1.- INTRODUCTION TO THE SOUVENIRS FROM PERU
Souvenirs from Peru are not only objects of your visit, they are unique pieces made with ancient techniques that represent in a physical way the cultural heritage that has been inherited for generations in Peru. Each of these handcrafted pieces are shown in many forms such as textiles, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry and other forms of artistic expression. When a traveler buys one of the souvenirs from Peru, he takes with him a piece of Peruvian art history and contributes to the economic balance of these master artisans who have dedicated much of their lives to refining their style.
Although the best souvenirs from Peru are elaborated in different regions, the styles are mainly characterized by coming from places like Cusco, Ayacucho, Puno and other towns of the High Andean region. Each one presents a different style of souvenirs from Peru, in this way it is understood that all souvenirs from Peru are samples of the living history that still remains in the people.
2.- POPULAR SOUVENIRS FROM PERU
2.1.- Alpaca and Llama Wool Products
Undoubtedly the must have souvenirs from Peru that you can get during your trip are the garments made from alpaca wool, from sweaters, scarves, hats and blankets, as such there is no limit to creativity. It is easy to find these souvenirs from Peru in craft markets, mainly located in Cusco and in the sacred valley, one of its main features is that they are quite light and hypoallergenic which makes them ideal for people who have some kind of allergy. Naturally there are different qualities of these souvenirs from Peru, the finest is made from the first cut of alpaca also known as baby alpaca and is extremely soft, while from the second cut is considered as adult alpaca and is coarser. The best way to recognize it is by touch, it is usually cold and slightly greasy.
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2.2.- Traditional Andean Textiles
Some of the popular souvenirs from Peru are textiles made 100% by hand, this is due to a cultural technique that has been inherited for generations in artisan villages, the most popular being the village of Chinchero located in the Sacred Valley. From these textiles you can get multiple products such as tablecloths, table covers, placemats and even pillowcases. The special thing about these souvenirs from Peru is that inside you can appreciate iconography and details that are personalized by the master artisans, most of them are women who have learned this weaving method and keep it alive until today. They are really hypnotizing patterns of multiple colors that will make you adore them to the point that you could even change the color of the paint in your house just to match them perfectly.
2.3.- Chullo Hats
You don’t have to think twice, this is one of the best souvenirs from Peru that you can find during your trip. It simulates the appearance of a normal hat but with the distinctive feature of having earflaps and two small ribbons with which you can ring it under the chin. This kind of souvenirs from Peru. It is made with alpaca, sheep or even Vicuña fiber depending on the quality, but it stands out for the bright colors and patterns it contains. This garment is extremely useful when you visit places with unthinkable heights as is the case of the rainbow mountain, Colca Canyon or if you are an adventurer and decide to dare to meet the challenge of the Salkantay valley. The most frequent way in which these popular souvenirs from Peru are displayed are in tiny sizes commonly used as keychains or even to cover the cap of a bottle.
2.4.- Jewelry and accessories
There are also other must have souvenirs from Peru that you can get mainly in places like the Sacred Valley and Cusco, thanks to the rich minerals that are carried in these regions it is possible to create beautiful pieces of jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, rings and many other forms. Made with gold and silver you can find many options with Andean elements, mainly highlights the Chacana or Andean cross, the hummingbird, the sun, the moon and others. Usually these pieces of jewelry are mixed with unique stones such as crystals, quartz, obsidian and various minerals.
2.5.- Ceramics and pottery
The elaboration of ceramics has been part of the daily activities of multiple cultures throughout history, for this reason its technique has been inherited for generations and resulted in unique pieces that today are considered souvenirs from Peru. They exist in different types and shapes depending on the region you visit but all of them have in common the fact that they are handmade by master artisans. Of these souvenirs from Peru clearly highlights the Pukara Bulls that are the representation of two bulls carrying various elements, these represent the duality of man and woman as a couple, while the elements that accompany it symbolizes the abundance that can be achieved with mutual effort, however there are also other versions such as plates, cups, pots and everything you can imagine.
3.- OTHER SOUVENIRS FROM PERU
3.1.- Paintings
One of the most common souvenirs from Peru that you can find are undoubtedly the works of art on canvas and being able to take one of these home to look at it every day will bring to your mind the beautiful memories of your stay in Peru. Popularly these paintings recreate the daily life of people in the Andes and other parts of the country, essentially images of women in typical dress, traditional villages and representations of unique places like Machu Picchu. Although many are exhibited in galleries, there is also the option of being able to get them from street vendors who offer their work directly to visitors walking the streets.
SMALL DETAILS THAT CHANGED HISTORY
“Something particular that very few people know about Peruvian Pisco is that its origin was an accident, during the colonial era it was common to see how the landowners consumed a lot of wine and in the search for a similar taste the slaves began to keep the small grapes in containers under the ground which over time caused its fermentation in a liquid with a pleasant and cloying taste, thus giving rise to Pisco.”
3.2.- Musical instruments
One of the most important cultural samples is undoubtedly music, it is for this reason that many of the souvenirs from Peru reflect its practice being designed to recreate multiple sounds, with the passage of history and music as such has had Andean, Spanish and African influence. It is common to find items such as wooden flutes, panpipes, quenas, drums and charangos in craft markets such as San Pedro, Pisaq and Ollantaytambo.
3.3.- Pisco
For years Peru and Chile have had a very big dispute over this drink, however it has been completely proven that pisco is Peruvian due to the history that surrounds it. This is an alcoholic drink with sweet tones which makes it pleasant to the palate and works as an aperitif that can help to whet the appetite. Pisco is a drink that you must try during your trip because its flavor is not compared to anything in the world, if you visit any artisan market you can find presentations of its bottle with Andean aspects.
3.4.- Coca candy
The coca leaf has long been classified as an element that provides natural energy to the human body, however not all people can consume it in this way for this reason thanks to the creativity of Peruvian entrepreneurs this derivative was developed that can be consumed as a normal candy and provides the same amount of energy.
The goal of the trip is not only to reach the destination, it is also to get a souvenirs from Peru that will make you remember the trip for the rest of your life. Auri Peru has the best options for you to visit incredible destinations where you will find many souvenirs from Peru that you will love, contact us now to get help from our experienced and expert designers.
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