Christiana, our Taste of Peru tour host, has been living in Peru for the last 10 years and she’s here to share what to buy in Peru and the four souvenirs that are worth spending your money on, many of them handmade! With all the beautiful and amazing craftsmanship Peru has to offer, you’ll need an extra suitcase to take everything home.

Handmade, naturally-dyed, 100% alpaca textiles

You’re going to find a LOT of textiles in Peru, especially in the Andes since that’s where they’re made. That said, not all textiles are made of the same quality. Many of what the tourist shops offer are machine-made and use synthetic fibers and dyes. There’s nothing wrong with these products, per se, but when you understand the history, tradition, and cultural significance surrounding Andean weaving.

In addition to the amount of time and energy that the process takes from raising and shearing the alpaca, to cleaning and spinning the wool, to dying it, to finally weaving it, you gain a whole new appreciation for the work and see textiles for what they are: art. When you see textiles as art, it makes you want to have the real Picasso instead of the knockoff.

There are many eager salespeople that will tell you the scarf you’ve got your eye on is 100% alpaca or was handmade, but it’s difficult to be certain without knowing exactly where the item came from. Here are four places you can shop and be certain you’re getting a quality product. Bonus: two of them support a good cause!

Awamaki Store in Ollantaytambo - Awamaki is a non-profit social enterprise that collaborates with indigenous women artisans in traditional Quechua communities. They offer the artisans a space to sell their products and they support their efforts towards educational and financial independence. All of their products are handmade, naturally dyed, and are either 100% alpaca or sheep.

Insider tip: If you’re interested in learning more about the textile creation process, they offer half-day workshops.

Mosqoy Textiles - Similar to Awamaki, Mosqoy is also a non-profit social enterprise that is based in Cusco but works all around the region. They work with Quechua weavers to keep their art and culture alive through the revitalization of authentic hand-woven textiles that use natural fibers and dyes. In their work, they have supported more than 200 weavers in 11 communities. They don’t have a brick-and-mortar storefront; instead, you can find them on Etsy.

Sol Alpaca & Kuna - Various Stores around Peru - Sol Alpaca and Kuna are widely known for their high-end 100% alpaca textiles that tend to follow Western fashion trends. Their products aren’t usually handmade or naturally dyed, but you can still be sure you’re getting a quality item. Be ready to spend some money; their prices are on the higher end.

Handmade Ceramics

Ceramics have been a part of Peru since the country’s earliest civilizations. Today, you’ll find ceramics in the Amazon, made by the Shipibo people group, and in the Andes. Both types of ceramics are very different from each other but equally beautiful and intricately made. For handmade ceramics from the Andes, check out Ceramicás Seminario in Urubamba.

One popular piece of pottery you’ll find all around the country is colorfully painted bulls. In the Andes, these bulls are traditionally given as a gift to newlyweds or new homeowners and are placed on top of the roof to bring blessing and prosperity to those who dwell within. You can find them in just about any souvenir shop you come across.

Gourmet Food & Spirits

It’s well known by now that Peru is a foodie paradise, and is home to three of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Here are some of our favorite Peruvian food products we stuff our suitcases with before heading home.

Sal de Maras - After touring the Salineras salt flats, stock up on some bags of salt before leaving. You won’t find a better price anywhere else.

Chocolate - Check out the “chocolate library” on the second floor of Ciclos Cafe in the Barranco neighborhood in Lima.

Pisco - We recommend PiscoLogía, founded and run by women distillers, but some other well-known names include Santiago Queirolo and Tabernero.

Coffee - Grab some bags of single-origin, locally roasted coffee beans at the lobby of El Albergue Hotel. Trust us, the roasters know their stuff.

Caña Alta & Matacuy - These local spirits are the perfect gift for your friends and family that love creating unique cocktails.

Retablos

Most travelers don’t visit Ayacucho, where these colorful works of folk art originate. However, they’ve grown in popularity and have become a large part of Peruvian culture so much so that you can find them all over the country in many souvenir stores. Retablos are boxes that look like a little house with two doors that open. Inside, the boxes portray religious, historic, or everyday events that are important to indigenous people in the Andes.

Fun fact: sometimes the figurines in the retablos are made out of dried potato!

And there you have it - four souvenirs that tell the story of Peru’s rich culture and that are worth every penny. Experience the rich Peruvian culture for yourself on our all-inclusive trips to Peru, and explore Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu with us. We still have spots left for our trip, so check it out!

For more information on traveling to Peru, don’t miss…

Travel with us around the world on one of our multi-day small group food tours. Check out our itineraries to Italy, Japan, Peru, and more! Join us as we visit tea farms in Japan, sip on limoncello in Italy, and savor ceviche in Peru.

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