Lima and Cusco possess the majority of tourist shops and markets. Locals on Taquile and Amantaní Islands on Lake Titicaca produce stunning textiles, while Arequipa is, along with Lima and Cusco, an excellent destination to purchase genuine alpaca items. Shoppers should exercise caution when purchasing alpaca items, however. Sellers in touristy artesanía markets often seem to describe virtually everything as “baby alpaca.” If an item seems much too cheap to be authentic, it probably isn’t; many mass-marketed, machine-made items are blends of synthetic materials and small percentages of alpaca. You’re better off going to an established specialty shop if you’re looking for a good-quality alpaca items. There you’ll find hand-made items that – even if the designs are modern – take pains to preserve traditional methods, materials, craftsmanship and dyes. Other places to seek out are the shops of non-profit organizations that support local communities and their artisans. While the items are more expensive than what you might find commercially available in the street and in large markets, the quality is infinitely higher, and you have the satisfaction of knowing that at least a large percentage of the purchase price goes directly to the artisan herself and towards improving the lives of very often poor communities, rather than benefiting only commercial agents in the cities.

Top shopping destinations for handcrafts include: Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, in Cusco, including a museum / shop with live demonstrations; Casa Ecológica in Isla Taquile (Lake Titicaca), homes of individual artisans; and Las Pallas in Barranco, Lima. Moreover, parallel to what is happening in Peruvian gastronomy – with innovative young chefs reinterpreting traditional, classic dishes – a number of fashion houses are reinvigorating traditional arte popular and artesanía as the basis for their modern designs in jewelry, alpaca fashions, and home decoration. Examples of such can be found at shops including: Esther Ventura, Ilaria, Dédalo, Annie Álvarez Calderón, Alpaca 111, and Indigo.

During National Celebrations at the end of July, two large chains, Saga Falabella y Ripley, create spaces within their shops for the sale of decorative arte popular of the highest quality – providing consumers with a unique opportunity to come into contact with and purchase items of Peru’s rich handicrafts heritage.