Destinos

San Pedro Market in Cusco

Por Fredy Huaman

January 14, 2026

The San Pedro Market is the oldest and most traditional market in the city of Cusco. It is not just a place for commerce, but a living space of history, Andean culture, and local gastronomy, frequented by both locals and travelers from all over the world.

Where is San Pedro Market?

San Pedro Market is located in the San Pedro neighborhood, just a few blocks from Cusco’s historic center, outside the busiest tourist circuit, making it an authentic experience.

This market primarily serves the local population, reflected in the variety of products and affordable prices. Here you can see the real Cusco: Andean women in traditional clothing, farmers offering fresh products, and local kitchens preserving recipes passed down through generations.

From an urban perspective, the market is:

Approximately 700 meters from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas
Very close to El Sol Avenue, one of the main streets of the city
In front of the San Pedro Church, the colonial temple that gives the neighborhood its name
Just a few steps from the San Pedro Train Station, a key point for trips to Machu Picchu

How to get there from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas

On foot

Time: 10–13 minutes

From the Plaza de Armas, take Mantas Street, continue along El Sol Avenue, turn right onto Tupac Amaru Street, walk 2 blocks until you reach the market.

By taxi

Time: 5 minutes

Approximate cost: S/.7.00 ($3.00)

Exact address and map location

Tupac Amaru Street s/n, Cusco – Peru

District: Cusco

Traditional San Pedro neighborhood

Location:

700 meters southwest of the Plaza de Armas, in front of San Pedro Church, very close to the San Pedro Train Station.

San Pedro Market Opening Hours

Every day

From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Some stalls (juices and breakfast) open from 5:30 a.m.

Best time to visit

7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Ideal for breakfast, seeing the market in full activity, and taking photographs.

Avoid: hours close to closing time if you want to see everything open.

What to buy at San Pedro Market

Handicrafts, textiles, and alpaca clothing
Chullos (Andean hats), scarves, and gloves
Andean ponchos
Alpaca sweaters and shawls

Prices are lower than shops in the historic center.

Coffee, chocolate, and local products

Organic coffee from La Convención Valley
Artisanal Cusco chocolate
Quinoa, cañihua, kiwicha
Natural honey and dried fruits

Medicinal plants and esoteric products

Andean herbs for teas (muña, anise, lemon verbena)
Traditional medicinal plants
Amulets, incense, and products used in Andean rituals

Gastronomy: What to eat at San Pedro Market

Fresh fruit juice stalls

Papaya, pineapple, mango, strawberry juices
Energy juice blends

Approximate cost: S/. 7.00 – S/. 12.00 ($4.00)

Typical Cusco dishes

Hen soup (Caldo de gallina)
Head soup (Caldo de cabeza)
Lomo saltado
Noodles and homemade dishes

Ideal for travelers who want to try authentic local food.

Approximate cost: S/. 12.00 – S/. 15.00 ($5.00)

Pan chuta and regional cheeses

Pan chuta (traditional bread from Oropesa)
Fresh Andean cheeses
Artisanal yogurt

Approximate cost: S/. 5.00 – S/. 17.00 ($5.00)

Tips for visiting the market

Safety and caring for your belongings

Wear your backpack in front
Avoid showing valuables
The market is safe but very busy

Bargaining and prices

Bargaining is accepted, especially for handicrafts. Be respectful; a smile often gets better prices.

For food, prices are fixed.

History and architecture of San Pedro Market

Pre-Hispanic and colonial background

Since Inca times, the area where the market now stands was a place of exchange and transit. In pre-Hispanic Cusco, trade took place in open plazas through bartering products from different regions of the Tahuantinsuyo: the highlands, coast, and jungle.

During the colonial period, this dynamic continued. The San Pedro neighborhood became a popular commercial area, close to major roads and religious spaces, such as the San Pedro Church, built in the 16th century. Trade took place in plazas and streets, without fixed infrastructure or adequate sanitary conditions.

Creation of the modern market (20th century)

At the beginning of the 20th century, Cusco authorities promoted urban modernization, aiming to organize commerce, improve hygiene, and provide the city with public infrastructure according to contemporary standards.

San Pedro Market was inaugurated in 1925
It became the first formal and covered market in Cusco
Its construction responded to the need to concentrate popular commerce in a single organized space, which continues to this day.

Gustave Eiffel’s design in Cusco

The architectural design of the market follows the industrial and functional style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by the use of iron, spacious areas, and natural lighting.

Traditionally, the market’s design is attributed to the French engineer Gustave Eiffel, famous for the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

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