Lima is a good place to buy traditional Peruvian handicrafts. Miraflores has several handicraft shops around Avenida La Paz or in the large emporia on Avenida Petit Thouars 53-54, a block from the Miraflores roundabout. One of the best is Kuntur Wasi, Calle Ocharan 182, which has an English-speaking owner. Antisuyo, Javier Tacna 460, Miraflores, is an indigenous cooperative that sells pottery from all over Peru. A good place for fine crafts and indigenous painting is Agua y Tierra, Javier Diez Canseco 298, Miraflores.

Alpaca III, Avenida Larco 671, Miraflores, with other branches throughout the city, has a fine selection of woven or knitted alpaca goods, as does Inkantations, Avenida Larco 1180, Miraflores. All these shops offer a whole range of silver and gold artefacts, locally made woven textiles, alpaca sweaters, ponchos, rugs, coats and blankets.

Prices are similar to those paid in the Andes. Lima also specialises in arpilleras, native pictures of typical Peruvian life, made by local women. Miraflores has a daily crafts market in Parque Kennedy, open 1700-2300. Lima's biggest crafts market is Feria Artesanal, Avenida La Marina and Avenida Sucre in Pueblo Libre. It is open daily 1200-2000, sprawling along Avenida La Marina from the sixth to the 10th block.

For more up-to-date, and international, shopping, visitors should head to the modern Ripley department store on Parque Kennedy, Miraflores and also at Calle Las Begonias 577, San Isidro. Lima's best bookstore, Librería Crisol, can be found in Ovalo Gutierrez, Miraflores.

Nearby is the US-style shopping mall Larco Mar, with ten-pin bowling, a multiplex cinema, snack bars, restaurants, discos and live music. The mall is situated right on the cliffs overlooking the sea. The biggest shopping mall, Jockey Plaza, Avenida Prado Este, Surco, has many top designer shops, such as Guess, Benetton and Tommy Hilfiger.

On the whole, shops are open Monday to Saturday 0930-1230 and 1500-2000, with many shops open Sunday with restricted hours. At present there is no tourist rebate on the 18% sales tax, unless goods are bought at the international departure lounge of Jorge Chavez Airport.