Gran Feria Artesenal

Location
Huanchaco, Peru

Shopping

By Rachael Diagle

For a town that hosts thousands of national and international tourists year round, there's not much shopping to be done in Huanchaco. The largest collection of souvenirs in one spot is at the Gran Feria Artesenal on La Riviera.

Compared to the artesenal markets in larger Peruvian cities, this one may be a bit disappointing in terms of size. In fact, if you're not looking for it, it's certainly possible to miss it altogether as the entrance from the street is a small understated door in a larger complex that includes Western Union and several restaurants.

Typical wares include t-shirts and leather sandals, jewelry and key chains, purses and knick-knacks. The nearly two dozen booths all sell virtually identical merchandise, but the market does have two advantages over other shopping areas off the beach.

First is its proximity to the only ATM in town, which happens to be just out front, and second is its beachside restaurant, which is the only restaurant in Huanchaco that is located directly on the beach rather than across the street from it. The menu is typical Peruvian seafood, but the majority of the clientele is more interested in sipping ice cold Inka Cola and Pilsen Trujillo while watching the beach scene than having a bite to eat.