When leaving a country as rich in traditions, colors, and emotions as Peru, it’s only natural to want to bring a piece of that experience back with you.
Whether it’s to offer a gift to a loved one or simply to prolong the magic of your journey a little longer, Peruvian souvenirs are as varied as they are authentic.
From handwoven textiles to local delicacies and artisanal crafts, here is a selection of the best souvenirs to slip into your suitcase before heading home!
Alpaca Wool Handicrafts
Peru is world-renowned for its alpaca wool, soft, warm, and elegant. The country is the largest producer of alpaca wool in the world, home to 87% of the planet’s alpacas, which represents nearly 4 million animals.
Ponchos, scarves, hats, gloves, or blankets, these handcrafted pieces are often woven by hand and combine tradition with comfort.
For a more luxurious gift, look for items made of “baby alpaca”, which comes from the animal’s first shearing. It is the finest and softest quality, as the fiber tends to become coarser with age. An alpaca can be sheared once a year or every two years, yielding 2 to 3 kilos of wool each time.
You will find alpaca wool clothing at artisan markets in Cusco. The village of Chinchero, located in the Sacred Valley, is also well known for its textile craftsmanship and its Sunday market. It’s the perfect place to learn more about the secrets of this exceptional fiber.
If you’re looking for a souvenir for a child, you’ll find adorable stuffed animals, such as alpacas and teddy bears, made from real alpaca wool—they’re irresistibly soft!
If you want to ensure the highest quality, consider shopping at specialized alpaca boutiques. In Cusco, you’ll find reputable stores like Sol Alpaca or Pure Alpaca.
A word of caution about imitations:
Many souvenir shops and market stalls will offer sweaters, gloves, or scarves marketed as 100% alpaca wool. But if you look closely, you’ll often discover that these items are blended with cotton or synthetic fibers.
There are several ways to recognize a garment made from 100% alpaca wool:
100% alpaca wool has a very soft, silky, and almost smooth texture, and it doesn’t itch.
Blended fabrics or fake alpaca often feel rougher or more plasticky, and are less supple to the touch. If the garment itches or scratches your skin, it’s likely a mix with sheep wool or acrylic.
Authentic alpaca wool has a slight natural sheen, especially the finer “baby alpaca”.
If a garment looks too dull or, on the contrary, too shiny like plastic, it’s probably not pure.
Pay close attention to labels: if it doesn’t say “100% alpaca” or “baby alpaca”, be cautious.
Sometimes it might say “alpaca wool” without any percentage — which usually means it’s a blend. If you see “acrylic” or “polyester” on the tag, it’s definitely not real alpaca.
Finally, trust the price.
A genuine alpaca sweater usually costs around 400 soles.
If it’s priced below 150 soles, it’s very unlikely to be pure alpaca, no matter what the vendor tells you.
At our Andenes del Sol hotel, located just a few steps from the Plaza de Armas, we sell handmade scarves, gloves, and hats made with alpaca wool, sometimes blended with sheep wool as well.
A Culinary Souvenir: Pisco or Chocolate
Peru is renowned for its exceptional cuisine, so why not bring a taste of it home with you?
The country’s national spirit, pisco, is a must-try!
This grape-based brandy comes in several varieties and can be enjoyed neat or in classic cocktails like the pisco sour or chilcano.
Take home an artisanally crafted bottle as a delicious reminder of those sunny aperitifs in the Andes. You can find pisco in local shops or at traditional markets such as San Pedro Market in Cusco, located just a few minutes from the main square.
Be mindful of liquid restrictions when flying—check how much alcohol you’re allowed to carry in your luggage!
If alcohol isn’t your thing, don’t worry.
Peruvian chocolate is a traditional treat that is sure to charm you—and your loved ones.
Peru is one of the birthplaces of cacao, home to rare and aromatic varieties such as criollo and cacao chuncho, considered among the best in the world.
In artisanal chocolate shops in Cusco, Arequipa, or Lima, you’ll find high-percentage dark chocolate bars, sometimes infused with quinoa, Maras salt, Amazonian fruits, or locally grown coffee.
Many chocolatiers work directly with local cooperatives, supporting organic, fair trade, and sustainable production.
At San Pedro Market in Cusco, you’ll discover even more unique flavors like passion fruit (a beloved fruit in Peru), lúcuma, strawberry, and more.
Chocolate bars come in all sizes, including mini-bars, ideal for sampling a variety of flavors.
A Traditional Embroidered Textile
Wall hangings, bags, pouches, cushion covers with Inca or geometric patterns — Peruvian textiles are colorful, warm, and tell the story of the communities that have been weaving them for centuries.
Made from alpaca, sheep, or sometimes llama wool, these fabrics are dyed naturally using plants, roots, or insects such as cochineal, which produces a vibrant red dye when crushed. These natural dyes give the textiles their vivid and long-lasting colors.
Bringing home a textile means taking a piece of living culture with you.
Each pattern carries symbolic meaning: diamonds often represent the eye of Pachamama, or Mother Earth, while wavy lines symbolize rivers or life paths.
Where to buy?
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Chinchero Market: Located about 40 minutes from Cusco, it’s one of the best places to experience traditional weaving firsthand. You can attend demonstrations of natural dyeing and buy directly from the women artisans.
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The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco: In the city of Cusco, this center promotes ancestral craftsmanship while ensuring fair compensation for weavers. An ideal place for an ethical purchase.
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Pisac Handicraft Market: Lively and colorful, this market offers a wide variety of embroidered textiles, perfect for finding a unique piece.
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San Blas: The bohemian neighborhood of Cusco is filled with small artisan shops, where you’ll discover hand-stitched pouches, scarves, or cushion covers with a more contemporary flair.
Andean Art Objects
If you wish to bring home an authentic souvenir from Cusco, Andean art objects are an excellent and meaningful choice.
Traditional masks used in ritual dances, colorful paintings depicting daily life in the Andes, silver jewelry engraved with Inca symbols such as the chakana (Andean cross) or Inti (the sun god), or figurines of Pachamama, the nurturing Earth goddess — each piece tells a story, a worldview unique to the Andean people.
These are far more than simple decorations.
They are often handcrafted with care, following ancestral traditions, by local artisans proud to share their heritage.
Each creation is one of a kind, reflecting the artist’s personal vision of their world, their memory, and their beliefs.
You will find these treasures in art galleries, designer boutiques, and artisan markets such as the one in San Blas.
Andean art is also sold in the streets — sometimes directly by the artists themselves, who display their paintings, drawings, sculptures, or handmade necklaces on blankets laid out on the ground. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk with them, hear their stories, and give even more meaning to the souvenir you take home.
And finally, don’t forget:
the most beautiful souvenirs you’ll bring back from Peru are the ones you carry in your heart the smiles you encountered, the breathtaking landscapes, and the unique energy that only Peru can offer.
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You can also contact us directly at escapateslow@gmail.com
