Shopping in Peru
Most travel guides dub Peru one of the best shopping destinations in all of South America. However, if you’re looking for the latest fashions, you won’t find them here. What you will find, instead, are some of the most amazing handicrafts ever made, ranging from beautiful woven alpaca sweaters to stunning pottery to amazing hand-painted textiles that will knock your socks off.
You’ll find good shopping just about anywhere you go within this country, including in some of the most unexpected places. The largest selections of goods, however, are indeed found in Peru’s major cities – especially Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco. And if you’re in search of true antiques, those cities offer the best selection as well, including items that are literally several centuries old. In Lima, the Miraflores district has the largest number of unique shops peddling not only antiques but also stunning silver jewelry, ceramics, and a vast selection of textiles. You’ll often find small “shopping strips” where several stores peddling different handicrafts are bunched together so that you can purchase all your selections at once time.
In Cusco, shoppers will find similar offerings in the neighborhood known as San Blas. Like Miraflores, San Blas boasts a large number of shops stocked by local artisans who are adept at making a variety of creations including jewelry, pottery, wool items, and even fine art like paintings and sculpture. Shopping is an ideal pastime to enjoy in Cusco while you’re waiting for your body to become acclimated to the high altitude.
A true treat during a trip to Peru is the opportunity to shop at one of the country’s several Sunday open-air handicrafts markets. These farmer’s market-style events generally happen once a week (sometimes more) in their appointed towns and are a good place to haggle for the items you simply must have. (Most vendors are a bit flexible on their prices and expect you to make an offer.) The most popular of these markets is in Pisac, a beautiful village in the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba River. As a matter of fact, their market happens three times a week, on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday and the area tends to be overwhelmed with traffic during those times, so plan accordingly if you hope to visit. Be sure to check out the rugs and other textiles, which are especially good here. Chinchero, about 17 miles from Cusco, also has a great three-times-a-week market, with items sold by vendors who wear their traditional Inca dress.
If it’s alpaca items you seek, your best and most diverse choices can be found in Arequipa. The city is known for selling high-quality alpaca goods, not the cheap imitations you might find in some of the other regions. The best shops are located near the Plaza de Armas and the loveliest and softest items are made of baby alpaca or rare vicuna. There are a number of alpaca “chain” stores located throughout the country, including in Lima and Cusco as well as Arequipa. Look for stores with “alpaca” in the name so you know you’re getting the real thing.
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