Lima Shopping

The capital has the greatest variety of shopping in Peru, from tiny boutiques to artisan and antiques shops. Miraflores is where most shoppers congregate, although there are also several outlets in Lima Centro and elsewhere in the city. Most shops are open daily from 9:30am to 8:00pm, while smaller shops might be closed for lunch anytime between 12:30 and 3:00pm.

Miraflores is a very convenient district if you are searching for shops specializing in handicrafts, luxurious textiles, silver jewelry, and antiques. In particular, there's a little pedestrian-only passageway at Avenida La Paz 646 that's lined with well-stocked antiques shops, many displaying attractive religious art as well. Various shops on Avenida Larco, such as Kuna, sell high quality alpaca and vicuña products.

There are a number of markets for buying Peruvian souvenirs, jewelry, and attractive handicrafts along the Av. Petit Thouars in Miraflores. Reaching the markets is easy: it is just a short walk from Parque Kennedy. The biggest - and arguably best - of these is the Mercado Indio, a huge expanse of small to medium sized stalls selling everything Peruvian - sweaters, blankets, silver, and other handicrafts. The real attraction of these markets is their convenient location, competitive prices, and the selection might be even better than in the regions where the items are made. One exception is alpaca goods, which are better purchased in the areas around Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa, in terms of both price and selection. While goods might be a tad more costly than they are in other parts of the country, you can be sure that the local competition means you are getting more of a bargain that if you were to peruse other isolated artisan outlets. While the area is safe for shoppers, do look out for suspicious looking bills. If in doubt, ask for another bill in order to avoid being given counterfeit notes.

Dédalo, Paseo Saenz Peña 295, Barranco - Tel: +51 (01) 4770562

Feast your eyes at this artisan collective. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, this colorful gallery style shop is well worth the visit. Staged in an old refurbished house, a block away from the sea, it offers non-traditional Peruvian workmanship at its best. Here you will find beautiful handmade ceramics, blown glass, design-winning woodwork, stone carvings, and the latest in textile design, among other works of art on a world-class level. They have a nice coffee shop on the inside patio, a children’s toy area, handmade jewelry, and a permanent exhibition of unique objects made from recycled materials. There is no pressure to buy, so you can just wander at your leisure through the treasure-filled rooms.

Galería Lucia de la Puente, Paseo Sáenz Peña 206, Barranco - Tel: +51 (01) 4779740

This famous commercial gallery is known as “the” art center in Lima. Opened in 1995, its primary objective is to promote Peruvian artists with established careers as well as to encourage the insertion of young talents into the art scene. It is housed in an old, fully refurbished Barranco mansion. Huge rooms with tall walls reflect natural light into the space, offering the ideal environment to appreciate the great variety of works. The gallery, which comprises more than 830 square yards / 700 square meters of surface space, has several exhibition areas including a photography room and a Project Room.

Larcomar, Av. Malecón de la Reserva 610, Miraflores - Telf. +51 (01) 4457776

Located in Miraflores, along the Malecón and Parque Salazar (in front of the Marriott hotel), Larcomar is also one of the swankest malls in Lima, with a slew of restaurants, movie theaters, and upscale shops overlooking the ocean. It's open daily from 10am to 8pm.

The Jockey Plaza Shopping Center, Intersection of Javier Prado and Av. Panamericana Sur, Surco – Tel: +51 (01) 4374100

This is a modern American-style shopping mall - the newest, biggest, and best in Lima - with department stores, restaurants, movie theaters, a supermarket, and some 200 exclusive shops. Although there is a predominantly American brand presence here, prices are considerably higher than they are for the same products in the United States.