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Our Top 40 Gift & Souvenir Ideas from Peru

Local Crafts and Authentic Products

The Art of Peruvian Gifts

Bringing back a souvenir from Peru is much more than a simple purchase - it's taking home a fragment of this country's cultural richness. From ancient Andean textiles to contemporary creations inspired by pre-Columbian motifs, each item tells a story. Our guide reveals how to choose authentic gifts that support local artisans.

🎁 The 3 Ethics of Peruvian Gifts:

Authenticity

Craft labels

Guaranteed origin

Ancient techniques

Portability

Light weight

Secure packaging

Customs rules

Local Impact

Fair trade

Women's cooperatives

Community projects

📍 Where to Buy?

  • Lima: Miraflores Market
  • Cusco: CTTC Textile Center
  • Puno: Artisan cooperatives
  • Ayacucho: Retablo workshops

💡 Practical Tips

"Negotiate respectfully in markets, prioritize direct purchases from artisans, and always leave room in your luggage! The most beautiful gifts are often found where you least expect them."

"A gift from Peru is not just an object,
it's a piece of Andean soul to share."

Textiles & Clothing

🧵 Crafts

Peruvian textile art, a legacy of pre-Columbian civilizations, combines ancestral know-how with contemporary designs. Here are our must-have selections:

1
Alpaca wool poncho Region: Cusco/Puno
Price: 120-400 soles (30-100€)
Weight: 500-800g (ideal for planes)
Tip: Check the alpaca % (min. 80%)
2
Andean shawl or scarf Region: Chinchero/Sicuani
Price: 50-150 soles (12-38€)
Size: 180x60cm average
Patterns: Inca symbols or animals
3
Peruvian hat (chullo) Region: Central Andes
Price: 40-120 soles (10-30€)
Feature: Attached ear flaps
Tip: Try before buying
4
Alpaca clothing Types: Vests, gloves, socks
Price: 80-300 soles (20-75€)
Care: Hand wash required
Where to buy: Pisac Market
5
Alpaca blanket Region: Arequipa
Price: 200-600 soles (50-150€)
Bulk: Compressible roll
Alternative: Double thickness shawl
6
Humorous T-shirts Themes: Machu Picchu, Llamas
Price: 30-80 soles (8-20€)
Size: S-XXL (runs small)
Where: Tourist shops in Lima
📌 Shopping tips:
  • Prefer cooperatives like CTTC (Cusco) for authenticity
  • Expect 20-30% discount when negotiating politely
  • Ask for a certificate of origin for pure alpaca

Accessories & Bags

🎒 Practical

Peruvian craftsmanship transforms raw materials into accessories that are both functional and full of history. Unique pieces to bring home in your suitcase:

7
Woven handbag or shoulder bag Region: Huancayo/Ayacucho
Price: 80-250 soles (20-63€)
Size: 25x30cm (medium)
Feature: Huayruro patterns (good luck charm)
8
Andean backpack Material: Reinforced wool
Price: 120-350 soles (30-88€)
Weight: 400-700g (empty)
Tip: Model with adjustable straps
9
Peruvian wallet Types: Alpaca leather or embroidered fabric
Price: 30-120 soles (8-30€)
Feature: Separate coin pocket
Where to buy: Barranco workshops (Lima)
10
Woven belt Region: Cusco/Puno
Price: 50-180 soles (13-45€)
Length: 110-130cm (adjustable)
Tip: Check buckle sturdiness
📌 Did you know?
  • The colorful symbols on bags tell local legends
  • Prefer natural dyes (more resistant)
  • A standard Andean bag fits a camera + water bottle

Crafts & Decor

🏺 Heritage

Objects full of history and symbols, these artisanal treasures transform your home into a tribute to Peruvian cultures:

11
Small Ayacuchano retablo Origin: Ayacucho
Price: 50-300 soles (13-75€)
Size: 15-25cm (miniatures)
Themes: Biblical or rural scenes
12
Carved wood object Wood types: Cedar, chachacomo
Price: 40-200 soles (10-50€)
Popularity: Andean animals
Where: Molinos workshops (Junín)
13
Chulucanas pottery Style: Black and white geometric
Price: 80-400 soles (20-100€)
Technique: Oxygen reduction
Masterpiece: Double-neck vases
14
Cusco pottery Patterns: Inca (snakes, condors)
Price: 60-250 soles (15-63€)
Use: Decorative only
Warning: Fragile!
15
Pucará bulls Symbolism: Home protection
Price: 30-150 soles (8-38€)
Colors: White/red/green
To place in pairs on roofs
16
Inca cross (Chacana) Formats: Jewelry, wall, sculpture
Price: 45-300 soles (11-75€)
Meaning: Andean cosmology
Materials: Stone, silver or wood
17
Carved gourds Material: Dried calabashes
Price: 25-120 soles (6-30€)
Themes: Village scenes
Use: Decoration only
18
Painted stones Base: Volcanic lava
Price: 20-80 soles (5-20€)
Lightweight: 200-500g per piece
Ideal: Compact gift
19
Peruvian chess sets Pieces: Incas vs Conquistadors
Price: 150-600 soles (38-150€)
Material: Wood or alabaster
Where: Miraflores galleries
📌 Cultural notes:
  • Pucará bulls are traditionally given for new homes
  • The Chacana represents the 3 Andean worlds: Hanan Pacha (sky), Kay Pacha (earth), Uku Pacha (underworld)
  • Retablos were originally portable altars during colonization

Jewelry & Symbols

💎 Minerals

From colonial craftsmanship to pre-Columbian techniques, these unique pieces combine beauty and Andean symbolism:

20
Silver earrings Specialty: Cusco workshops
Price: 50-300 soles (13-75€)
Purity: 925 or 950
Patterns: Inca sun, colonial flowers
21
Andean stone necklace Stones: Obsidian, rhodochrosite
Price: 80-400 soles (20-100€)
Symbolism: Protection/energy
Where: Specialty shops in Arequipa
22
Alpaca ring Alloy: Silver + nickel-free
Price: 40-180 soles (10-45€)
Care: Soft cloth
Design: Chavin pattern engravings
23
Peruvian silver jewelry Technique: Lost wax
Price: 70-500 soles (18-125€)
Certificate: "Perú 950" hallmark
Places: Calle Belén workshops (Cusco)
24
Friendship bracelets Materials: Wool/cotton threads
Price: 10-50 soles (2.5-13€)
Tradition: Given with a wish
Colors: Andean symbolism
🔮 Hidden meanings:
  • Rhodochrosite (pink stone): called "Inca love stone"
  • Colorful bracelets: red = energy, green = prosperity, yellow = wisdom
  • The hallmarks guarantee Peruvian origin (vicuña head or "Perú")

Gourmet Delights

🍫 Flavors

Discover Peru's culinary treasures to bring home in your luggage. These iconic products will delight your palate while respecting transport constraints:

25
Peruvian chocolate Varieties: Criollo, Chuncho
Price: 15-50 soles (4-13€) per bar
Storage: 18-20°C
Tip: Vacuum-sealed packaging recommended
26
Andean Coffee Regions: Chanchamayo, Jaén
Price: 30-80 soles (8-20€) / 250g
Transport: Allowed in carry-on
Tip: Medium roast for travel
27
Pisco (bottle) Volume: 700ml max in checked luggage
Price: 50-150 soles (13-38€)
Type: Puro (single grape variety)
Important: Can be purchased duty-free
28
Quinoa or kiwicha Formats: Grains, flour, crackers
Price: 10-40 soles (2.5-10€) / kg
Rules: Sealed packaging required
Tip: Check country-specific restrictions
29
Lucuma candies Taste: Caramel-cream
Price: 8-25 soles (2-6€) / pack
Shelf life: 6 months (unopened)
Unique: Chocolate-filled version
30
Coca candies Effect: Mild stimulant
Price: 5-15 soles (1.3-4€)
Warning: Banned in some countries
Alternative: Tea bags (allowed)
31
Pack of local candies Selection: Chocotejas, candied peanuts
Price: 10-30 soles (2.5-8€)
Weight: 200-500g
Gift: Ideal for children
🛃 Customs tips:
  • Coca-based products are banned in many countries (except tea)
  • Alcohol limit: 1L per person in checked luggage
  • Dairy products (like some chocolates) may be regulated

For Children & Families

🧸 Toys

These educational gifts introduce young travelers to Peruvian traditions while being easy to transport:

32
Handmade doll Materials: Wool/fabric + fiber hair
Price: 25-80 soles (6-20€)
Size: 15-30cm
Feature: Hand-embroidered faces
33
Andean dolls Costumes: Regional (Cusco, Puno)
Price: 40-120 soles (10-30€)
Weight: 200-400g
Educational: Includes explanatory leaflet
34
Alpaca plush Texture: Soft hypoallergenic wool
Price: 35-90 soles (9-23€)
Age: 3+ years
Variant: Llama with colorful pom-poms
35
Finger puppets Characters: Andean animals
Price: 15-50 soles (4-13€) per set
Use: Traditional storytelling
Practical: Hand washable
🎭 Educational value:
  • Andean dolls teach about traditional costumes
  • Puppets help tell local legends (e.g., the fox and the condor)
  • Alpaca plush toys introduce Andean biodiversity

Culture & Unique

✨ Unique

These extraordinary items capture the spirit of Peru through unexpected and meaningful creations:

36
Miniature musical instrument Types: Charango, quena, zampoña
Price: 40-150 soles (10-38€)
Functional: Real notes for some
Location: Workshops near Plaza de Armas (Cusco)
37
Passport stamps Where: Major sites (Machu Picchu, Nazca)
Cost: 2-10 soles (0.5-2.5€)
Design: Site logo + date
Tip: Dedicated notebook for collectors
38
Books on Peruvian art Themes: Textiles, ceramics, photos
Price: 80-300 soles (20-75€)
Weight: 500g-1.5kg
Bilingual: Some in Spanish/English
39
Framed weavings Size: 15x15cm to 30x40cm
Price: 60-200 soles (15-50€)
Mounting: Ready to frame
Origin: Taquile communities
40
Maras salt Packaging: 200g-1kg bags
Price: 15-60 soles (4-15€)
Use: Culinary or spa
Exception: Allowed in EU when vacuum-sealed
💡 Expert tips:
  • Miniature instruments make excellent tools for teaching children about Andean music
  • Maras salt keeps indefinitely when stored away from moisture
  • Stamps are often available near exits of archaeological sites
Gift ideas for your Peruvian hosts

These useful and symbolic presents are particularly appreciated by host families, local guides, or children you meet during your trip:

🎁 For host families (rural areas/islands)
Multi-tools (Swiss army knife, flashlight) - Essential in remote areas
Vegetable seeds (European varieties) - In sealed packets
School supplies (colored pencils, notebooks) - Always useful
Spice grinder - For cooking local ajíes
🧒 For children (schools/villages)
Small lightweight toys (yo-yos, jump ropes) - Easy to share
Educational stickers (animals, planets) - Very popular
Magic color pencils (color-changing) - Guaranteed wonder
🏡 For guides/artisans (cities)
Printed photos of your meeting - With mini cardboard frame
Specialties from your region (chocolates, cookies) - Individually wrapped
Small quality notebooks - For drawing their patterns
💡 Ethical tips: Prefer useful gifts over money, give collectively to avoid jealousy, and always ask permission before taking photos for personalized gifts.
🚫 To avoid
Used clothes - Can be poorly perceived
Electronic toys - Battery/repair issues
Perishable foods - Risk of intolerances
THE TRUE SOUVENIR FROM PERU

" The most beautiful gift you'll bring back from Peru won't fit in your suitcase,
but will remain forever engraved in your memory: the images of incredible sites, the majesty of its landscapes, and especially the authentic warmth of its people. "

🌍 Translation Guide (4 languages)
✨ Our gift to you:
An essential translation guide in French, Spanish, English and Portuguese to facilitate your trip.

Peru Travel Guide 2025 - Tips by Peru Discovery

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