If you’re visiting Peru you’ll probably want to buy a typical gift or souvenirs to take home for your family, friends or special one. No matter the city, in Peru practically any tourist attraction will have some accredited vendors that sell small craft gifts with prices ranging from S/. 100 to S/. 5.
If you are in Lima there are several handicraft markets, although the best known by foreign tourists is the Inca Market in Miraflores (Av. Petit Thouars block 52), where there is a wide variety of gifts,souvenirs, textiles and peruvian handicrafts.
Prices are usually not fixed, so you can probably haggle over a few soles on most items. So if don´t know what to buy in Peru, here you are a list with the 5 best souvenirs from Peru.
1. Chullo
The Andean chullo is probably the most representative and recognizable souvenir of Peru in the whole world. If you’ve never seen it before, it consists of a hat with two earflaps woven from cotton, alpaca or other synthetic materials.
This hat is traditionally worn by the inhabitants of the Andean highlands to protect themselves from the cold. It comes from the Spanish colonial hat, which was adapted with these earmuffs and the colorful characteristic of the highlands.
Chullos can be found in any market usually in synthetic materials. The price usually does not exceed S/. 5-10 (US$ 1,5-3)
2. Peruvian Retablos
These beautiful pieces of craftsmanship originate from Ayacucho, considered the capital of Peruvian crafts. Its structure is made of wood with images made of clay, which show a story that is usually divided into three distinct parts, although some may show two, and even an image of the traditional life of the inhabitants of the mountains: a hat shop, a tuna-harvesting or a mask shop with some grotesque characters.
Although they are characteristic of Ayacucho, it is possible to find them in several cities of Peru, especially in Lima. The prices of these altarpieces usually start at S/. 55 (US$ 17).
3. Ekeko
Ekeko is a traditional doll of the Andean world view, which shows the figure of a person with a moustache and a chullo, who carries on his back the symbols of health, love, or prosperity. Thus, we will find on its back symbols such as a house, a car, a mattress, a heart, a television, among others.
According to tradition, it is necessary to make some kind of offering to the ekeko, such as lighting cigarette in his mouth, putting a glass of pisco on his side, or something to eat. Prices range from S/. 5 (US$ 1.5) to S/. 30 (US$ 9), depending on their size.
4. Sweatshirt from Peru
Another classic souvenirs that we must take into account is the jacket with the logo of the Peru Brand, which has that characteristic spiral making the shape of the belly of the P. The design imitates a sports sweatshirt of the Adidas brand and is available in several colors, being the most demanded red, brown or black.
This sweatshirt has a price that can be around S/ 45 (US$ 13,5), depending on the quality of the material it is made with.
5. Inca Kola T-shirt
When it comes to talking about a soft drink that represents all Peruvians, Inca Kola will immediately come to mind, a yellow soda that many foreigners claim tastes like chewing gum. The truth is that this brand of soda is the favorite of Peruvians, so much so that Coca Cola itself had to buy it to counteract the competition that made it in the country.
This t-shirt is yellow with the brand’s logo in blue, and is one of the favorite of foreigners from all countries. The price is about S/. 30 (US$ 9).