SHOPPING

Cusco is a great place to go shopping. In Cusco you can find a great variety of handicrafts, all of which are tempting. We advise that you let yourself be guided by the colours and forms, since the prices are to your advantage. Among the products of which there are plenty everywhere, you can find the famous sweaters, ponchos, gloves, caps, shawls, blankets, and vests, of Cusco known for their outstanding high quality and beautiful designs.

You can find these clothes almost everywhere, but it is best to buy them in the centre or in different craft centers like the Centro Artesaenal in Cusco, or in one of the many districts in the Sacred Valley, particularly the craft market in Pisaq.

There are many shops which sell products made from 100% alpaca wool. Clothes made with "baby alpaca" (the wool from the first shearing) are always natural colours, like coffee, grey, black and white. In the market at Pisaq, you can also find the best offers in hats, upholstery, sweaters and handmade jewellery amongst other things. You can also buy quilts and rugs made from alpaca skin. Pottery is another terrific product of Cusco and is again something you can buy everywhere.

The pottery comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Normally with Inca motifs painted on the exterior. These motifs usually take their forms from the environment, as forest designs are based on old beliefs and myths.

The quilts and blankets made in Cusco have a good reputation. Generally they are made from sheep’s wool, although some are made from alpaca, but these are a lot more expensive. Their designs are outstanding, especially the ones which portray Andean women from poor mountain villages or Inca monuments. They come in many different sizes, and without doubt, the most beautiful ones are those that imitate the fine fabrics of the Inca culture.

The altarpieces that can be bought in Cusco are also superb, usually they are of several figures made from plaster and painted in a wide variety of colours.

As for jewellery, there are many places which reproduce the designs of jewellery found in Inca tombs- bracelets, necklaces and earrings. In Cusco you can find a variety of jewellery shops. If you are shopping for gold pieces, such as earrings and bracelets, it is advisable to patronize known establishments that offer the appropriate guarantees.

Finally, let yourself be captivated by watercolour paintings of Cusco. There are excellent works available at affordable prices