Mercado Central

Location:
Calle Cascaparo s/n, Cercado del Cusco
Cusco, Peru

Market

By Rachael Daigle

Located across from San Pedro train station a few block southwest of the Plaza de Armas, is one-stop shopping for the traveler with both a grocery list and limited needs in the souvenir department. Though the Mercado Central is largely dedicated to sales of fruits, vegetables, meats and bread, there are a few vendors hawking artisanal goods to tourists who wander through the aisles. For practical goods, like socks or batteries, the Mercado Central gets the job done, although the range of goods is infinitesimal compared to shopping at Mercado Mollina. And like most markets in Peru, the Mercado Central has plenty of cheap and typical local eats for the traveler with a sense of adventure and an iron stomach.

Travel Tips: Few craft products; mostly produce and street meat vendors.

Relative price: Free

Days Closed:7 days a week

Travel Skills: None