. Lose yourself in the charming streets of this pretty town to have an extraordinary shopping experience.
All of them are filled with artisan shops, traditional Peruvian clothes, stonework, sculptures, and silver jewelry. Undoubtedly, Pisac is one of the best markets in Cusco. The Andean country is also a world producer of gold and silver, so you will see refined jewelry made from these two metals. Not to mention the famous “Cusco School” – religious paintings with characters and landscapes native to the Andes.
This artistic style is highly appreciated today. The crafts sold here are exclusive and by their own hands.
Handicraft Center Qosqo
When you arrive into Cusco, this local shopping center is full of small markets to browse and shop. At the end of Ave. Sol, in Cusco city you will find a large market with is dedicated just to souvenirs. You will need to set aside at least a few hours to explore this wonderful market.
The prices are a little cheaper than in the center of Cusco and Pisac Market. Also, there is a wide variety of souvenirs, from Peruvian chocolate, passing by Alpaca clothes, up to ceramics and carpets.
Chinchero Colonial Town Cusco
Travel to the Sacred Valley, around 01 hour from Cusco, and you’ll be able to visit the charming town of Chinchero. This was an Inca settlement that was later occupied by mestizos (descendants of Spaniards and Incas). Beautiful Inca-based buildings and colonial facades adorn it. Not to mention its beautiful central plaza and its colonial church with a collection of priceless paintings.
As Awanacancha, Chinchero has textile workshops around its central square. Here, women have managed to preserve the traditions passed down to them from their mothers. We refer to the ancient Inca technique of dyeing Alpaca and Vicuña fabric and making clothes. You can visit them to receive a quick class about these ancient Inca techniques and buy quaint Peruvian clothes and souvenirs!
Pucara town in Puno
Pucara is a typical Andean town at 130 km north of Puno. It is at 12,752 feet of altitude, very close to the clouds. According to legend, a peasant from the village took a bull to the rock of Pucará to ask the Apus (local deities) for rain.
However, the bull resisted being dragged and, by resisting, made water spring forth from a rock! This anecdotal fact made the nearby town’s inhabitants adopt this mammal’s image to turn it into their ultimate symbol of protection and prosperity.
Nowadays, you can find different workshops of master craftsmen throughout the town. In them, beautiful sculptures of the famous Toritos de Pucara are displayed in different colors and sizes. Having one is a symbol of protection and fortune. You will even see these cute representations of bulls on the roofs of most houses and colonial buildings throughout the South of Peru.
Fundo El Fierro in Arequipa
It is located on San Francisco Street and was owned by Jorge Antoñio del Fierro y Velarde. They donated this place for the operation of the school of students, whose authorization was by royal decree. It was completed in 1804 after the earthquake of 1868.
It became a prison; in 1945 and 1960, the reconstruction of all the buildings damaged by the earthquakes was authorized, and the Fundo el Fierro was restored in 1971. Today it is a commercial area where there are crafts from southern Peru as well as typical ashlar crafts from the Arequipa region. There, you will find unique handicrafts of the Arequipa region and it is an obligatory point during your shopping in Peru.
“WHEN PREPARING TO TRAVEL, LAY OUT ALL YOUR CLOTHES AND ALL YOUR MONEY. THEN TAKE HALF THE CLOTHES AND TWICE THE MONEY”
We hope we have helped you by showing you the best places to buy souvenirs in Peru and bring home. By the way, if you are asking yourself while planning a trip to Peru about what type of money you need to buy souvenirs in Peru. Well, at current times, handicraft stores, markets, and artisanal centers accept all kinds of money: US $ Dollars and Peruvian Soles.
Machu Travel Peru and its experts are available to answer any questions or concerns. You can combine this experience with the incredible tourist packages that we offer on our website. We encourage you to explore it.
