I came home with a ton of souvenirs from Peru. There are very few destinations where I go souvenir crazy but there have been a couple of places where I just can’t help myself. Peru was one of those places.
With a such a rich and colorful culture, you may find yourself wanting to bring home more Peru souvenirs than usual (and that’s OK). Like Morocco, most of the souvenirs you find in Peru are functional—things you can actually use. It’s time to add a little (okay, a lot) of color to your life. Here’s a list of popular souvenirs (or gifts) to buy in Peru.
Download the printable packing checklist above and see the full Peru Packing List guide here.
Wearable Peru Souvenirs
Given the country’s dominant wool and weaving culture, some of the best Peru souvenirs you can buy are all the things you can wear. This includes colorful, woven anything.
1. Chullo hat
These are the Andean-style winter hats with the ear flaps you’ll find all over Peru. They’re typically woven from either alpaca, llama, or sheep’s wool and come in all kinds of colors, patterns, and designs. They’re perfect for visiting Peru’s high altitudes and cooler destinations or for wearing anywhere in cold weather. Chullo hats are often reversible too so it’s like buying two hats for the price of one.
2. Sweater or Poncho
Also made from the wool of these local animals are all the beautiful sweaters or Peruvian ponchos you could dream of. In Peru, you’ll be able to find traditional-style ponchos that drape over the shoulders and Peruvian-style ponchos that also have sleeves (my personal favorite).
3. Blankets
Naturally, you can also find all kinds of woven blankets in endless colors, patterns, sizes, and designs. I’m not kidding; you have infinity options here.
4. Bags & Backpacks
You can find equally as many colorful woven bags and backpacks as well. From small pouches to larger tote bags and everything in between. I love the way the backpacks here close (with a zipper and then a clip on the flap) so I bought one of these.
5. Hair accessories
You can also find a huge variety of hair accessories here too. I bought a couple of scrunchies (that I wear around the house religiously) and a cute headband.
6. T-Shirts
Whether or not you’re someone who buys a t-shirt when you travel, you may want to make an exception for Peru. Our tour leader told us that if we were looking for nice Peru souvenirs, to pick up some t-shirts because of the high quality of cotton here. And he wasn’t wrong! I bought one for both my husband and myself and both are really comfortable and high-quality.
7. Alpaca wool anything
This goes for sweaters, scarves, or even just plain alpaca wool yarn for you to knit your own Peru souvenirs (if you’re into that sort of thing). Unlike the stuff mentioned above, these items aren’t necessarily bright and colorful. Typically, they’re more subdued in color and solid in pattern. I bought myself and my mom some really soft scarves in Arequipa.
8. Chakana jewelry
The “Chakana” is also known as the Andean or Incan cross (though it’s actually been used for thousands of years). You’ll see this symbol all over Peru—what looks like a cross with a square on top of it, with a circle in the middle. This sacred symbol represents a sort of bridge between the three worlds of gods, men, and the dead. (More about the symbolism of the Chakana here.)
Also read: Hiking the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: All You Need to Know
Decorative Peru Souvenirs
Among this list of amazing Peru souvenirs are tons of items with which to decorate your living space. (Your walls deserve just as much color as your body does!) Check out these popular items:
9. Woven anything
Much like the colorful woven things you can buy in Peru to wear, you can also buy colorful woven items to use in your house too. These includes things like blankets, table runners and placemats, and beautiful wall hangings.
I got a set of woven placemats at the AMA Restaurant & Boutique in the Sacred Valley, and a handwoven wall hanging from the women on one of the floating islands at Lake Titicaca.
10. Ceramics / Pottery
Handmade ceramics are another of the top Peru souvenirs to take home, if you have the suitcase space and a way to transport them safely. Think hand carved jars and other decorative items, or more useful items like mugs.
11. Stuffed alpacas
You’ll see these stuffed alpaca dolls everywhere in Peru. I mean, everywhere. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and are typically covered in real baby alpaca fleece. And they are the softest! I feel like no trip to Peru would be complete without bringing home one of these.
12. Peruvian pom-pom garland
For lack of a better term, you’ll also see these colorful pom-pom garlands pretty much everywhere in Peru. They typically decorate the entrance doors and windows of buildings and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns.
You’ll find tons to choose from at almost all the souvenir markets. And as far as Peru souvenirs go, these are definitely the easiest and safest to pack in your suitcase. I got one of the traditional bright colored ones that also featured a crocheted Cantua flower (national flower of Peru) and another made with less-colorful tassels.
13. Toritos de Pucará (Bull sculpture)
Something else you’ll see all over Peru are small bull figurines. These are known as Toritos de Pucará, or just Pucará. These little bull statues (though they come in all sizes) are typically handmade ceramic and hand painted.
Peru’s Pucarás symbolize many things including protection and fertility. Having one allegedly wards off negative energy and brings good fortune. Most of the time, you find them on the roofs of houses, usually in pairs.
Edible Peru Souvenirs
If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers to take home things you can eat and drink, there’s a list of great Peru souvenirs for you too.
14. Peruvian chocolate
Chocolate in Peru is just fantastic and chocolate always makes a great gift. You’ll be able to find chocolate infused with all kinds of local flavors too. I got some delicious lucuma chocolates and chirimoya chocolates, but they also have more recognizable flavors too (and sometimes they’ll let you sample them).
15. Coca candies
It won’t take you long in Peru to understand the importance of Coca. Heading to high altitude? Coca is the answer. You’ll drink coca tea, chew coca leaves, and suck on coca candies during your entire visit. But while you can’t bring coca leaves back to the US (being that they are the source of cocaine and therefore a Schedule II narcotic), you can bring home some coca candies.
For something even more local, pick up some Chica Morada (the candies, not the drink).
16. Coffee
Quality Peruvian coffee is another great souvenir (or gift) to take home. Peru’s diverse landscapes and climates make it a perfect coffee-growing region and you can find some really good stuff here.
Fair warning: If you see a kind of coffee called “Uchuñari,” know that that comes from the poop of a coati (a cute kind of small mammal you could compare to, say, a racoon). The coati eat the coffee cherry (the fruit that has the coffee bean inside) and, unable to process the actual seeds, it poops them out. These “processed” coffee beans are then extracted from the seeds, cleaned, and made into coffee that’s apparently super smooth and delicious, but I wouldn’t know.
17. Peruvian Pink Salt
Peruvian salt, specifically from the Maras Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley, makes a great souvenir or gift. Salt has been mined here since before Incan times and is still mined using the same natural methods. You can find Peruvian Pink Salt (sal rosada) at markets all over. (I got some and a unique smoked version that’s delicious.)
18. Pisco
If you have the means to bring back some fragile liquids, don’t pass up your chance to take home some Pisco. If you made it through an entire trip to Peru without having any pisco, I’d be shocked. Whether you like to make your own cocktails or just drink it straight, pisco makes a great souvenir. You can find it in shops around Peru or maybe just wait until you get to Duty Free so you don’t have to pack it in a suitcase?
Where to Buy Peru Souvenirs & Gifts
You definitely won’t have any problem finding good places to pick up some souvenirs from Peru. In any case, here’s a list of some places you’re most likely to find what you’re looking for and/or where I got most of my Peru souvenirs.
Tips for souvenir shopping in Peru
Here are just a few little tidbits you may want to know for picking up some great Peru souvenirs:
1. Have cash on hand at all times
If you want to buy souvenirs at some of the roadside stops I mentioned or even in the larger urban markets, you’ll definitely need some cash. In proper shops like the one at Mundo Alpaca and AMA, you’ll be able to use your credit card.
2. Sometimes you can negotiate on price
If you’re at one of the urban markets or roadside stands, you may be able to negotiate on price, especially if you’re buying more than one of something. Just don’t expect buying souvenirs in Peru to be anything like the barter culture in Morocco, for example.
3. Not all alpaca products are created equal
There are a few different “grades” of alpaca wool, baby alpaca being the softest. Many places will claim their products are made with “baby alpaca” but you’ll be able to tell the real stuff from the fake when you feel it. (Your tour guide can also direct you to the better products.)
3. Know the different wool types
Most of the things you’ll see for sale in Peru are made from either llama or alpaca wool. Llama wool is not as soft as alpaca so it’s used less for clothing and more for things like rugs. Alpaca is the most common and you can find just about any product made with alpaca wool. Baby alpaca is the good stuff. Both llama and alpaca wools come in all sorts of colors and variations ranging from black, dark brown, light brown, cinnamon, beige, cream, white, and more.
Vicuña wool
But the best (and most expensive) stuff is made from vicuña wool. In fact, vicuña fibers are known to be the finest, softest, and most expensive in the world. Vicuñas are wild and protected animals and only three companies in Peru are legally licensed to collect their wool. The wild vicuñas are ethically herded in an ancient cultural ceremony called a chaccu. They’re sheared and then released.
More info for your trip to Peru
Like this post? Have questions about any of these Peru souvenirs? Let me know in the comments below. Have a great trip!
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