Polvos Azules “shopping center” started back in the 1980s when informal street merchants took over a parking lot behind the Post Office in the city center next to the Government Palace. The place owed his name to Colonial times, when it was the block where powdered indigo was sold. So very soon the rag-bag of stalls was only known as Polvos Azules and the busiest market in Lima. Here you could find almost everything for amazingly low prices; some of it was name-brand, some fake, some stolen, some legitimate, some contraband. Polvos Azules was a filthy place attracting not only bargain shoppers, but also crooks and criminal.

With the shaping up of Lima’s city center in the late 1990s a market like Polvos Azules wasn’t welcome anymore in historic downtown and after a few battles hundreds of informal merchants moved with all their goods and the name Polvos Azules indoors to its current location. While many see in Polvos Azules still the “official black market” of Lima, this isn’t correct. Polvos Azules might be even today a cluster of numerous small stores, spread over three floors, but it has all necessary permissions and is frequented by all social classes. One thing that didn’t change: it continues to offer bargains.

In Polvos Azules you can find hundreds of stores offering clothes, shoes, sports gear including running shoes and trekking boots, backpacks, bags, toys and perfumes. Well known is Polvos Azules as well for their wide range of electronic equipments. You get among many other things TVs, MP3 and MP4 players, Playstation, Wii’s, CD and DVD players, cell phones, all sorts of accessory and of course (mostly pirated) music CDs and movie DVD. Polvos Azules is a great place to make a snatch and ideal for people who like this kind of shopping experience. But be careful not to be ripped off. And as it’s quite crowded any time, leave your valuables at home and keep your money safe.

Once being one of the most luxurious streets in Lima, the Av. Wilson, or Av. Garcilaso de la Vega as it’s called today, is heavily congested by buses and cars. Anyhow on block 11 and 12 computer enthusiasts find a small heaven. Within some sort of a shopping complex hundreds of small and bigger stores sell all kind of computer hard- and software. Additionally you find all accessories needed. A great place for bargain shoppers as long as you know a thing or two about computers.

In Wilson you can buy among many other things complete new or used computers and laptops, screens, printers as well as computer parts, equipments and fittings. Most of the products might surely be name-brand and legitimate, but some might probably be fake or contraband. Therefore take care not to be ripped off. Wilson is also well-known for its mostly pirated computer software, games and movie DVDs. Just flip through one of the bulky folders or ask for a special program or movie and within minutes you get your “copy”. Around the shopping center and behind it on Calle Rufino Torrico there a more shops selling CDs, DVDs and printer accessories. It’s also a good place to get things printed out in all formats and sizes.

Located in the heart of La Victoria is Gamarra, Lima’s clothes district. Approx. 20,000 small to middle size shops are spread over 20 blocks. The main shopping area can be found at block 6 to 10 of Prolongacion Gamarra, which is closed for traffic and the surrounding smaller streets.

Gamarra combines a cluster of small stores with modern shopping malls. Here you can find literally everything regarding local and imported fabrics, Peruvian made clothing and accessory for sewing and needlework. Gamarra is a great place to buy casual wear, stunning evening gowns and everything in between for men, women and children. But unfortunately it’s so big, for European and North American minds unorganized and crowded especially in the afternoons that it might take a while until you find the really good quality stuff. Gamarra has been shaped up in the last years and watchmen are on duty the whole day. Anyhow we would recommend leaving all valuables at home and carry your money close to you. Opportunity makes a thief.