Pisac is more famous for its terraces. But the little town in the Sacred Valley is equally fascinating and also well known for its markets. The permanent stalls on the surrounding streets mostly sell cheap souvenir tat. But the main square comes alive every Sunday and Tuesday with stalls full of local produce to be bartered with people from neighbouring Quechuan villages. Loads of local artefacts, jewelery, alpaca yarn and produce. We saw varieties of corn and potato that we had never seen before! Touristy? Very! But colourful and charming if you are lucky enough to go on a less crowded day.
Stone frogs, Pisac town – Sacred Valley, Peru
Charming alley, Pisac town – Sacred Valley, Peru
Pisac Market – Sacred Valley, Peru
Pisac market
Some of the nearly 4000 varieties of potatoes to be found in the Andes!!
This post is in response to Ailsa’s travel challenge: Street Market
Check out other entries here
4,000 varieties of potatoes…wow! Great shots.
That’s not all, there are almost as many corn varieties and an incredible number of flora and fauna originated in Peru!
Great shots…
Thanks Ledrake
It is hard to believe there are 4,000 varieties of potatoes in the world, much less in one region alone … that blows me away. I love your second shot of that quaint little street … very humble, but charming. The cornerstone in your first shot is interesting as well. Another fine post, Madhu. I’ve come to expect no less. Great job!
Mindboggling isn’t it? And they tasted so much better than anything i have eaten before! Thanks Marcy, you are too kind
Wonderful photos, Madhu. Interesting and surprising about the potatoes.
Thank YOU for checking this out AD
Gorgeous! And the next best thing to being there, I am thinking, though it sure does make me want to actually BE there.
Thanks, Madhu.
Thank YOU Riba
Love the 3rd pic!
Glad you do Anne. Thank you
It looks a fascinating and colourful place.
It really was! Thank you Jo.
I like all the potatoes,
They tasted great as well
I really admire how much you have traveled, it keeps putting more places on my wish list! This year I have a small town in southern France to look forward to I can’t wait it is a small village and very traditional.
Oh, that sounds wonderful! I am sure you will have a great time!
Very cool post!
Thanks Hook
Really wonderful, Madhu, that alley shot is fantastic, and I am in awe of the potatoes. Coming from Ireland, I am all about potatoes
but had no idea Peru had such a diversity. Did you do the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu while you were there?
The Irish ones probably originated here
We did Machu Picchu of course, but did not do the Inca trail. Took the train up and spent a night at Aguas Calientes so we would have a little more time at MP. It was awesome!
I bet it was, my brother visited a few years ago and said it was incredible. So many places to see.
I love the colors of this market! Gorgeous! Great entry Madhu!
Thank you Nicole. Sunday is the main market day. We went on a tuesday, so there were fewer stalls, but it was less crowded as well
Love the colors!
The Quechua attire adds a lot more colour. Thanks for dropping by to comment.
oooh! I really like that alley shot! And how many varieties of potatoes??? Yum!
Thanks! Those potatoes were really yum!
Wow! There are so much history there Madhu! Great shot hon! Love the atmosphere you’ve captured when you took the shots. Really beautiful.
*hugs*
so glad to have you back Sonel! Hope all is well with you. Thank you for the visit and sweet comments
No complaints whatsoever hon. Good to see you as well and you are very welcome.
*hugs*
Great street market images.
Thanks Susan.
Magical, exciting, colorful Andes market. Just beautiful. I would like to try a few of the 4,000 potato varieties. Amazing.
Absolutely
Potatoes just don’t taste the same anywhere else!
wonderful shots Madhu you have captured the vibrant soul of the market so beautifully
Looks like a town in rainbow
Thank you Soma
Great pictures Madhu. This place is looking beautiful.
Thank you Arindam
fantastic photos madhu, so colourful and light!
Thank you Dadirri
I love these small cozy markets…
I love to wander around small markets too
Love those potato bags
Thanks Anette
Outstanding – great series of photos. I’d heard that about the potatoes when I was in Bolivia years ago – it’s crazy!
Thank you Aaron. The list of products that originated here is crazier! Quinoa, corn, tomato, avocado and even the sunflower!!! Will have to do a post on it some day
Wonderful photos!
Thank you Nandini
The Sacred Valley is on our upcoming PERU itinerary, and your pics have me TOO excited to wait!!! Hahaha
Oh, I wish I was coming with you! You will love it. Hope you are not rushing through on whirlwind tours.
This is the streetmarket where I would be happy to shop
A fantastic post Madhu!
Thanks Paula. I am not much of a shopper but the atmosphere in these markets is certainly marvellous! We did pick up a CD of Andean music though!
I enjoyed the photos of frogs and sidestreet as much as the markets.
Those are my favourite pictures too
Thank you for the visit and comment.
Beautiful post and pictures, Madhu! I was told that the potatoes were indeed originally from the Andes.
Thanks Malou! The potatoes and a whole lot more! See my comment above.
This week’s travel challenge is a tricky one, but I bet you’re up to it! xxx Ailsa http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/06/01/rhythm/
Rather belated response…hope I met the criteria
You most certainly did, Madhu, loved your shots, especially the potatoes!
Gorgeous gorgeous post!
Oh, thank you!
Amazing!
Thank you Ledia
You are very welcome.
Simple yet brilliantly written piece. What fascinates me most about your photography is its honesty and modesty. Lovely to have been here.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Happy to have you here
Lovely photos. I have been reading your posts for awhile now and you have travelled to so many places. How do you manage to go to all these lovely locations? SO lucky!
A bit of luck – that is always essential in life – but mostly hard work, research and planning, for the trip and to save up for it. Believe me you can do it too if you really WANT it enough.
I have been lucky to travel a fair bit lately, but living in China makes that easier. It is never enough though and just looking for some ‘secrets’ to make travel easier… but yes if we all had a money tree in our back yards life would be easier
I never knew there existed so many varieties of potatoes! Love the colorful,vibrant shots!
Neither did I, before I started planning this trip
See my comment above for the number of other things that originated here! Peru is an amazing country! I do ppreciate your visit and comment 
I always want to back a bag grab my passport and get on the next plane!
when I have visited your world of blogging!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you…..
Take Care…
)0(
maryrose