Souvenir Shopping in Peru, Machu Picchu
Buy Local Cratfs on Tours to Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Lima, Pisac
Sep 3, 2009
Souvenirs from Peru are as varied as the country’s diverse landscapes and cultures, which range from Amazonian rainforests in the north to the mysterious Nazca lines inscribed in the sands of the southern deserts. In between are cosmopolitan Lima, the high country tourist magnets of Huarez and Lake Titicaca (the world” s highest lake) and, of course, the ancient Incan sites near Cuzco, capped by trips to Machu Picchu, the incomparable, sacred mountain site of the Incas.
Where to Shop in Lima and Cuzco, Peru.
Visitors on a tour to Peru won’t have trouble finding places to shop: The main tourist centers all have markets. But Lima, as the country’s main port of entry and cosmopolitan center, and Cusco, as the former capital of Incan Peru and the current gateway for travel to Machhu Picchu, deserve special mention.
- Lima: The Peruvian capital has the biggest number of shops and selection of goods. The relatively upscale Miraflores district is popular with tourists, and hence has a wide selection of shops that carry handicrafts including ceramics, textiles, and carvings from all over Peru. There are also a few mini-malls of many stalls selling souvenirs, along with higher end shops that carry better silver jewelry and antiques. San Isidro is Lima’s other high-end district, and the capital’s other place to shop for higher end goods, especially silver. The Ilaria Gallery has specialized in high quality silverwork for generations, and has a loyal local and international clientele.
- Cuzco As the old Incan capital and the gateway for Macchu Picchu tours, Cuzco is a major stopping place for tourists, who rest here a day or two to acclimate to the elevation before going on to travel by train or trek the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu. Cuzco’s main tourist stalls are found in the Plaza de Armas. Look for wool and alpaca clothing, weavings, pottery, silver jewelry, and watercolor paintings featuring local landmarks and people.
- Just outside Cuzco. In the hillside neighborhoods of San Blas, tourists can explore a picturesque neighborhood filled with artists’ studios and galleries. Some artists open their workshops and sell directly to visitors. There are also a number of shops and galleries featuring local crafts, paintings, and ceramics; the work here has a more original, less tourist-trinket feel. Also in the Cuzco area, the town of Pisac hosts a famed Sunday market that draws vendors from all over the surrounding region. Prices are reputed to be the lowest in Peru; certainly the market, located in the town center and spilling over into side streets, is one of the most vibrant.
What Souvenirs to Buy in Peru
- Pottery: Pottery comes in three basic styles: Copies of pre-Columbian artifacts, idiosyncratic and artistic modern renditions on ancient themes, and delicately painted bowls, plates, and cups with geometric designs. Note that it is illegal to export pre-Columbian artifacts (luggage is checked carefully at the airport).) The painted pottery is extremely fragile, so pack it carefully n hand luggage.
- Paintings: Simple market-stall watercolors depicting cobblestoned streets, local people, and Peru’ Inca ruins and landscapes are available for a few dollars. Framed, they make attractive mementos and gifts of a Peru vacation.
- Silver.Jewelry. Necklaces, earrings, and rings are traditional Peruvian handicrafts. Also available are spoons and other silverware with decorative handles picturing llamas or the “tumi” a pre-Columbian symbol that looks a mushroom, and represents the curved blade of the knife of a god.
- Weavings. Weavings can be large wall pieces or small dishcloths embroidered with pictures of local people, animals, and scenes. The style of a "stuffed wool weaving" originally from San Pedro de las Cajas is considered a traditional Peruvian technique.
- Alpaca Rugs and Throws: Made of different colors of alpaca skins sewn together in geometric patterns, these rugs and throws make lovely gifts. They fold down into a surprisingly small package for travel.
- Woodwork: Carvings feature local animals such as llamas, pumas, and condors are widely available, as are the traditional colorfully painted wooden flutes, Pan-flutes, and rain sticks.
- Sweaters: Colorful rough woolen sweaters with striking geometric patterns cost around $10 - $20, depending on the traveler’s bargaining prowess. Some of the dyes are not colorfast, so sweaters should be dry-cleaned. The traditional wool hats that come down over the ears are inexpensive (a couple of dollars), and are also useful in the cooler temperatures of Peru’s higher elevations.
- Drinks: Two drinks are characteristic of Peru. The sticky sweet and slightly medicinal tasting Inca Cola is ubiquitous, but most tourists don’t pick up a taste for it. Pisco, on the other hand – the liquor used in making the national cocktail, Pisco Sours -- is another story. A bottle of it makes a nice gift for the pet sitter back home.
Three final tips, which hold true in developing country markets worldwide:
First, keep an eye on valuables such as cameras and wallets (A theft-proof bag is a good investment).
Second, expect to tip to take pictures of locals in their colorful costumes. The tourist soon learns the Spanish word “propina.” It means “a small tip” and the people aren’t shy about asking.
And finally, bargain hard, but with good will and a sense of humor.. Most tourist purchases are well under $20, and long after the visitor forgets the price that was paid, the souvenirs will be a remembrances of the Peru holiday,
Check out more resources for shopping and bargaining for Souvenirs Around the World.
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