Cusco at the Market

Explore two of Cusco’s most distinctive markets, moving beyond surface-level browsing into conversation, context and culture. Your day begins at San Pedro Market, the city’s long-established central market — designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel’s workshop and still serving as a supply hub for locals. Here, aisles of Andean produce, cheeses, tubers, medicinal herbs, and prepared dishes sit alongside stalls of textiles, silverwork and crafts — a commercial ecosystem where Cusqueños shop, trade and share recipes. From there, you move to Centro Artesanal, a craft market where artisans sell and sometimes create on site. Yessika, an educator with local connections and credibility, facilitates exchanges with vendors, opening conversations for you about materials, techniques, meaning and personal stories. There is time to photograph the markets and purchase items from vendors and artisans, should you wish. You’ll discover a sense of community that makes your visit more personal and impactful.

Visiting San Pedro Market and Centro Artesanal with Yessika reframes Cusco’s markets as cultural archives. Her insider knowledge and connections help you see the products on display as objects of labor and lineage: potato varieties brought from nearby valleys, medicinal herbs still valued in traditional healing, alpaca textiles dyed and woven by hand, or ceremonial qeros cups carved from sacred wood. At San Pedro, the scale and structure of trade reflect local patterns of exchange - fresh juices and pan chuta sit beside medicinal remedies and street food that feed daily life. At Centro Artesanal, vendors often make items in real time, continuing craft traditions that anchor Andean identity while adapting to contemporary demand. Through conversations with these makers, you gain insights that are not otherwise visible. This experience positions you within the sounds, scents, flavors and textures of Andean markets – and the web of everyday trade shaping Cusco’s cultural landscape today.

Irish-born Daniel O’Shea and Peruvian-born Delsi Espinoza are the co-founders of an archaeology venture that contributes to the preservation of Cusco and the Sacred Valley's cultural heritage. The couple have teamed up on archaeological projects across Cusco's Southern and Sacred Valleys. For this experience, they place you in the safe hands of Yessika Espinoza, Delsi’s sister. A cultural expert and educator based in Cusco, Yessika is able to explain the intricacies of local dishes, focusing on ingredients, preparation methods, regional variations, and cultural significance while sharing personal stories. Additionally, Yessika is a source of knowledge on the work of local artisans, collaborating with them to highlight their crafts, including weaving, pottery, and jewelry making. Through her work, she promotes awareness and appreciation for Peru's cultural heritage, inspiring others to embrace the richness of the Andes.

Comfortable walking shoes. Depending on the time of year, you may require a sweater/jacket and sun protection. Carry Peruvian Soles in case you wish to purchase souvenirs at either market.