Peru’s open-air markets full of superfoods and fresh produce are one of the things I love most about this surprising country! They are the lively centers of every neighborhood, buzzing with activity, interaction, and commerce. It’s the place where many locals make a living – support them!
On every aisle of the best markets in Cusco, you’ll find products from local farms in every color of the rainbow – oranges, bananas, broccoli, carrots, coffee, quinoa, chocolate, beans, bell peppers, oregano, chia seeds, peanuts, maca powder, zucchini, wheat berries, corn, potatoes, mangoes, papayas + lots of foods you’ve never heard of before. These are the building blocks of Peru’s world-class cuisine!
Walk a little further, and you might even get to a hardware store, seamstress, locksmith, Andean souvenirs, freshly cooked meals, clothes, bags, school supplies, plants, and more!
Here are the 6 best markets to visit in Cusco:
Best Markets in Cusco
1.- Vinocanchón
This market is on the southern end of the city (the furthest from the historical center) just before exiting the city limits. It’s one of the biggest and most well-stocked in town, the lifeblood for individual families, restaurants, and small shops in this half of Cusco. This place has lots of things for sale besides produce! It’s likely you won’t see another foreigner while you’re there – it’s a traditional market!
2.- Ccascaparo
Ccascaparo is like the Vinocanchón of north Cusco. It’s large, traditional, well-stocked, and sells in bulk. This one’s right in the historical center, near San Pedro market and the Paraíso shopping center. A driveable street runs right through the middle of it, and unofficial vendors will often sit along the road selling their goods. This market is more fresh produce and fewer other products as it’s the central market that supplies smaller markets around town.
3.- San Pedro
San Pedro market is another one of the best markets in Cusco, Peru, that you should visit! It’s just a short walk from Cusco’s main square and is a great introduction to the market culture of Peru. This one is geared more toward visitors than locals. You’ll find extensive souvenirs, fresh juice, hot meal sections, and a great aisle of local coffee and chocolate for sale, plus beautiful flowers. This one skips the hardware stores, shoe repair kiosks, and similar conveniences offered by some markets to focus on more tourist-friendly initiatives.
Here’s a map to get you there!
4.- Wanchaq
The Wanchaq market near the Avenida El Sol in the historical center is a good mixture of local and tourist traffic. They have all the products you could want and are known to be the best market to buy fresh fish and seafood brought in from the coast. This market in Cusco also has an amazing food court serving local dishes, as well as convenient services like hardware stores, locksmiths, watchmakers, and shoemakers, as well as some clothes and a few souvenirs.
5.- Ttio
The Ttio market is in a local neighborhood, and it’s one of the most beautiful! It’s a tall building with columns lining the front but with an open-air feel on the inside. Like the Wanchaq market, they have an extensive food court with meals and fresh juices. Don’t expect too many extra services in this market, but there could be a thing or two. I feel like this is the cleanest and most spaciously organized of markets in Cusco, and the colors of the products make it extremely picturesque!
6.- San Blas
The San Blas market is located in the tourist neighborhood of the same name, in the historic center of Cusco, Peru. It is considered one of the oldest and most popular markets in the city. Inside, you will notice a colorful atmosphere, where you will find a great variety of local products: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, and handmade products, among others. There are also Andean products: quinoa, maca, and kiwicha, very popular in Peruvian gastronomy. A visit to this market is one of the best things to do in Cusco.
In Conclusion…
You can’t go wrong with any of these gorgeous, bustling markets! Honestly, spending some time just walking around and watching as life happens around you in these markets in Cusco is one of the best things you can do in Peru! It’ll boost your Spanish skills, too. Instead of heading to the supermarket, hop on over to one of the extremely unique markets in Cusco, and get to know the country through your sense of taste!
P.S. – Be sure to go zero-waste and bring your reusable shopping bag!
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