Not surprisingly, as the main tourist destination in Peru , there are plenty of shops selling crafts and other items aimed at tourists. These vary from the very cheap to the very expensive.
Alpaca
There are many upmarket stores on and around the Plaza de Armas selling good-quality alpaca knitwear. These tend to be quite expensive, although high quality clothing can be found. Similar quality products at lower prices can be found in Arequipa , but if you are not going there, Cusco is not a bad option. Bear in mind that even for the best items, the quality is not usually up to the standards of clothing in the west, and all alpaca items must be hand-washed and carefully cared for. Cheaper items are much the same as elsewhere, and are not usually 100% alpaca. These can be found in the stalls and markets throughout the city.
Alpaca is a soft, warm wool, not unlike cashmere. Better than alpaca is baby alpaca, the first shearing of a baby's wool, and this is softer and warmer than alpaca, but is more expensive. The best of all, and probably the most expensive wool in the world, is that of the vicuña. Until recently it was illegal to shear vicuña wool, as the vicuña was nearly hunted to extinction in the 1960s, but under tight control this law has been slightly relaxed in recent years. Vicuña wool is the finest in the world, having a diameter of 11-13 microns, as opposed to 30 microns for sheep wool, 17-19 microns for alpaca and 16 microns for cashmere. A scarf made of vicuña wool costs upwards of $400. Recently, wool from the guanaco, another relative of the llama, has begun to be used in the production of clothing. This is between alpaca and vicuña in quality. Llama wool is not used in the production of clothing, as when it gets wet is gives out an awful odour.
Crafts
There are many places selling crafts in Cusco , including some quite expensive shops on the Plaza de Armas. There are many stalls on the streets off the Plaza de Armas. Calle Triunfo up to San Blas has many good craft stalls, often with reasonable prices.
Many people buy crafts in the Pisac market. This has a good selection of products, although prices do not vary significantly from Cusco . The Chincheros market is cheaper, although there are far fewer products. However, it has some excellent textiles at prices significantly lower than in Cusco .
The Centre for Traditional Textiles (Kennedy A, G-17, T 229299) is a non-profit organisation that works with villagers from around Cusco to produce high-quality textiles using traditional techniques. Some very good, but expensive, textiles can be found through the centre.
Jewellery
There are some very good jewellery shops in Cusco selling fine gold and silver jewellery based on traditional Peruvian designs.
Cusqueña school paintings
There are a number of shops on Calle Triunfo and Calle San Blas that produce reproduction Cusqueña school paintings. It is illegal to take originals out of the country, so make sure you get a certificate stating that your painting is a copy, to avoid problems at the airport.
Supermarkets
There are a couple of smallish supermarkets in Cusco that stock a reasonable range of products. The only one in the centre is El Chinito , at Matará 271. There are a couple of slightly cheaper supermarkets on Av. de la Cultura, a few minutes from the centre. La Canasta , on block 20, has a reasonable selection, as does D´Dinos , at Av. de la Cultura 2003.
Markets
The main market in Cusco is the Santa Ana market, near the San Pedro train station. This sells most things, including food, and there are also some stalls with crafts here. The market can be dangerous, so do not take any valuables.
Books and maps
There are a few bookstores on the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza Regocijo selling English language books. These tend to be travel books, although there is the occasional novel as well.
Camping equipment
There are plenty of shops on the Plaza de Armas selling camping gas and other camping equipment. These shops also hire camping equipment, including tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment. Rates are reasonable, although they vary from shop to shop so it is worth shopping around.
Photography
There are many shops selling photographic equipment and films, as well as offering development. The best of these are on Av. El Sol and Mantas, and a good range of film is stocked, including Kodak and Fuji slide film.
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