The Pisac Market is one of the most famous markets in the Cusco region, drawing many visitors to its famous Sunday market when indigenous Quechua communities from the surrounding highlands come to Pisac to sell their produce and stock up on supplies for the week.
A large section of the market is dedicated to tourist-oriented souvenir stalls where you can find weavings, jewellery, ponchos, hats, Andean instruments, ceramics, alpaca products and a whole range of other gifts and souvenirs to take home with you. The handcraft market is open every day from 9am to 4.30pm and is a good place to pick up some gifts all in the one place.
If you want a more authentic and colourful experience, try and plan your trip to visit the market on a Sunday when the local quechua communities set up shop on the main square. Dressed in their colourful clothing, they sit cross-legged with their wares laid out giving the market an authentic feel. It’s definitely worth a visit but be warned this is a tourist hot spot so be prepared for savvy vendors, tour buses and tour groups.
The more unusual products you can buy at the Pisac market include natural powders in a variety of eye-popping colours that can be used as watercolour paint, colourful weavings and alpaca clothing.
Best of Cusco recommends:
- It’s easy to get carried away and want to take lots of photos at this colourful market but do be respectful when you do so. Some of the vendors at the market don’t like having their photo taken. Our advice is to always ask first and a good rule of thumb is to pay S/.1 (Approx. US$0.35) per person in the photo you take.
- On days other than Sundays, the fruit and vegetable market is held at the rather characterless municipal market two blocks from the main square on San Francisco Street and is worth a visit if you have twenty minutes to spare.
