Centro Artesanal

If your travels in Peru take you straight to Cusco in order to explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, then there is no better place to shop for souvenirs than at Centro Artesanal. This market is a cheerful departure from the overpriced markets in The Sacred Valley. Despite the fact that it is geared at tourists, vendors here are friendly and always willing to bargain. They always have a smile on their faces as they negotiate prices and sell their wares; I found shopping at Centro Artesanal an extremely pleasant experience.
Insofar as items are concerned the market has predictable things—think colourful bags, alpaca sweaters and ponchos, typical Peruvian rugs, and lots of Incan jewellery. There is also a lot of jewellery that is fashioned out of tassels and pom-poms that are attached onto llamas and alpacas in Peru. Most stalls have similar things but there is a vast variety of colours and styles to choose from. Centro Artesanal is the perfect place to wander around even if you don’t have shopping on your mind. But let me warn you—you will not come out without buying anything because the prospect of picking things up is just too tempting at Centro Artesanal.