Traditional Pisac Handicraft Market

The Pisac Market in the Sacred Valley

The Pisac market is located 40 minutes from the city of Cusco in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the picturesque town of Pisac; this town has become very popular and has grown enormously; in this traditional town, you can find not only the archaeological site but also its beautiful handicraft market; but why is the Pisac market so popular and what can you find there?

What is the Pisac Market?

The Pisac market is the most famous and crowded in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Its fame is mainly due to the colorful stalls where all kinds of products are offered, from fruit, vegetables, sophisticated alpaca garments, or silver jewelry. On Sundays, people come from various places to provide their products, which makes the market much bigger and more colorful.

How did the Pisac Market originate?

For many years the town of Pisac had great agricultural importance; the fertile lands of the valley, bathed by the Urubamba river and the terraces built on the mountain, were used to grow corn, quinoa, potatoes, quiwicha, etc.

At the time of the conquest, Pisac was destroyed in the early 1530s; the current city of Pisac was built in the valley by orders of Viceroy Toledo in the 1570s. The chronicles of the conquest, after this, this colorful town, show that the central square soon became an important commercial area and then the market that is known today.

What the Pisac Market looks like today.

Today, the Pisac market is a sea of wooden stalls placed haphazardly and close together. Most of it is located in the Plaza de Armas of Pisac, but it extends to the small streets.

Visit Pisac in the middle of the week. You may not find many vendors, you may only find handicraft vendors, but if you arrive on the day of the domain, known as “ferial” day, you will find many vendors, where you can find delicious organic fruits and vegetables, you can even find some concoctions, which are inherited from the time of the Incas.

Can I buy handicrafts in Pisac?

The handicraft section of the market is full of items related to the Inca culture; it can be the ideal place to buy gifts and souvenirs. You will find hand-woven products of fine alpaca fiber and some unique jewelry pieces; remember that bargaining is allowed in this market.

Is there food in Pisac?

At this fair, you will be able to enjoy delicious dishes; most things look lovely, but be careful; not all the stalls are so hygienic.

At this fair, you will find traditional foods such as corn, “rocoto,” a kind of scorching bell pepper; also try the Pacay, an “unusual” fruit it looks like a massive pea on the outside, with a sweet, refreshing, and delicious white fruit, which resembles a piece of cotton.

How do I get to the Pisac market?

If you want to travel to Pisac on your own, you must take a vehicle from Puputi street; from here, cars leave for 4 to 7 soles. However, you can also take private vehicles that cost 30 to 50 soles.

If you want a more comfortable trip to Pisac, Kondor Path tours have tourist packages of 1 or several days. We can include a guided visit to Pisac.

Where is the Pisac market located?

The market is located in one of the corners of the main square of the town of Pisac, a few steps from the main highway leading to the city of Cusco.

What do they sell in the Pisac market?

Handicrafts in the Pisac Market. – In the market, dozens of handicraft stalls offer backpacks, purses, bags, sweaters, scarves, gloves, tapestries, ponchos, chullos, hats, and other similar products made of alpaca, llama, and Andean motifs. It is also possible to purchase musical instruments, masks, ceramics, vases, cups, and utensils made with Inca designs. It is worth mentioning that in the Pisac market, it is possible to appreciate how artisans make silver jewelry with multicolored Andean themes.

Traditional Food in the Pisac Market. – The Pisac market is also famous for its Peruvian food stalls where it is possible to taste at low cost some famous dishes such as ceviche, Lomo Saltado, baked guinea pig, huancaína potato, fried trout, and much more.

In the town, some restaurants offer Mediterranean food, cafes, bars, and pastry shops. Remember that Peruvian gastronomy is considered one of the best in the world. Take your chance to taste the most traditional dishes in the country.

Organic fruits and vegetables at the Pisac market. – The Pisac market gathers merchants from different towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, offering fruits, vegetables, and other edible products.

Especially on Sundays, the square is crowded with traders who usually wear colorful costumes. It is an excellent opportunity to get to know some Andean products such as chuño, oca, quinoa, broad beans, blueberries, kiwi, Camu Camu, and white corn from Urubamba (considered the largest in Peru).

How much does it cost to visit the Pisac market?

The visit to the Pisac market is free of charge.

The visit to this traditional village is part of the “Sacred Valley of the Incas” 1-day tour, which costs approximately US$70.

The tour also offers visits to the archaeological site of Pisac, the town and archaeological site of Chinchero, Urubamba, and the city and the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo.

Other tourist attractions that you can find in Pisac

The archaeological site of Pisac – In the 15th century, the Incas built a citadel and a large-scale Inca temple high in the mountains of Pisac.

This construction consists of enclosures, temples, platforms, cemeteries, small plazas, barracks, towers, and much more.

The archaeological park covers 9,063 hectares. The visit to this site costs 70 Peruvian soles (Cusco Tourist Ticket). This price includes visiting the archaeological sites of Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Moray.

Pisac Botanical Garden – The Felipe Marin Moreno Botanical and Cactus Garden safeguards the diversity of the Sacred Valley of the Incas flora.

There are several flowers and trees, such as orchids, medicinal herbs, trees of different species, and native plants. However, the cactus species are the most notable.

There is also an exhibition of insects and butterflies. The shop is located in an old colonial house in Pisac. Felipe Marín Moreno is a tribute to the project’s initiator.

Pisac’s Schedule

The Pisac market is open from Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Pisac market offers some typical products of Cusco. Do not miss the opportunity to drink the delicious chicha de jora (fermented corn) or Frutilla da (fermented corn with essences of other fruits). Both drinks are trendy among the local population.

The Pisac market is famous for its stalls where goldsmiths work Peruvian silver to make jewelry, earrings, bracelets, pendants, etc. For this reason, jewelry prices can be lower than in other handicraft markets in Cusco.

What handicrafts can I find in Pisac?

In the surrounding area, there are cobblestone streets, with several stores offering a variety of handicrafts from the site. The textile products made of alpaca wool and dyed with bright colors stand out.

Here the tourist can buy or observe the great variety of indigenous products from the hand of the region’s artisans. You can also find traditional foods and beverages, such as the popular Chicha de Jora, made from the fermentation of corn.

And if you have a little more time, you can take the opportunity to explore the Inca fountain and stroll through the picturesque village.