What to buy in Cusco: authentic souvenirs and what to avoid

Cusco is one of the best places in Peru to buy crafts: textile traditions from Andean communities, ceramics from different regions and food products from the valleys and the jungle all meet here. This guide covers what's worth buying, where to look and what to avoid.

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Textiles and alpaca

Textiles are the star souvenir: blankets, chullos (hats with earflaps), scarves, ponchos and tapestries. Pieces handwoven on a loom with natural dyes are pricier and unique; many market garments are machine-made. If you're after alpaca, learn to tell it from synthetics.

• Buying alpaca in Cusco: how to spot the real thing, prices and where to look
• Andean textiles in Cusco: weaving workshops, weaving communities and buying well

Ceramics and folk art

• Toritos de Pucará: a pair of ceramic bulls placed on rooftops for protection and good luck.
• Inca- and colonial-style ceramics, and contemporary pieces from San Blas workshops.
• Retablos: wooden boxes with miniature scenes, a tradition from Ayacucho.
• Mates burilados: carved gourds with scenes of Andean life.
• Cusco religious imagery: religious figures and the Niño Manuelito, typical of the city's artisans.

• Cusco's artisan markets: San Blas, Centro Artesanal, Pisac and Chinchero

Silver and jewellery

Peru is a major silver producer. You'll find jewellery with Andean motifs such as the chakana (Andean cross). For sterling silver look for the "925" stamp; in markets much of what's sold is alpaca metal (a silver-free alloy), cheaper but not silver.

Coffee, chocolate and Andean products

• Coffee from Cusco's jungle valleys, such as La Convención, increasingly well regarded.
• Peruvian chocolate and cacao, in bars or nibs.
• Andean grains: quinoa, kiwicha and varied corn (check your country's food import rules).
• Maras salt in various forms — light and original.
• Pisco: Peru's grape brandy. Check alcohol limits for luggage and customs.

• Coffee in Cusco: where it comes from, specialty cafés and farm visits
• Chocolate and cacao in Cusco: workshops, chuncho cacao and what to buy
• Moray and the Maras salt mines: how to visit from Cusco or the Sacred Valley

Where to buy

• Craft markets and fairs in the centre: variety and bargaining.
• San Pedro Market: food, spices and some textiles at local prices.
• San Blas: artisan workshops and galleries with signature pieces.
• Pisac and Chinchero: markets and textile centres in the Sacred Valley.
• Specialist shops: fixed prices, better quality assurance.

• San Pedro Market in Cusco: what to eat, what to buy, opening hours and tips
• Pisac: Inca ruins, craft market and how to visit from Cusco
• Chinchero: weaving, Inca ruins and market between Cusco and the Sacred Valley

Bargaining respectfully

Bargaining is normal in markets, but be friendly and don't push too hard: for many artisans a small difference matters. Compare prices first, buy several items from one stall to ask for a discount and carry small notes.

What NOT to buy

• Archaeological pieces or pre-Columbian or colonial "antiques": exporting them is prohibited, and replicas sold as originals are a scam.
• Products from protected wildlife: feathers, skins, shells or dried insects.
• Coca leaves: legal in Peru but illegal in many countries; don't pack them for the trip home (nor sweets or derived products without checking the rules).
• Very cheap "vicuña" garments: they almost certainly aren't.

• Coca leaf in Cusco: tea, chewing, altitude sickness and whether you can take it home

How much to pay: general guidance

Prices vary by quality, technique and place, so rather than exact figures, follow these guidelines:

• Compare the same type of product at three or four stalls before buying.
• Handmade items (loom-woven, embroidered, carved) always cost more than factory-made; if the price is the same, it's probably not handmade.
• Fair-trade shops and cooperatives usually state the origin and the artisan or community who made it.
• In high season and very touristy areas, starting prices are higher — and so is the room to bargain.

Getting your purchases home

• Textiles can be squeezed into vacuum bags to save space.
• Ceramics and retablos are fragile: ask for good wrapping and carry them in hand luggage if possible.
• For large pieces, some shops offer international shipping; ask for an invoice and tracking number.
• Liquids like pisco go in checked luggage, well protected and within your destination's limits.

Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).