Walking Peru and Shopping Too!

!: Walking Peru and Shopping Too!

Whilst walking Peru's Inca Trail is a life taste that shouldn't be missed, so is shopping in any of the country's original markets, particularly the large Incan market at Miraflores. From silver jewellery to Alpaca shawls, there's literally plentifulness at the stalls to tempt you. However, if you've never haggled before it can be quite daunting. Remember to all the time start by offering a third of the price that you're quoted and work your way up to the seller's final price. Once you've worked out how to haggle, you're going to need to know what to buy....

Plaster by the Mendivil Family

You might need to wait until after walking Peru's Inca Trail to stock up on plaster pieces; after all you don't want your backpack to be too weighed down! Luckily, for the majority of population the Inca Trail ends in Cusco, where the Mendivil house are preeminent for production plaster figures of the Virgin Mary. Statues are made from a blend of wheat flour, rice, mashed potatoes, plaster and papier mache.

Gourds

Carving gourds out with a hot needle is an ancient Peruvian craft and one that you will see often while walking Peru. The most base carved gourds are from the town of Cochas and depict countryside scenes. However, gourds carved in the shape of owls are becoming increasingly base and make a great gift for the cat-sitter.

Alpaca Wool

You may be tempted to buy an alpaca wool shawl to keep yourself warm whilst walking Peru's Inca Trail. They also make extraordinary souvenirs for house and friends, particularly when they are made from baby alpaca wool, which is slightly softer and less prickly. Alpaca mixed with lamb's wool is a economy option, and unsurprisingly ponchos are a base purchase. If you're after something a small less out-there than a bedecked Incan poncho, the Cusco belts made from alpaca wool with geometric motifs are real collector's pieces, and add a colourful touch to even the most monochrome wardrobes.

Musical Instruments

Walking Peru, you're going to see panpipes for sale almost everywhere. These make a cheap and inexpensive gift and are particularly good to take home for the grandchildren. Although panpipe music is synonymous with Peru, small guitars known as charangos and mandolins are also sold in the marketplace. A Cd of original Peruvian music will not only give you an idea of what the instruments sound like played together, but is bound to bring back some happy memories of your holiday walking Peru.

Jewellery

Gold and silver items are popular mementos, but when buying silver be inescapable to check for the hallmark 925. Colonial and Republican tableware is stunning, but coffee sets can be expensive and therefore a small piece of filigree jewellery often proves to be a more sentimental keepsake. Peruvian turquoise is a gorgeous blue-green stone that pairs well with silver and can look remarkable on a necklace.

Hammocks

After walking Peru's Inca Trail, you may be dreaming of lying back and taking it easy for a few days. Perhaps this is the speculate that so many tourists return from walking Peru with a hammock in their suit Case? Hammocks are made locally with strong cotton and vegetable fibre from the Amazon rainforest. But if you don't like the idea of lugging your bed home with you, you could all the time buy a handbag made from the same material instead.