Shopping in Trujillo

Trujillo doesn’t have much to interest potential shoppers, unless you need eyeglasses; Calle Bolivar is loaded with opticians. For a taste of what shopping means to most Trujillo natives, check out the sprawling street mercado that operates daily along Avenida Los Incas.

It’s one of the more unruly (and headache-inducing) markets in Peru, with vendors struggling to be heard over the incessant sounds of car horns. The market stretches across several blocks and spreads out into the street, selling an unending variety of vegetables, fish, and household items; there are even carts full of charcoal.

Most visitors will be better off shopping in Huanchaco. Artesania del Norte, Los Olivos 504 (tel. 044/461-220), has some of the coolest exclusive ceramics designs in Peru. They’ll ship pieces to your home if you can’t limit yourself to just one. The mercado de artesania fronting the beach in Huanchaco has a number of stalls and is also an excellent place for jewelry, including pieces made with the sought-after blue stone lapis lazuli.