June 28th, 2006 | The lowdown by Bryan Fox

Souvenirs, Anyone?

Most people spend their time and money at the artesan markets in Cusco, but a fact the people there won't tell you is that things can be had for 10-20% less at very similar markets in Lima. The markets, and there are hoards of them, are all congregated around the area of Avenida Petit Thouars in Miraflores.

Oddly enough, I found that the original prices the vendors quote you are not that far from the prices they really intend to get. This in contrast to other parts of the undeveloped world where handicrafts are sold, like Morocco, where the first price they will quote you for a carpet is literally 500% more than they expect to actually get. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood to bargain too much, but in many cases the prices were actually tagged on the items themselves, so I don't think I was being taken for (too much of) a ride. Paying in cash, and paying in dollars, can help shave a bit off the final cost. And negotiating is obviously a skilled some have honed better than others. Go late in the day on a weekday and they'll be more willing to deal-at the end of a slow day's work, everybody wants to go home with a little cash in their pocket.