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Finding amazing deals in Lima is an easy thing to do. From beautiful handicrafts to jewelry to clothing, there are plenty of stores and markets throughout the city to satisfy your shopping appetite.
The first time I went to Lima, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Tales circulated around my friends about their shopping expeditions and the things that they were used to bringing home. Knowing that many counterfeit items are sold, I wanted to stay away from these so that I would not experience any trouble when re-entering the United States.
Walking behind some passengers to the airplane, I was listening in on their conversation. Our was relating a story about being there the week before and at a store that had piles of a particular kind of expensive type of clothing that my boys like to wear for ridiculously low prices. Securing directions from him, I decided I had to check this out!
Walking up and down Avenue Jose Larco, I must have passed the store many times. Finally, after asking for directions in my broken Spanish, I finally realized exactly where the store was located.
Entering the store, I looked around and realized that with the piles of clothing everywhere, there was no way I was going to find what I was looking for. I suddenly understood why the passengers kept referring to this store as “The Dig”.
Whipping out my cellphone, I scrolled through my pictures and found some of the type of clothing I was looking for. Smiling, the lady took me over to a table with shirts stacked very neatly by size and style. Pulling as many different styles and sizes that I could, I walked away with a nice assortment (nineteen to be exact!) of t-shirts and polo-type shirts for both my boys and husband. Getting them back to my hotel room and into the suitcase was another feat but seeing how excited they were when I showed them my haul, it was worth the effort!
Just recently, I went back to Lima with the intention of re-visiting La Quinta. Hoping that the store still carried the same brand, I made sure that I had my credit card handy and held my breath as I entered.
At the same table, there were more styles and sizes than during my previous visit, though still neatly folded and separated by size and style. Sorting through each pile, the salesgirl, put them aside for me until I was finished with the t-shirts. Asking about the polo-type shirts, I was disheartened to find that the ones she had available were not quite what I was looking for, but instantly brightened when she showed me the three-quarter zip pullovers…a little more pricey, but worth the heavily discounted price.
These shirts are made for an American company in Peru and are irregular items that do not make the cut for excellent production standards. Checking each piece for marks, cuts and overall quality, I finally had her write my ticket so that I could go to the cashier’s stand to pay for the purchases. I all-but-dragged my bulging bag back to my hotel four blocks away!
Once in my room, I re-inspected each piece and discovered that I had two incorrect sizes. Back to the store I went, and exchanged the pieces for the correct sizes. Deciding to look around a bit more, I discovered another table selling another popular brand of t-shirts and with much excitement I discovered that, at the rear of the store, there was another seller with the polo-type shirts that I had been looking for earlier.
Paying for my purchases, I took my receipts to each of the sellers, collected my bags and once again made the trip back to my hotel to begin loading my suitcase.
Getting so many shirts into a suitcase already half full of my own clothes was certainly a challenge and I had to expand it to its largest size as well as borrow space in my tote and also unfold and use my Longchamps purse.
Having to check my suitcase for my flight back to Richmond and add extra time to my travels claiming my bag upon arrival was a bit of pain, especially after being up all night, but seeing the look of excitement on my family’s faces was priceless!
A whole new wardrobe for a fraction of the price..heck..I might have to go back each season!
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La Quinta
- Address: Av. Larco , Miraflores – Lima – Perú
- Getting There: Walk north on Av. Jose Larco from Calle Schell. Pass the next street Av. Ernesto Diez Canseco and La Quinta is on your left. Directly across the street from Parque Kennedy and the Parroquia Virgen Milagrosa.