From the dry wind off the Pacific to the chilled, thin air of the Andes, Peru greets you with a chorus of textures and flavors: hand-spun alpaca that feels like a warm cloud, the dusty red clay of pottery towns, and the sharp citrus scent of fresh ají in Lima’s markets.

Walking through Cusco’s San Pedro or the Pisac market in the Sacred Valley, you’ll hear vendors call out, see bright woven belts and retablos, and feel the rhythm of centuries stitched into every textile and carved frame; this is the kind of place where materials – alpaca, vicuña, silver and Andean dyes carry stories of landscape and lineage.

On the shores of Lake Titicaca and in the highland plazas, artisans still dye wool with cochineal, shear llamas at communal festivals and sell trays of toasted cancha and cacao nibs under canopies.

Whether you want a fragrant sack of Peruvian coffee or a carved gourd from Ayacucho, these are authentic Peru souvenirs that smell, sound and look like the places they came from. Here’s what to buy in Peru to bring a piece of its spirit back home.

1. Alpaca Sweater

Why pick this up:
A soft, insulating alpaca sweater is practically a wearable memory of the high Andes; its warmth and lightness are perfect for cold nights after visiting Machu Picchu or trekking the Salkantay. It’s a practical luxury that showcases centuries of Andean textile craft.

What to look for:
Seek tightly knit pieces from Cusco or Chinchero, labeled “100% alpaca” (not acrylic blends) and finished with hand-stitched seams. Natural dyes and subtle patterning usually indicate traditional hand-weaving rather than mass production.

Price bracket (2025):
S/150–S/600

Where to find it:
Artisan markets in Cusco (San Blas), Pisac market, Chinchero weaving cooperatives, and Miraflores artisan fairs in Lima.

2. Chullo (Andean Knit Hat)

Why pick this up:
The brightly patterned chullo—earflapped hat from Puno and Cusco—is both iconic and utterly useful for high-altitude chill. It’s a small, portable piece of Andean identity that layers color, history and technique.

What to look for:
Choose hats made from alpaca or llama wool with irregular stitches or hand-loomed textures; distinct regional motifs (Taquile, Puno) mean the piece has cultural provenance. Beware perfectly uniform machine-knit imitations.

Price bracket (2025):
S/25–S/120

Where to find it:
Puno markets, Pisac, Cusco’s San Pedro Market, and weekend maker markets in Arequipa.

3. Retablo (Portable Andean Altarpiece)

Why pick this up:
Retablos from Ayacucho are miniature wooden altars packed with painted scenes—Catholic iconography mixed with Andean cosmology—making them vivid, narrative keepsakes. They’re tactile folk-art that reflect syncretic traditions.

What to look for:
Look for hand-carved wood, layered figures, and signed pieces from Ayacucho workshops; simpler factory-made boxes lack the depth and hand-painted detail of genuine retablos. Check for provenance notes or artisan cards.

Price bracket (2025):
S/80–S/400

Where to find it:
Ayacucho artisan markets, Pisac, Cusco artisan galleries and museum shops like the Larco (Lima).

4. Silver Jewelry from Arequipa or Lima

Why pick this up:
Peru’s silverwork—often featuring Andean motifs or modern takes on pre-Columbian forms—is both wearable and collectible. The country has a deep history of metalworking dating back to the Inca and earlier civilizations.

What to look for:
Buy pieces stamped “plata” or “.925” and choose handcrafted items with filigree or repousse work from Lima’s jewelry districts or Arequipa ateliers. Avoid overly shiny, lightweight pieces that could be plated brass.

Price bracket (2025):
S/80–S/600

Where to find it:
Avenida Grau (Lima), Arequipa artisan streets, Cusco jewelry stalls, and museum shops.

5. Pisco (Bottle of Peru’s National Spirit)

Why pick this up:
A bottle of pisco captures Peru’s coastal distilling tradition—grape spirit with a fragrant palate for sipping or making a pisco sour at home. It’s a taste of Lima’s bars and southern vineyard valleys.

What to look for:
Choose bottles labeled with Denomination of Origin “Pisco” and check grape variety (e.g., Quebranta, Italia) and distiller notes. Avoid unclear labeling or cheap imports masquerading as national pisco.

Price bracket (2025):
S/20–S/120

Where to find it:
Specialty liquor shops in Lima, vineyard stores in Ica (Pisco/Paracas), and duty-free at Jorge Chávez International Airport.

6. Peruvian Coffee (Single-origin Beans)

Why pick this up:
Highland coffee from regions like Cajamarca, Amazonas or Cusco is aromatic and bright—perfect for reminding you of cloud-forest mornings. Coffee showcases Peru’s biodiverse microclimates.

What to look for:
Look for single-origin beans with harvest dates, farm name and processing method (washed, honey). Fresh-roasted bags from specialty shops signal quality far beyond generic supermarket options.

Price bracket (2025):
S/20–S/80 per bag

Where to find it:
Specialty cafes in Lima (Miraflores, Barranco), markets in Cajamarca and Amazonas, and artisanal coffee roasters.

7. Chocolate & Cacao Nibs (Piura or San Martín origin)

Why pick this up:
Peruvian cacao—especially from Piura and San Martín—yields complex chocolate and crunchy cacao nibs that tell the story of Amazonian terroir. It’s a flavorful, giftable way to taste the rainforest.

What to look for:
Choose bars that name the cacao farm or region and use minimal added sugar; scanned single-origin bars indicate craft production. For cacao nibs, check for resealable packaging and roast date.

Price bracket (2025):
S/15–S/70

Where to find it:
Lima chocolate boutiques, markets in Iquitos and Tarapoto, and museum shops like the Peruvian Amazon Museum.

8. Chulucanas Pottery

Why pick this up:
From Piura, Chulucanas ceramics feature burnished black-and-white patterns rooted in pre-Columbian technique; they’re striking table pieces or decorative vases. The pottery’s tactile sheen and earthy smell recall northern coastal clay.

What to look for:
Look for hand-painted geometric motifs and slightly irregular shapes indicative of handcrafting; authentic Chulucanas often have a studio or regional tag. Avoid perfectly symmetrical, mass-glazed pieces.

Price bracket (2025):
S/30–S/300

Where to find it:
Piura artisan markets, Lima craft fairs, and regional galleries.

9. Taquile or Amantaní Textiles (Lake Titicaca)

Why pick this up:
Textiles from Taquile and Amantaní islands are woven by communal cooperatives and carry distinct geometric patterns used in traditional clothing. They’re culturally rich gifts that reflect island weaving techniques.

What to look for:
Seek pieces woven tightly on backstrap looms with natural dyes and notes about the community or weaver. Avoid souvenirs sold in bulk at mainland markets without provenance.

Price bracket (2025):
S/60–S/350

Where to find it:
Puno markets, direct purchases on Taquile and Amantaní islands, and artisan stalls around Lake Titicaca.

10. Maca Powder

Why pick this up:
Cultivated in Junín and Pasco highlands, maca is a root with a nutty, malty flavor used for energy and as a culinary supplement in smoothies and baking. It’s a compact edible that carries Andean agricultural heritage.

What to look for:
Buy sealed, labeled packages indicating origin (Junín or Ancash) and processing (powdered vs. gelatinized). Check for export-quality seals and expiry dates to ensure freshness.

Price bracket (2025):
S/20–S/80 per bag

Where to find it:
Health-food stalls in Lima, markets in Junín and Cusco, and specialty herbal stores.

11. Hand-carved Mate Burilado (Gourds) or Ayacucho Carvings

Why pick this up:
Carved mates and Ayacucho woodwork are miniature, narrative artworks—often depicting Andean life in fine detail—perfect as conversation pieces. The burnished surfaces and incised lines reveal hours of handwork.

What to look for:
Look for sun-darkened gourds with detailed incisions and a patina from hand finishing; Ayacucho carvings typically have figured scenes and folkloric motifs. Avoid mass-printed or machine-etched items.

Price bracket (2025):
S/30–S/220

Where to find it:
Ayacucho markets, Cusco craft streets, San Pedro Market, and artisan fairs in Lima.

Tip: Pack textiles in vacuum-seal or compression bags to save space and protect delicate weaves, and always request a written certificate for valuable fibers or spirits when flying home. ✈️

Local Shopping Culture & Traditions

Peru’s shopping culture is woven into daily life: plazas and mercados are meeting places where farmers, weavers and fishers bring regional goods.

In Cusco and the Sacred Valley, weekend markets like Pisac attract weavers from nearby communities (Chinchero, Ollantaytambo) who trade and display their latest pieces, while Puno’s Saturday market bustles with Lake Titicaca’s textile and pottery traditions.

Ayacucho is famous for retablos and religious festivals where artisans sell directly, and coastal towns such as Piura and Paracas maintain ceramic and textile legacies tied to pre-Columbian techniques.

Bargaining is common in open-air markets, especially for non-fixed-price stalls, but it tends to be friendly: start lower than the asking price and meet in the middle.

Cooperative shops and museum stores (Larco Museum in Lima, MALI) usually have fixed prices and reliable provenance, and artisan villages often welcome visitors for workshops, buying directly supports community economies and keeps traditional methods alive.

How to Spot Genuine Local Souvenirs

Check materials and finish: genuine alpaca and vicuña feel smooth, warm and slightly oily to the touch; natural dyes have subtle tonal variations rather than neon uniformity.

For textiles, inspect the reverse of embroidered pieces for hand-knotted threads and slight asymmetry; machine-made imitations have perfectly regular stitches. Retablos and gourds should show hand-tool marks and signed artisan details; ask about the workshop or community.

For food and drink, look for origin labels: single-origin cacao (Piura, San Martín), coffee region (Cajamarca, Amazonas), and pisco with Denomination of Origin labeling.

Avoid bags without harvest or expiry dates. When buying silver, request a .925 stamp or a guarantee from a reputable seller to ensure you’re getting true silver rather than plated alloys.

Where to Shop in Peru

• Pisac Market and Chinchero weaving centers (Sacred Valley, Cusco)
• San Pedro Market and San Blas craft streets (Cusco)
• Miraflores artisan fair and Surquillo Market (Lima)
• Puno central market and Taquile/Amantaní islands (Lake Titicaca)
• Ayacucho artisan markets and retablo workshops
• Piura’s Chulucanas pottery workshops (north coast)
• Museum shops like the Larco Museum (Lima) and duty-free at Jorge Chávez International Airport

FAQs

Q: Are souvenirs in Peru expensive?
A: Prices vary widely—street markets and cooperatives offer affordable finds, while museum shops and fine alpaca/vicuña pieces can be pricey; expect a broad range depending on authenticity and materials.

Q: Is bargaining common in Peru?
A: Yes, bargaining is expected in open-air markets and with independent stallholders; be polite, start lower, and consider the artisan’s time and materials when negotiating.

Q: How do I know if food or drink items are allowed through customs?
A: Packaged, sealed goods with clear labels are usually fine, but check your destination country’s rules for agricultural imports (fresh produce and some unprocessed items may be restricted).

Explore Peru’s markets and artisan streets to discover these treasures for yourself—Peru souvenirs will always bring stories and flavor back home.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other top ‘what to buy’ ideas!

About the Author

Colin is the founder of SouvenirsIdeas.com and a passionate traveller with a soft spot for ceramics, markets, and food tours. He writes practical, first-hand guides to help you bring home souvenirs that actually mean something — not just more clutter!