Cusco is a paradise for lovers of Andean handicrafts. The city offers everything from alpaca textiles to traditional ceramics, and knowing where to shop makes all the difference between taking home an authentic product or one made in bulk. This guide takes you through the best places to buy souvenirs, with practical information on what to find and how to get there.
San Pedro Market: The Commercial Heart of Cusco
Located just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market is a full experience. This traditional market, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1925, is where locals do their daily shopping, which guarantees local prices and authentic products.
What to buy here: The handicraft section occupies the entire right side of the market. You’ll find chullos (Andean hats) starting at 10 soles, alpaca blankets between 80–150 soles depending on size and quality, traditional ponchos, handwoven bags, and an impressive variety of textiles with Inca geometric designs. There are also silver jewelry stalls, Andean musical instruments such as quenas and pan flutes, and decorative ceramics.
Vendors are friendly and used to bargaining. If you buy several items at the same stall, they will give you a discount. The advantage of San Pedro is that you can compare prices between several stalls without walking too far.
Near the market:
- San Pedro Station (next door): departure point for local trains
- San Pedro Church (in front of the market): 16th-century colonial temple
- Santa Clara Street: two blocks away, known for traditional bakeries and the famous Santa Clara Convent
- Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): 10 minutes on foot via El Sol Avenue
- Plaza de Armas: 7–8 minutes walking
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Mornings (8–11 am) are less crowded than afternoons.
San Blas Neighborhood: High-Quality Handicrafts and Contemporary Art
San Blas is the bohemian neighborhood of Cusco, with steep cobblestone streets and artist workshops. Here you don’t shop in a mass market; instead, you buy directly from galleries and workshops where you can see artisans at work. The higher prices are justified by the exceptional quality and exclusivity of the pieces.
What to buy here: Specialized workshops offer high-end ceramics using pre-Columbian techniques, unique silver jewelry inspired by Andean iconography, cedar and alder wood carvings representing Inca figures, oil paintings of Cusqueñan scenes, and textiles made with natural dyes and ancestral techniques. Many artists sign their work.
Highlights include workshops such as the Mendívil family (famous for their long-necked Virgins), art galleries on Hatun Rumiyoc Street, and boutique jewelry shops working with 950 silver. Prices range from 100 soles for small pieces to thousands of soles for major artworks.
Near San Blas:
- San Blas Square: heart of the neighborhood with its colonial church and its baroque cedar pulpit (considered a masterpiece)
- 12-Angle Stone: on Hatun Rumiyoc Street, 3 minutes downhill toward the Plaza de Armas
- Popular Art Museum: located in San Blas Square
- San Blas Viewpoint: on Tandapata Street, offering panoramic views of Cusco
- Carmen Alto Street: continuation of San Blas, filled with cafés and galleries
- Plaza de Armas: 5–7 minutes walking downhill
Special tip: Many workshops allow you to see the creation process. If interested, ask the owner if you can watch them at work. It’s an invaluable educational experience.
Cusco Handicraft Center (El Sol Avenue)
This organized handicraft shopping center is located on El Sol Avenue, the main artery of Cusco. It has approximately 200 stalls under one two-story roof, making it ideal on rainy days or when you have little time and want to see a wide variety in one place.
What to buy here: The advantage of this center is its organization by sections: one floor dedicated mainly to textiles and alpaca clothing (sweaters, scarves, gloves, thermal socks), another with silver jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, paintings, ceremonial masks, replicas of Inca pieces, and typical Andean-style accessories.
Prices are labeled, but there is room to negotiate, especially if buying multiple items. A good-quality alpaca sweater costs between 150–300 soles, scarves from 40 soles, 925 silver earrings from 25–30 soles. The quality ranges from intermediate to goodbetter than street stalls but not as exclusive as San Blas galleries.
Near the Handicraft Center:
- Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): literally next door, the most important archaeological site of Inca Cusco
- Santo Domingo Convent: built over the Qorikancha
- El Sol Avenue: the main street filled with banks, exchange houses, travel agencies, and restaurants
- Plaza de Armas: 5 minutes walking north
- San Pedro Market: 8 minutes walking west
- Bus and colectivo terminal: 10 minutes away, useful if you need transportation
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (some stalls close at 7 pm).
Wanchaq Handicraft Market
This is the best-kept secret for budget-friendly shopping. Located in the Wanchaq district, far from the tourist center (15–20 minutes by taxi or 25 minutes walking from the Plaza de Armas), this market offers the lowest prices in Cusco because it mainly serves local residents.
What to buy here: You’ll find nearly everything sold in other markets but at significantly lower prices. Chullos from 8 soles, small blankets from 30 soles, very cheap synthetic wool items (easily identifiable), jewelry, keychains, magnets, postcards, and basic souvenirs. It’s perfect if you’re traveling on a budget or need many gifts.
Quality varies. Here you must inspect each product carefully: stitching, finishings, type of fiber. There are excellent items at low prices, but also lots of synthetic material sold as “alpaca.” Rule of thumb: if it seems too cheap to be real alpaca, it probably isn’t.
Near Wanchaq:
- Wanchaq Indoor Coliseum: the district’s sports center
- Wanchaq Park: a local green space
- Wanchaq Station: old train station, now used only occasionally
- Cultura Avenue: main avenue with constant public transportation to the center and terminals
- Traditional neighborhood: residential area showing local daily life far from tourism
How to get there: Take a taxi from Plaza de Armas (10–15 soles) or walk along El Sol Avenue until reaching Cultura Avenue, then follow signs to Wanchaq. You can also take local minibuses (“combis”) labeled “Wanchaq” or “Huancaro” from El Sol Avenue.
Hours: From 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Plateros Street and the Surroundings of Plaza de Armas
Although not exactly a market, Plateros Street (which leads from Plaza de Armas toward Qorikancha) concentrates dozens of handicraft shops in formal storefronts. Triunfo, Mantas, and Portal de Panes streets around the Plaza also have many options.
What to buy here: Shops specialized in specific products: some exclusively sell high-end alpaca (brands like Kuna, Sol Alpaca), others focus on silver jewelry, Cusqueña paintings, or leather goods. Prices are the highest in Cusco because they pay premium rent and target higher-budget tourists.
The advantage is that many shops are formal, accept credit cards, issue receipts, and have clear return policies. If you want certified alpaca or silver products, these shops are your best option.
Near the area:
- Plaza de Armas: the heart of Cusco, with the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus
- 12-Angle Stone: up Hatun Rumiyoc Street toward San Blas
- Inka Museum: on Ataud/Tucumán Street, 2 blocks from the Plaza
- Loreto Street: with its famous well-preserved Inca wall
- Restaurants and cafés: the highest concentration is around the Plaza
Pisac: Half-Day Trip for Unique Shopping
If you have time, the Pisac handicraft market (Sacred Valley) is well worth the trip. It’s 45 minutes from Cusco by public transport or tour. The market runs daily, but on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays it is larger because communities from all over the region come to sell.
What to buy here: Authentic textiles directly from high-Andean weaving communities, traditional ceramics, musical instruments, seed and natural-material jewelry, and items you rarely find in Cusco city. Prices are good and many products are unique.
Near Pisac:
- Pisac Archaeological Site: Inca complexes on the mountain above the town
- Main Square of Pisac: colonial and picturesque
- Sacred Valley: can be combined with visits to Ollantaytambo, Moray, Maras
- Local bakery: try bread baked in wood-fired ovens
How to get there: From Puputi Street in Cusco (near the Indoor Coliseum), minibuses and buses leave every 15–20 minutes to Pisac (10–12 soles one-way). You can also book a Sacred Valley tour that includes time at the market.
Practical Tips for Shopping in Cusco
How to identify real alpaca:
- Run your hand over the fabric. Genuine alpaca is incredibly soft, almost silky.
- Real alpaca does not have artificial shine. It has a gentle natural sheen.
- Burn a tiny thread (ask the vendor first). Alpaca smells like burnt hair and turns to ash; synthetics smell like plastic and form a hard bead.
- If the price is suspiciously low (a scarf for 15 soles), it is definitely not pure alpaca.
The art of bargaining:
- It’s part of the shopping culture in Cusco, especially in markets.
- Start by offering 30–40% less than the first price.
- Do it respectfully and with a smile. It’s a friendly negotiation, not a battle.
- If you buy several items, you have more bargaining power.
- In formal shops near the Plaza de Armas, prices are usually fixed or have little room for negotiation.
Best times:
- Markets open early (6:30–8 am) and close around 6–7 pm.
- Mornings (8–11 am) are less crowded.
- San Blas shops open later (10–11 am) and some close on Sundays.
- The Pisac market is most active on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Avoid impulse shopping:
- Don’t buy on your first day. Cusco will not run out of handicrafts.
- Visit several places, compare prices and quality.
- Take photos (with permission) to remember items you liked.
- The last days of your trip are usually best for buying because you already know the prices.
Transportation between places:
- Plaza de Armas is the center of everything. From there you can walk to most places in 5–15 minutes.
- San Pedro Market and the Handicraft Center are very close (10-minute walk).
- San Blas requires climbing cobblestone slopes. If you’re not acclimatized to the altitude, take it slow.
- For Wanchaq, it’s best to take a taxi or public transportation.
- Use official taxis or apps like Uber, Beat, or InDriver.
Must-buy items:
- A quality alpaca garment (even if it’s just a scarf)
- Traditional or modern Cusqueña ceramics
- An Andean musical instrument (even a small one)
- Peruvian chocolate (specialty shops like ChocoMuseo are excellent)
- Pisco and local liquors (from specialized shops, not the market)
