San Blas

Peru Tourist Guide
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SOUTHERN PERU:
Cusco: Cusco City Sacsayhuaman, Kenko and Tambo Machay The Sacred Valley Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village) Machu Picchu (The Site) Inca Trail Treks around Cusco Manu Reserve (Jungle) Tambopata Reserve (Jungle) Salkantay Choquequirao Lares Ausengate Rafting San Blas

The barrio of San Blas, the streets right around the Plaza de Armas (particularly calles Plateros and Triunfo), and Plaza Regocijo are the best and most convenient haunts for shopping outings. Many merchants sell similar merchandise, so some price comparison is always helpful. If sellers think you've just arrived in Peru and don't know the real value of items, your price is guaranteed to be higher. Although bargaining is acceptable and almost expected, merchants in the center of Cusco are confident of a steady stream of buyers, and, as a result, they are often less willing to negotiate than their counterparts in markets and more out-of-the-way places in Peru. Most visitors will find prices delightfully affordable, though, and haggling beyond what you know is a fair price, when the disparity of wealth is so great, is generally viewed as bad form.

San Blas is swimming with art galleries, artisan workshops, and ceramics shops. You'll stumble upon many small shops dealing in reproduction Escuela Cusqueña religious paintings and many workshops where you can watch artisans in action. Several of the best ceramics outlets are also here, and a small handicrafts market usually takes over the plaza on Saturday afternoon.

Several artists in the San Blas area open their studios as commercial ventures, although some of these can be fairly expensive for the opportunity to watch a painter paint. Look for flyers in cafes and restaurants in San Blas, if you're interested.
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