Are you traveling to Peru and want to take the best souvenirs from Peru back home?

In this post, I will share the unique souvenirs that reflect the essence of my country. For example, the colorful retablos made in Ayacucho; the ekekos dolls which bring prosperity, from the lake Titicaca area; or a shawl made of alpaca, one of the finest yarns in the world.

Whether you are looking for something for yourself or a gift from Peru to take back home, you will find plenty of options below. Let’s take a look at what the best things to buy in Peru are.

Ekeko

One of the most interesting souvenirs from Peru are ekekos. They are amulets from the lake Titicaca area which are supposed to bring prosperity and abundance to your home.

Ekekos are small, thick, smiling figures who carry a plethora of items, including money, food, instruments, and more.

They usually have an open mouth, and you are supposed to light a cigarette in their mouth as an offering. Ask for prosperity in your house and the ekeko might help you. If the cigarette burns completely, your wishes may come true, but if it stops burning halfway, you might not be so fortunate this time.

Do you wish for something very specific? Get a miniature representation of what you want and hang it on the ekeko’s body. It can be a miniature car or home appliances. Are you looking for love? Then offer him a minuature hen or rooster!

These amulets have been around for hundreds of years and people from the Andes swear by them. The trick, though, is that they must be received as gifts. So what better gift to bring from Peru for someone who needs more prosperity in their life than an ekeko.

If you are visiting Puno, you can get an ekeko in the area, but otherwise you can find them in souvenir shops in Lima as well.

Pucara Bulls

Another souvenir from Peru coming from the area around Puno are the Pucara bulls. These are small bulls made of ceramic that come from the area around Pucara town, which is between the route that connects Cusco and Puno.

In Pucara, and actually in the whole area of Puno, Cusco and Arequipa, you will see these ceramic bulls on top the roofs of many houses. Locals consider these bulls as guardians of the houses, so they place them there as a means of protection.

An interesting fact about the Pucara bulls are the lines that adorn them. In the times of the Spanish colony, they actually marked the bulls with these kind of lines to signal ownership.

The bulls have become quite popular as traditional Peruvian souvenirs, and you can find them mainly in Puno, Cusco and Arequipa, and in the tourists shops in Lima as well.

Retablo

Retablos are miniature wooden houses with small figures depicting different scenes of the daily life in Ayacucho.

Retablos are not just great souvenirs from Peru, but also an interesting glimpse to the daily life and traditions of the local people.

They originated from portable altars that the Spanish priests used to take with them around villages in the times of the colony, to convert the locals to Catholicism. But with time, they transformed. Now, besides religious scenes they show all kind of scenes related to the every day life in Ayacucho.

You will find retablos depicting traditional festivities, scenes of agricultural work, cockfights, bullfights, the Christmas nativity scene, etc.

As you can see in the picture, the elaboration of the retablos is very detailed, so they are made by specialists, who transmit their craft from generation to generation.

You can buy retablos if you travel to Ayacucho, though you can also find them in the souvenir markets in Lima

Mantas

If you are into textiles, mantas can be great Peruvian souvenirs. They are traditional carrying cloths that women wear on their backs tied on the front at the chest level in the Andes region.

If you travel around Cusco or Arequipa, especially in the small towns, you will see that mantas are very common. You will see women using them to carry their babies on their backs, or using it to carry objects they need to transport, like firewood or their harvest.

Usually the colors and patterns of the cloth vary according to the towns they come from.

You might not be planning to carry things around on your back, but mantas are nowdays also used as decorative items. For example, you can use them as tableclothes (you will see that several restaurants in Cusco do), or as decoration on top of a couch.

Peruvian Pillows

Pillows with Peruvian designs are great souvenirs to get from Peru. They generally are made in wool of lively colors and have a design of geometrical patterns. They can instantly add a touch of exotic and artistic flair to any living space.

You don’t need to worry about them being too big for your luggage, because actually you only buy the cover for the pillow.

These kind of pillows are typical from Chinchero, a small town that you will likely visit if you travel to the Sacred Valley from Cusco. They have become so popular, though, that you can easily find them all over Cusco and in the artisanal markets in Lima.

Bags With Peruvian Designs

If you like colorful bags made of natural materials, you will find lots of different kinds in Peru. From rucksacks to shoulder bags, they might be a useful item for your trip, or a nice gift from Peru to bring back home.

They are usually made of wool in vibrant colors with designs of the Andes of Peru.

Tote bags

Another kind of bag that you will find at the tourist markets are colorful tote bags. Usually tote bags are made of felt instead of wool yarn, so they are more compact and solid. It’s a unique Peruvian gift for girls!

Ponchos

If you want a very traditional Peruvian souvenir, then go for a poncho. Ponchos have a deep-rooted cultural significance in Peru. They represent centuries-old traditions and heritage.

Ponchos are often handmade by skilled artisans using traditional techniques. Generally, they are used in rural areas, so you will find them in Cusco, Puno or Arequipa, for example.

Still, even if people in Lima wear modern clothing, you can easily find them at top alpaca shops, or at tourist markets like the Indian Market.

Alpaca Shawls

Clothing or accessories made of alpaca are one of the most popular souvenirs people buy from Peru. Alpaca yarn is one of the finest in the world, and Peru is a top producer of the yarn. You will find high quality alpaca gear shops if you visit Arequipa, Cusco or Lima.

Alpaca shawls can be great Peruvian gifts to bring back home for friends or family. They are elegant and, in a way, neutral, so they can also be good gift ideas for someone you don’t really know so well. Plus they are light and small, so they will easily fit in your luggage.

Shawls are usually dyed in natural colors, so the most common colors you will find are different hues of brown, grey, or beige.

If you want to get the softest kind of alpaca there is, make sure to look for “baby alpaca”. Baby alpaca usually comes from one-year-old alpacas. It comes from the first shearing, right after that their hair starts growing thicker. 

Embroideries from Ayacucho

Besides retablos, something else Ayacucho is famous for, are its embroideries. Typically, the embroideries from Ayacucho are just as the ones you can see in the picture: colorful flowers, leaves, and some other decorations.

They use embroideries to decorate all kinds of fabrics. For example, in the first picture, you can see the close up of a belt. They also make purses, hairbands, bags, and many other accessories with these decorations.

Some years ago there was a special edition of Converse shoes decorated with these embroideries, made by women from Ayacucho.

Silver Earrings

If you like jewelry, silver is the way to go if you are in Peru. Peru is actually the second biggest silver producer in the world, so prices are accessible, plus the craftmanship is of high quality.

There are several top jewelries that you can visit in Lima, like Ilaria and Murguia. But if you are looking for earrings that will be traditional Peruvian souvenirs, then you can find some very nice pieces in the town of Pisac, in Cusco.

In Pisac, they specialize working in silver with different stones, like turquoise or mother of pearl. With that, they create beautiful earrings and pendants with Peruvian themes.

For example, typical earrings that you will find there will be shaped like hummingbirds, llamas or the Andean cross (which are the first two pairs in the picture).

Shipibo Tapestries

There are many famous typical souvenirs from Peru that you can get from the Andes area, but not so many from the Amazon. If you want to take back home a little piece of the Peruvian jungle, then a Shipibo tapestry is for you.

The Shipibos are a tribe from the Amazon, which have a long tradition of embroidering. Their designs are usually geometric and symetrical (like the ones you can see on the lower left side of the picture).

What is so special about them is that they are based on the visions they get after consuming the hallucinogenic ayahuasca.

Ayahuasca is a drink from the jungle, made of a mix of roots, consumed only under the guidance of a shaman during special ceremonies (you can read here my misadventures traveling to the Manu National Park for an ayahuasca ceremony).

After drinking ayahuasca, the Shipibo women embroider what they saw during their trance. The symbols in their designs represent things like the “big cosmic serpent”, the “eye-soul” and the “human”.

Arpilleras

Dating back to the 70s, Peruvian arpilleras are a relatively recent form of artistic expression. It has its origins in the poor and marginalized areas of Lima, among migrants that had arrived to the city from the Andean region.

Arpilleras are hand-sewn pictures, a collage of fabric scraps which illustrate the lives of the women both in the towns they come from, as well as in the shantytowns they live in Lima.

For example, some arpilleras represent rural landscapes, like in the picture above. You can see the their animals, like llamas, sheeps, goats and horses; women, the harvesting of potatoes and a condor flying over the Andes mountains.

But you will also see arpilleras representing important events like a wedding party at their towns of origin (like in the top center arpillera). Or religious festivities, like Santa Rosa de Lima (bottom center).

Arpilleras are not only cute souvenirs from Peru, but by purchasing them you will also be helping low-income families from the poor areas of Lima.

Some of the places where you can get arpilleras in Lima are the Indian Market in Miraflores and Las Pallas in Barranco.

Chullo

One of the most common souvenirs from Peru are chullos. Chullos are hats with earflaps, usually made of llama, alpaca or sheep’s wool. They are typical from Peru, and are used by men in the Andes mountains regions.

Locals use them mainly to be protected from the cold and wind, but in some areas, they have other uses as well.

For example, in some areas, the kind, pattern or color of the chullo might indicate the social status of the person, if he’s an authority or other characteristics. In one island of lake Titicaca, for example, the specific design men wear can indicate if they are single and looking for a partner or not.

Shoes with Peruvian Designs

If you are looking for a hip Peruvian souvenir, then shoes with Peruvian designs are for you. They come in several colors, mainly in black, red, green, blue and red, and are made of traditional Peruvian “mantas”.

Like we saw above, mantas are typical carrying cloths used in the rural areas of Peru.

You will be able to find these shoes in the tourist markets in Lima and Cusco, and in some souvenir shops as well. They have them in children and adult sizes, though if you are a man and have a large size, you will have more trouble finding shoes that fit you.

Llama Dolls

If you visit places like Cusco or Puno, you will see that llamas are a very common animal that help locals to carry loads. Admire them from far, but don’t bother them, since llamas will spit if they feel disturbed!

Llama dolls can be great Peruvian souvenirs to remember your Peruvian trip. They can also be great souvenirs from Peru for children. These dolls are very common at tourists markets all around the country.

Peruvian Dolls

If you are looking for other gifts from Peru for children, you can also get typical Peruvian dolls. The dolls usually wear the traditional colorful clothes of the women in the Andes, and have their hair braided like the women do in that area.

Peruvian Sweaters for Children

Other cute gifts for children from Peru are arpillera-like sweaters that you can get at most tourist markets. They usually have animals (including Peruvian animals, like llamas), plants, flowers, and are made in lively colors.

Pompoms

Pompoms are a great souvenir from Peru if you are looking for something colorful to decorate your house. You can find them at the tourist markets and they come in various shapes and sizes.

There are simple ones just made of several threads of pompons, dreamcatchers with hanging pompoms, and several designs for children as well, like rainbows or flowers.

Are you looking for a smaller one maybe? Don’t worry, many times the vendors will offer to cut them for you at your ideal length.

Maras Salt

Maras salt is a pink kind of salt that comes from the Maras mines, in Cusco. The salt pans are located on the slope of a mountain, surrounded by a beautiful landscape, so a visit to Maras is a very popular activity to do from Cusco.

If you visit Maras, you can get salt blended with various kinds of spices, like chilli, garlic or parsely, which can be a very special souvenir from Peru. It’s not only a unique gift, but it has also great health properties.

If a visit to Maras is not on your plans, don’t worry, since lately Maras salt has become more popular. You can now get it in supermarkets in Lima and other big cities.

Peruvian Chocolates

Did you know that Peru produces one of the best cacao in the world? Some of the best cacao is produced in the jungle, and some in the north of Peru (Piura) as well. With that cacao, some of the world’s best chocolate is produced in Peru as well.

Actually, Peruvian chocolates win awards every year in the International Chocolate Awards, often getting gold, silver or bronze in several categories.

Just a couple of years ago, the “Overall Winner” of the Awards was Cacaosuyo, a Peruvian brand.

You will find very good quality chocolate at specialty shops, and even some of them at supermarkets. They come in different kinds, usually milk chocolate, 70% or 80% dark chocolate, among others. They are delicious and high quality souvenirs from Peru.

Coffee

Besides cacao, Peru is also a world top-class producer of coffee as well, and it’s famous for its Arabica beans. Not just that, but it is actually the world’s top producer of organic arabica coffee beans and the leading producer of fair trade coffee as well.

Some of the top producers of the country are Junin, Pasco, Cajamarca, Amazonas, San Martin, Puno and Cusco. So if you travel to those areas, you will be able to get great quality coffee for relatively affordable prices. A great Peruvian gift to bring back home!

You can also get very good coffee coming from different parts of Peru at the supermarkets in Lima, though prices will be much higher. 

Algarrobina Cocktail

Are you looking for a more original gift from Peru to bring back home? Then a bottle of algarrobina cocktail can be the solution.

Algarrobina is the extract which results from boiling the pods of the algarrobo tree. The results is a sweet kind of “honey”, which is considered a superfood as it has multiple health benefits.

The algarrobina cocktail is a mix of algarrobina with pisco, Peru’s national liquor, among other ingredients. If you haven’t heard about pisco, in your trips around Peru you will learn that it is something that Peruvians are very proud of.

And if you travel around Ica you will soon find out that one of the main things to do in Huacachina is to visit a pisco factory, which are located in the nearby Pisco town.

The algarrobina cocktail is sweet, milky, typical Peruvian drink that will make for a great gift from Peru. You will be able to get one at most supermarkets.

Inca Kola

Another drink that can be a good souvenir from Peru to bring back home is a bottle of Inca Kola.

Inca Kola is the most popular soda from Peru. It was so popular that some years ago Coca Cola actually bought it after unsuccessful attempts to overtake the market.

Inca Kola has a vibrant yellow color as an homage to the Incas, who worshipped the Sun. Its main ingredient is lemongrass (even though it’s taste is not so prominent), among other herbs.

But before getting some bottles as souvenirs from Peru, try it. Foreigners usually either love it or hate it!

Before You Go…

These are just some of the souvenirs from Peru that you will find on your trip. Some are more popular and widespread, and some you will mostly be able to find in the areas they are originally from. For example, retablos in Ayacucho and Shipibo tapestries in the jungle around Pucallpa.

If you are looking for a single place where you can find most of these Peruvian souvenirs, take a look at this post about where to go shopping in Lima.