Where to buy local and cheap handicrafts in Cusco?

Cusco handicrafts are probably one of the frequent questions that our passengers ask when they arrive in Cusco. In this city, they concentrate on the most important archeological sites in Peru and the world, and all they want is a memory to take home after finishing the tourism trip. We will comment on this post thanks to the information sent from the office of Fertur in the Imperial City.

So, let’s go to the essential point you’re looking for on the Internet. Where to buy handicrafts in Cusco? And of course, they are not only economical but also of good quality. We will try to solve a complicated task by visiting two emblematic markets of the enigmatic Inca city.

Pisac Market

Pisac is at the beginning of the Sacred Valley of the Incas; it is a splendid place that, in the Inca era, was one of the essential points to enter the Antisuyo (jungle). As this site is a strategic place, the Quechuas built a settlement on its heights. Later, with the Spaniards’ arrival, they placed a corregimiento in the zone.

This place is crowded because it is one of the must-stops on tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is also one of the villages passing through to reach the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

You will find many local handicrafts in this craft market which are much cheaper than in Machu Picchu. For this reason, there is a more fantastic offer of products with the possibility of finding very competitive prices. You can buy all kinds of handicrafts, canvases, products made of alpaca wool, baby alpaca, etc.

Alpaca fiber clothing in the artisan markets of CuscoIf you are planning to buy clothes made with alpaca fiber and want to avoid scams, it is advisable to hire a specialized guide. So that you can guide and take them to the stores where they sell quality products, but of course, if you know how to identify a good alpaca fabric, there would be more problems.

Keep in mind that these craft markets are not large businesses, which allows you to negotiate the price with the tent’s owner. A helpful tip would be to call them fondly “little house” and gain their trust to achieve a discount. But of course, without exaggerating to make it spontaneous.

You can also buy silversmiths in these places, where the craftsmen explain how they perform their goldsmithing work. As for buying Alpaca garments, it is advisable to hire a guide to take you to the most exciting places for silver.

Take advantage of your visit to the Pisac Market to try one of the empanadas made with quinoa in a colonial oven.

San Pedro Market

Suppose you have a free day in the city of Cusco. In that case, you must visit what built the San Pedro Market, this center of supplies in 1925, designed by the same French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the same designer of the famous Eiffel Tower from Paris.

This place is considered one of the most critical markets in Cusco. It has different sections, meats, fruits, flowers, foods, cheeses, typical loaves of bread (bread kicks), potatoes, juices, etc.

The handicraft area stands at the northeast door, where you can find many small souvenirs, such as keyrings, bracelets, and necklaces. There are also scarves and sweaters; in this case, there are no silverware or Alpaca clothing galleries.

Cusco’s food market, called San Pedro, is famous; you should always be careful with your belongings; it is advisable to put the backpack in the front. Here the prices are negotiable, and the variety is wide.

In Fertur, we recommend you visit the city of Cusco with a local guide. Besides taking you to this market, you can develop a complete itinerary of the San Blas neighborhood, Plaza San Francisco, the stone of the 12 angles, and much more.

Various markets in Cusco

Interestingly, the city’s fairs or job markets are touristy, making them even more attractive. To discover them, we can walk along Avenida del Sol and Tullumayo to find the Craft Market, where the local government sponsors the Cusco Craft Center.

The San Blas neighborhood

It is known as the neighborhood of artisans and preserves the old colonial style with narrow streets that zigzag between the Incan-style stone houses and the oldest church in the region, which did build in the year 1563. In these alleys, we will discover workshops of artisans and artists of renown throughout the country that meet around the Plaza de Armas on Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm.

The Chincheros Fair

To 28 kilometers northwest of Cusco, we will find this city to arrive any Sunday of the year to visit the Handicraft Fair on the Main Square. There we will find excellent products, and we will be able to witness the descendants of the Incas weave woolen garments as they did make for nobles of the time. We will also buy some natural foodstuffs from the crops and observe how the local barter tradition maintains between local ones.

Alpaca dolls in Pisaq

Some interesting tips
It is necessary to have a little eye and observe the figurines and statues well because many are crafts and others are industrialized.
Also, in the surroundings of Machu Picchu, one of the important places in Cusco and the world, we will find artisans’ positions that will offer us their products.

Haggling in this city is not a habit, and for most tourists, the currency exchange is favorable, so it would be frowned upon to ask to pay less for the products.

The commercial premises of well-known brands in Cusco also usually sell excellent quality clothing and accessories made with alpaca wool, but they will be more expensive than at fairs. They will lose that, no What? Which grants him handmade clothing.

We are waiting for you in Cusco!