Peru is a stunning country where ancient culture and ingenious people are seamlessly blended together. As such, there are countless amazing options of souvenirs from Peru for you to bring home when you visit.
I’ll help you pick your favorite ones with this list of Peruvian gifts that includes colorful clothing, the tastiest delicacies of the country’s mouthwatering cuisine, as well as tons of handmade Peruvian decor.
Table of Contents
Wearable souvenirs from Peru
1. Alpaca wool clothing
Sweaters are by far the no. 1 clothing item visitors get in Peru, but ponchos, gloves, scarves, and pants can be great choices too. They’re often embellished with llama motifs and other traditional patterns.
Alpaca wool is quite affordable in Peru; if, however, you’re after a more exclusive gift, look for vicuña wool instead. Unlike llamas and alpacas, vicuñas were never domesticated and yield a rare and extremely fine wool — the “cashmere of the Andes”.
In this case, you should double-check how the sourcing of the wool came about, since vicuñas are a threatened species.
2. Chullo
A chullo is the classic Andean knit cap you’ll see many locals wearing during the colder months. Because it features earflaps and is usually made from alpaca wool, it can be pretty effective in insulating your head.
The chullos locals wear are normally in vibrant colors, yet more muted versions are available for tourists who don’t want to call everyone’s attention when going about their business back home.
3. Chuspa
Shoulder bags are all the rage again, so a chuspa can be the fashion statement you needed, given how colorful it is.
The Andean pouch is meant to carry coca or cacao leaves, so it can’t actually accommodate heavy or bulky stuff.
Still, it can make a useful and stunning gift for that one person who you know could add an extra splash of color to their style.
4. Huayruro seed bracelet
Huayruro seeds have been used in jewelry making in South America for at least a thousand years.
The lovely red seeds originate in the Amazon, so you might retrieve huayruro bracelets more easily in the eastern regions of Peru.
Just keep your bracelet away from kids, and avoid giving one to a parent, as the seeds are poisonous if eaten.
5. Inca cross
The Inca cross, or chakana, is a 4,000-year-old icon that symbolizes the union between Earth and the Sun or, in other words, between human beings and the sacred dimension.
These days, the cross is more commonly used by the Aymara people of Lake Titicaca, but it’s widely recognized across the Andean world.
While you’ll find the chakana in many forms, a necklace pendant shaped like one can be a thoughtful gift — if you care to memorize its meaning, that is!
6. Silver jewelry
The extraction of Peruvian silver was the major reason why Spain became a superpower between the 16th and 17th centuries. Surprisingly, they still left a lot behind, and Peru remains the second-largest producer of silver (behind Mexico).
So silver jewelry is really among the most representative gifts from Peru you can get. Alternatively, copper and turquoise are pretty big in the country too.
Foods and drinks to bring from Peru
7. Pisco
Hailing from the southern coast of the country, Peru’s national liquor is made from fermented grapes.
Pisco is used to prepare pisco sour, where it’s mixed with lime juice, sugar, and egg whites. It can be drunk straight as well, especially the Italia variety.
The spirit is produced across Peru, but the most prestigious ones come from the Ica region, where it’s been produced for almost 500 years.
8. Coca tea
Yup, it’s that coca I’m talking about. The plant itself is perfectly legal in Peru, though. Andean populations have been chewing the leaves to handle the high altitude better for a very long time.
While you may struggle to explain yourself at customs if you bring loose leaves on you (plus they taste rather bitter anyway), prepackaged tea is just fine. Alternatively, coca candy can make an interesting gift.
9. Inca Kola
The national soft drink par excellence isn’t for all tastes, yet it’s definitely worth trying when you land in Peru. In case you do like it, then why not bring a few bottles with you? Folks back home will love it at least for the exotic factor.
Inca Kola, which is now owned by Coca-Cola, is the most popular soft drink nationwide and is often served alongside traditional dishes. It’s made from lemon verbena (an herb), and its flavor resembles that of chewing gum.
10. Coffee
Colombian and Brazilian coffee may be more renowned, but Peru is among the largest growers on the planet and has become quite famous for its fair-trade coffee.
Peruvian beans often present hints of nuts and chocolate. The best-quality ones are 100% arabica and produced at higher altitudes.
Some brands have won international awards, like Tunki and Quechua by the co-op Cecovasa. Co-ops, by the way, are the main producers of organic coffee in Peru.
11. Chocolate
Peruvian chocolate is making a name for itself on the world stage, particularly organic chocolate. Brands like Cacaosuyo and Domenico have been earning international awards and putting Peru on the chocolate map.
The country has been a leading cacao producer for decades, yet only recently local chocolatiers have been starting to refine the chocolate-making craft nationwide.
Because this is still a gourmet market, though, the best bars and truffles are available at specialized shops in Lima and Cusco mainly.
12. Pink salt
The little town of Maras in the Sacred Valley of the Incas is famous for its salt mines dug into the mountainside.
Here you’ll find a high-quality, naturally pinkish salt with anti-inflammatory and healing properties. The salt from Maras also helps lower blood pressure, thanks to its low concentration of sodium chloride.
Peru souvenirs to brighten up your home
13. Textiles
The Andean weaving tradition dates back 6,000 years. The textiles once had ceremonial value, but nowadays they’re popular decorative items.
You can snatch beautifully patterned tablecloths, couch blankets, wall quilts, and shawls in every touristy town in Peru.
14. Llama doll
You can’t go shopping in Peru without getting at least one llama souvenir. Since horses and cattle didn’t exist in the Americas before the arrival of the conquistadors, llamas were the main pack animal in the Andes for centuries (and still are).
So a llama doll, either a stuffed one or a simple keychain, is among the most iconic Peru gifts you can buy for your loved ones. Kids of course will love them!
15. Portable altar
Portable altars, or retablos, are the perfect example of the fusion between the Catholic faith and native culture.
They were first brought to Peru by Spanish priests as a visual input to help evangelize native Peruvians. Eventually, they turned into an art form in their own right when artisans from the city of Ayacucho started depicting daily life as they knew it in the retablos.
Many of these artisans moved to Lima in the 1980s, as bloody guerrilla warfare ravaged the region. That’s when these gorgeous altars gained popularity and became even more exuberant.
16. Carved gourd
While several regions in Peru have a tradition of carving gourds, the oldest ones, dating back 3,500 years, are from the northern coast of the country.
They tell you a story from bottom to top, so feel free to take a closer look and pick the one that truly “speaks” to you. Originally used to store stuff, carved gourds can work just fine as decorative items too.
17. Pucará bull
These little handicraft statues originated in the town of Pucará, which is located on the way to Lake Titicaca from Cusco.
Clay versions of the bull are often seen on roofs across Peru. They’re believed to protect homeowners and bring prosperity to them, and there are many myths surrounding them.
The Pucará bulls you’ll find at craft markets are typically more colorful, as their design was influenced by the huge Chinese diaspora that settled in the country more than a century ago.
18. Panpipe
Nothing screams “Andes” any louder than the sound of a bamboo panpipe playing El cóndor pasa. The instrument, which is locally called zampoña, was created in the 5th century and is actually unrelated to its European counterparts.
In case you don’t know anyone who can play a wind instrument and might love to master another one, an Andean panpipe can make a beautiful piece of home decor anyway.
19. Ekeko doll
Ekeko is a pre-Columbian god of prosperity. Though more popular in the Lake Titicaca region than in the Sacred Valley and Cusco, dolls representing the deity are common across the country.
Take one home or give it to someone you love as a lucky charm: the Ekeko doll allegedly brings wealth to owners.
20. Basketry
While textiles are really big across the Andes, other regions in Peru are known for their strong basketry tradition. The coast is one of them, which means baskets can make amazing Lima souvenirs.
The Amazon is another area where natives have been weaving straw and wicker baskets for centuries. And so is the region around Lake Titicaca.
Where to buy Peru souvenirs
Since most of the items on our list are handicrafts, you’ll have to hit craft markets for greater choice and the best deals. Luckily, because Peru has a fantastic tourism infrastructure, all major destinations across the country have one or more such markets.
In Lima, head to Petit Thouars Avenue in the Miraflores district. Here you’ll find several specialized shopping centers Inka Market, Indian Market, and Inka Plaza all within walking distance from one another.
Pueblo Libre, home to the world-renowned Larco Museum, is another hub. Gran Mercado Inka and Gran Mercado Artesanal Tesoros del Inca are a few feet from each other.
The historic core of Cusco has dozens of smaller shops and markets, the most famous of which are Mercado Central de San Pedro and Mercado San Blás (though both are best known for their fresh produce). As for shops, Artesanías Asunta is one of the highest-rated in town.
Yet, all in all, you may want to wait till you reach the Sacred Valley before picking your gifts from Peru. That’s where cheaper and more authentic stuff is available, especially where alpaca wool clothing is concerned. In that case, you should trust your local guide to help you avoid the notorious tourist traps.
Conclusion
These souvenirs from Peru are just a tiny selection of the finest gifts you can get when you visit the South American country.
Now that you know what to buy in Peru, share in the comments which of the items above you’re planning to bring home!
