SHOPPING IN PERU

      Peru is a shopping mecca for crafts and artwork and happens to be one of the top destinations for shopping in all of Latin America. Small stores align the streets with handmade alpaca clothes and other textiles, woven items, and pottery. Outdoor markets are also popular, as women set out their items and barter for your money. Traditional Peruvian items are very colorful and quite dazzling—something you do not see in your American malls. In cities such as Lima and Arequipa, you can also find textiles and ceramics from ancient civilizations at a very reasonable price (the dollar goes a long way in Latin America).
     Lima and Cuzco have the best shopping for touristy souvenirs. Lima also has special areas just for shopping, cars cannot drive down the street, leaving more shoppers to peruse and window-shop at their leisure.
     In the northern Amazon, you will find items such as hand-painted textiles and pottery. You will also find items from the jungle such as alligator skins and turtle shells, but be warned that purchasing is illegal despite how good the price you receive.
      Although many shops abound, the best shopping is found on the street. You can easily bargain for prices—it is even expected.
      Items purchased in shops and restaurants have fixed prices and cannot be bargained for. However, items on the street or in the market are bargainable. Peruvians have learnt that the tourists have more money than themselves so will sometimes put up their prices when they see you coming. If you think you are being conned then start to walk away. If they don’t call you back with a lower price then you have probably reached as low as they will go.
      The best quality and value lies in handcrafted products. This particularly applies to gold, silver and copper works, as well as Peru's rich textile goods. These include alpaca garments and woven tapestries. Alpaca products are well worth buying, as long as you are prepared to hand-wash them with great care. Vendors will often tell you their goods are made from alpaca “bebé”. This does not mean baby alpacas, but refers to the wool taken from the throat of the animal, where it is at its finest and softest. Most woolen jumpers sold as alpaca are actually usually a more hardwearing mix of llama wool and synthetic fibers. Many tourists also take home reproductions of pre-Columbian ceramics, with gourds being the favorite.
     There are many attractive Peruvian handicrafts such as alpaca wool sweaters, alpaca and llama rugs, Indian masks, weaving, jewelry and much more. Galleries and handicraft shops abound in the Miraflores, Pueblo Libre and downtown districts of Lima. Handicrafts markets are located in Miraflores (Petit Thouars Ave, blocks 52 to 53) and Pueblo Libre (La Marina Ave, blocks 8 to 10). Bargaining is an expected practice with beach vendors and at markets and known as 'regateo'.
      Some people might walk a mile for a camel, but I have traveled the world in search of bargains. On a recent trip to Peru, China was knocked out of first place. Ask me my favorite place in the world to shop, and I don’t have to think for a second. The answer is a four letter word—Peru.
      In Lima, as well as in many of the regional market places, the best quality and value lies in handcrafted products. This particularly applies to gold, silver and copper work and textiles. Colorful textiles such as alpaca garments and woven tapestries are available in every market and every price range.
     Each region has its own distinctive crafts, but if your time is limited, you’ll find that many cultures are well represented in Lima. There are a number of shops within an attractive courtyard at “1900” Belen 1030, just down from the Plaza San Martin. Two other areas to explore are at El Alamo, 5th block of La Paz, Miraflores, and El Suche, the 6th block of La Paz in Miraflores.
     It is so easy and convent to shop everywhere in Peru.. At the Sonesta Inca de Peru in Yucay, vendors are outside the restaurant at breakfast, lunch and until sundown. There prices match those at local markets and they are happy to let you take their picture in their colorful costumes.
    The hotel also has upscale stores with breathtaking silver jewelry and alpaca clothing, but seeing those actually makes you more appreciative of the vendor’s bargains
    There are vendors at every historic or scenic stop, and sometimes you actually get the best prices from them. I bought necklaces for $1, alpaca sweaters for $10, and a huge traditional woven orange tablecloth  for $15. Some holiday shopping ideas for things under $5 include backpacks, wallets, small totes and suitcases, chess sets, masks, dolls and jewelry.
    Starving artists offer original art for as little as $5 for an original print. I have no wall space left, but had to buy two prints from one artist because his work was so good. I thought of it as a donation to his education. And if he grows up to be a Picasso, so much the better.
    Many tourist also take home reproductions of pre-Columbian ceramics with gourds being a great favorite.
    Visitors to the jungle may have the opportunity to purchase traditional handicrafts, including adornments (necklaces worn for tribal dances), utensils (baskets, food bowls, hunting bags), and weapons (bows, arrows, spears)