Shopping in Cusco: Alpaca, Textiles and Souvenirs Without Getting Fooled

Cusco is a shopping paradise, but also where most "alpaca" textiles sold are actually synthetic blends. Here's how to tell them apart.

How to identify real alpaca

• By touch: real alpaca is soft but with a certain natural texture; synthetic tends to feel too uniform or "plasticky."
• Price: a 100% alpaca (or "baby alpaca") garment costs considerably more than acrylic — if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Controlled burn test (serious sellers allow it): animal fiber burns and smells like burnt hair, leaving ash; acrylic melts and smells like plastic.
• Label: look for the actual alpaca percentage stated, not just "alpaca style" or "alpaca-inspired."

Where to buy

• Pisac Market: good variety and negotiable prices, though real and synthetic mix at the same stalls.
• Cusco Craft Center: more concentrated variety, somewhat more fixed prices.
• Certified textile cooperatives: usually guarantee origin and quality, at a higher price but more certainty.

Souvenirs that are actually worth it

• Certified alpaca scarves and sweaters (an investment, not a cheap souvenir).
• Hand-woven textiles using traditional techniques (each community has distinctive patterns).
• Origin Peruvian coffee and chocolate (good value and easy to pack).
• Silver jewelry (Peru is a recognized producer of worked silver).

Overrated or inauthentic souvenirs

• Generic "made in China" magnets and keychains sold as local craft.
• Textiles with extremely saturated, uniform colors (natural dye rarely gives such even colors).

Negotiating tip

Haggling is normal and expected at markets, not at fixed-price stores. Start with a reasonable offer (not insultingly low) and negotiate respectfully — it's part of the local commercial culture.

Want your guide to take you to authentic textile workshops, not just tourist shops? Ask us when planning your itinerary.

Alpaca, baby alpaca and vicuña: the differences

• Alpaca: the most common fiber in quality garments. Very warm and lighter than sheep's wool.
• Baby alpaca: it doesn't come from baby alpacas, but from the first shearing or the finest fiber of the animal. It's softer and pricier.
• Vicuña: the finest and most exclusive fiber in the Andes, from a protected wild animal. It's very expensive and hard to find; if someone offers you cheap vicuña, it isn't vicuña.
• Blends: many garments mix alpaca with wool, cotton or acrylic. They're fine if the price matches and the label says so clearly.

How to recognize a handmade textile

• Small irregularities in the weave and edges: a good sign.
• Natural colors: softer, more varied tones than industrial dyes. Many weavers use plants, insects like cochineal (which gives deep reds) and minerals.
• Hours of work: a large loom-woven blanket can take weeks, and that's reflected in the price.
• Ask about the meaning: Andean designs represent lakes, mountains, animals or paths. The weaver can explain them.

Where to see the full process

In Chinchero, one of the stops on our Sacred Valley VIP (US$32), weavers show how they wash the wool with roots, dye it with natural dyes and weave it on a loom. After seeing it, it's much easier to recognize an authentic textile and understand why it costs what it does.

How to carry your purchases

• Alpaca garments: travel well in a suitcase, but keep them in sealed bags to protect them from moths.
• Large blankets: many shops vacuum-pack them so they take up less space.
• Silver: ask for a receipt on expensive pieces.
• Coffee and chocolate: travel without problems; check your country's rules if you carry seeds or fresh produce.

How much to budget

Prices vary a lot with quality. In general, a blended scarf costs little and a certified baby alpaca garment can cost several times more. Decide beforehand what you want: an inexpensive souvenir to give away or a piece that will last for years. To avoid misleading sales, also read common scams in Cusco.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know it's real alpaca without the burn test?

Price and texture are the fastest signals; be wary of "100% alpaca" garments priced like acrylic.

Is it better to buy at markets or certified stores?

Markets have better prices but more risk of synthetic blends; certified cooperatives guarantee origin at a higher price.

Can you negotiate prices in Cusco?

Yes, at markets it's normal and expected; at fixed-price stores, generally not.