Ccasccaparo Market: the traditional market next to San Pedro

Very close to the famous San Pedro Market there's another market almost no traveller knows: Ccasccaparo, also spelled Cascaparo. It's older in spirit than in building, more chaotic and far less touristy. This is where Cusco people buy meat, potatoes and vegetables, and where the items for offerings to Pachamama, Mother Earth, are sold. If you want to see an Andean market exactly as it is, with no souvenirs or English signs, this guide will help you visit with respect and common sense.

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Where it is

Ccasccaparo is one block from San Pedro Market, around Prolongación Monjaspata towards the Belén bridge. From the Plaza de Armas it's a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk, passing San Pedro. It's a very busy commercial area with traffic, handcarts and street vendors, so walk carefully.

• San Pedro Market in Cusco: what to eat, what to buy, opening hours and tips

A food market with history

The market has operated for more than half a century and is mixed: it sells both retail and wholesale. It has hundreds of stalls and supplies families, restaurants and small businesses in the centre. The building is old and has infrastructure problems, which has sparked a long debate in the city.

Current situation: a market under debate

In recent years, Cusco's Provincial Municipality has proposed building a new, modern market after Civil Defence warned about safety and hygiene conditions in the current building. Traders have opposed closure without guarantees and asked for dialogue. In September 2026 the issue was still open, with national authorities stepping in to seek a solution, and the market was still operating.

This means things could change: temporary closures, relocations or protests are possible. Before going, ask at your accommodation or check recent local news.

What to see inside

The market's layout is easy to grasp once inside:

• Meat: separate sections for chicken, beef and pork. It's an intense sight if you're not used to Andean markets.
• Juices and food: fruit-juice stalls and simple dishes for breakfast or lunch.
• Vegetables and potatoes: up a flight of steps is the vegetable area, with a section for potatoes and another for rocoto peppers.
• Rocotos ready for stuffing: a local curiosity. Many are sold already cleaned for rocoto relleno, one of southern Peru's most typical dishes.
• Pachamama offerings: by one of the exits, stalls sell items for despachos, offerings to Mother Earth, such as coca leaves, sweets, seeds, figurines and other ritual objects.

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Offerings to Pachamama

The offering or despacho to Pachamama is an Andean ceremony of thanks to the earth that is still very much alive in Cusco, especially in August. At Ccasccaparo's stalls you can see how the bundles are put together. Look respectfully, ask if you're curious and, if you take photos, ask permission. It isn't a show for tourists but part of many families' spirituality.

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Eating at Ccasccaparo

The juice and food area is smaller and simpler than San Pedro's, but entirely local. Order a juice, a broth or the dish of the day at a stall with customers and freshly cooked food. If you've only been in Cusco a few days or have a sensitive stomach, you might prefer eating at San Pedro or Wanchaq, which have larger, tidier food areas.

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Ccasccaparo or San Pedro

San Pedro has the iron architecture, the most famous food area and lots of souvenir stalls. Ccasccaparo is rawer, with no crafts and a much more local feel. Ideally, visit San Pedro and, if you're still curious, cross one block to see Ccasccaparo for fifteen or twenty minutes.

• San Pedro Market in Cusco: what to eat, what to buy, opening hours and tips
• Local markets in Cusco: Wanchaq, Huancaro, Vinocanchón and beyond San Pedro

Practical tips

• Go in the morning, when it's lively but still walkable.
• Carry only what you need and keep your phone away; the area is very busy.
• Wear closed shoes: floors can be wet or slippery.
• Ask before photographing people or stalls.
• Bring cash in small notes.
• Respect the pace of work: many vendors are serving regular customers.

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