Before you try to take certain replica souvenirs out of Peru, you need to be aware of laws and processes regarding the exportation of various artifacts.

Firstly, any authentic item belonging to Peru’s Cultural Heritage of the Nation is strictly protected by Peruvian law, which clearly forbids the unauthorized commercialization and exportation of such items. These items include -- but are not limited to -- genuine historic artifacts such as ceramics, jewelry, textiles and fossils.

If you purchase replicas of any such items, for example reproduction Moche ceramics or replica Inca textiles, you’ll need to prove their replica status when leaving Peru.

A receipt of purchase or other document from the original vendor or artisan will not suffice. In order to avoid problems when exiting Peru, be it by land, air or sea, you’ll need to obtain a "Certificate of property not belonging to the Cultural Heritage of the Nation for purposes of export" (“Certificado de bienes no pertenecientes al Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación para fines de exportación”).

You can obtain this certificate from the Peruvian Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura). Along with the certificate, you’ll also need two photos of each replica and a photocopy of your passport. You’ll also have to pay S/.5.00 nuevos soles per item. Once received, the certificate is valid for 45 days.

You can find Ministry of Culture control modules (look for the Módulo del Ministerio de Cultura) at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport and at the Tumbes, Puno and Tacna overland border crossing points.

Here items are checked, verified as replicas and returned to their owners, at which point they can be safely taken out of Peru.

If Ministry of Culture experts deem an item to be an authentic artifact belonging to the Cultural Heritage of Peru, they will confiscate it.

References:

Ministerio de Cultura -- Fiscalización y Control / Recuperaciones

www.mincetur.gob.pe -- Salida del Perú