Mercado Central de San Pedro — Local services in Distrito de Cusco

This is a market that has been functioning as a street market in Cusco for hundreds of years before a building was ever erected. You should definitely visit if our are touring Cusco. Locals come here to buy groceries and have a meal while they are out. It’s interesting to see all of the different products they are buying and selling and how it’s presented. You have fresh fruits, veggies, salt, chocolate, cheese, bread, etc there that are local to the area which can also make good snacks or souvenirs to take home in some cases. They also have many vendors selling your more typical souvenirs which will likely be the best priced in Cusco. They are open for bargaining here if you want to try your skills. I’ve been to other markets as a tourist around the world and sometimes it’s overwhelming and overstimulating with so many vendors and options and then people coming up to you asking you to buy things while you are looking at someone else’s items, etc. This market was busy but no one was pushing hard for you to buy. If you walk by, they may ask if you want something from their stall or if you have questions, etc but if it wasn’t anything you are interested in just saying no gracias was an acceptable answer. I felt like here you can support local vendors by purchasing your souvenirs here instead of the airport...

Lively market next to the centro historico. Here, it seems, everything is being traded - from the obvious tourist apparel (magnets, ponchos in all scary color combinations to sweaters) to fruits, spices, meat etc. You will learn that almost all sweaters here are proclaimed to be 100% Alpaka or Baby Alpaka wool. Be aware, that a sweater for 100 - 200 soles is probably not 100% Alpaka. I learned some methods to check the material: 1. If you could get a single fiber from the garment and burn it, it should smell like burned hair (so it is likely either lane wool or Alpaka). 2. Check the weight. Alpaka is not a lightweight material. Best: check the weight of the material in one of the more expensive shops before entering San Pedro, so you get a feel for it. 3. If Alpaka gets wet, it smells a bit like a wet dog. It even smells a bit like it, if it's dry.

Behind the San Pedro market, there you find a huge market, where you won't see any tourists. It is full of life. It won't have the tourist stuff but it will be somewhat a true Peruvian market experience. Also the prices for freshly pressed fruit juices are lower than in San Pedro. In general, I highly recommend San Pedro and even more the market behind it. ("behind it" means behind the San Pedro market, when you come from the direction of the...

Visiting this market is a must while in Cusco, it has everything from touristy attire, scrunches, pins, keychains, handmade clothing, and beaded products, to the obscure and bizarre such as dried starfish and a range of different sized llama fetuses. Tourist products are significantly cheaper within the market, so if you have time it is good to make a round and price what it is your are looking for before buying it at the first stall you come across. The meat section is an interesting area to pass but it is not for the queasy, be ready to see cow heads, tongues, hooves, and eyeballs just sitting there out in the open. If you do decide to take photos of this, do it secretly, because it is frowned upon. Located near the backside is a variety of home cooked food which is reasonably priced, and near the front there is an aisle which sells fresh made fruit juiced and smoothies which range from 5 PEN to 8 PEN. The fruit section is cheaper here as well, remember to ask for a sample of some of the berries before purchasing because sometimes they are sour. If you ask kindly they will also cut certain foods for you as well so when you return to your hostel, hotel, or home, its...