Must-see shopping in South America

  • El Cacaotal

    Lima

    A sustainable chocolate shop with delicious bars and connoisseur expertise. It's the perfect opportunity to appease friends and family back home, and it…

  • Instituto Ata

    São Paulo

    Brazil's most famous gourmet chef, Alex Atala of D.O.M. fame, is behind this expansive gourmet emporium featuring provisions from small farms and…

  • CRAB

    Rio de Janeiro

    One of Rio's best new handicraft stores stocks an exquisite collection of pieces from every corner of Brazil. You'll find ceramics with pre-Columbian…

  • Emporio Ñamku

    Sur Chico

    You'll want one of everything at this excellent locally steeped handicraft shop, including picoyo and araucaria woodwork (cutting boards, serving platters…

  • El Ateneo Grand Splendid

    Recoleta & Barrio Norte

    This glorious bookstore in a converted theater continues to flourish in the age of the Kindle. The Grand Splendid theater opened in 1919 and was converted…

  • Autoría

    Buenos Aires

    This gallery-like store, stocked with edgy art books, fashion, accessories, whimsical leather desk sculptures, original artworks and unique handmade…

  • El Cabriton

    São Paulo

    This uber-hip shop features hundreds of unique and clever T-shirts (R$68 to R$88) for men, women and babies from independent Brazilian designers arranged…

  • Feira Hippie

    Belo Horizonte

    A Belo Horizonte classic, this Sunday street fair attracts massive crowds searching for clothing, jewelry, street food and more. Located between Rua da…

  • Fundação Almerinda Malaquias

    Amazonas

    The shop for this local foundation, set up to help local community projects, has an excellent choice of mostly wooden crafts, from carved animals and…

  • Ruta del Artesano

    Salta & the Andean Northwest

    Tafi's main diversion, aside from walks in the countryside, is this driving route to the home studios of area artisans, whose work includes ceramics,…

  • Artesanías de Chile

    Santiago

    Not only does this foundation's jewelry, wood carvings, ceramics and naturally dyed textiles sell at reasonable prices, most of what you pay goes directly…

  • Walisuma

    La Paz

    For a one-of-a-kind souvenir head to Walisuma, which works with 59 different Bolivian artisans. Star items include gorgeous (and ultrasoft) alpaca and…

  • Galeria Amazônica

    Manaus

    Right on Praça São Sebastião, this is Manaus’ top shop for genuine-article Amazonian handiwork, including gorgeous basketwork, pottery and folk art, as…

  • Pueblito Los Dominicos

    Santiago

    The best place in Santiago to buy quality gifts that were actually made in Chile. This mock village houses dozens of small stores, art galleries and…

  • Retro 63

    São Paulo

    This supremely cool collection of original knickknacks, objets d'art and other decorative items from the 1950s, '60s and '70s is like a gourmet graveyard…

  • Mercado Central

    Belo Horizonte

    You’ll find everything from parrots to peppers to perfume at this indoor market, a true Belo Horizonte institution. Shop for Minas cheeses and fresh…

  • Araribá Cultura Indígena

    Alter do Chão

    Arguably the best indigenous art store in the region, representing communities throughout the Amazon Basin. Items range from inexpensive necklaces to…

  • Las Pallas

    Lima

    For special gifts, check out this handicrafts shop featuring a selection of the highest-quality products from all over Peru; it’s even on the radar of…

  • Espaço Havaianas

    São Paulo

    You will find flip-flops in every imaginable design and hue – and at quite reasonable prices – at the flagship store for Brazil’s favorite beach footwear,…

  • La Tienda Nacional

    Santiago

    Much more than a bookstore, this two-floor shop sells Chilean movies, documentaries, records, toys, shirts and more. A must-visit to purchase unique gifts…

  • Barniz de Pasto Obandos

    Cali & Southwest Colombia

    Purchase traditional wooden vessels brightly decorated with vegetable resin at this fine gallery. Come on weekday afternoons to watch maestro José María…

  • Feira Benedito Calixto

    São Paulo

    Open-air market for handicrafts, antiques and food stalls Saturday, plus live chorinho in the afternoon between 2:30pm and 6:30pm.

  • Mamuschka

    Bariloche

    Quite simply, the best chocolate in Bariloche. Don’t skip it. Seriously.

  • Artesanías de Colombia

    Bogotá

    This classy shop has higher-end crafts (lots of home accessories, plus bags, toys, hammocks and some clothing), and 70% of the profits go directly back to…

  • Galeria Nacional

    São Paulo

    This two-story design stop on Rua Mateus Grou – the neighborhood's design street – only sells works from Brazilian artists. It's worth a browse for…

  • Tianguez

    Quito

    Next to Tianguez cafe, this fair-trade shop sells a wide selection of quality handmade crafts from across Ecuador. Items are arranged by region, with…

  • Maki Awashka

    Baños

    The family from Salasaca who own this shop weave many of the gorgeous wool rugs and tapestries in their workshop upstairs. There's a good selection of…

  • Shopping JK Iguatemi

    São Paulo

    South America's most luxurious high-end shopping mall is worth a stroll for the sheer opulence of it all and some very good restaurants.

  • Lanas de Soriano

    Uruguay

    A rainbow of beautiful handmade woolens is available in this shop, hidden away in a residential neighborhood near the waterfront.

  • Edwin Pizarro

    Ayacucho

    The retablos (ornamental religious dioramas) from Edwin Pizarro’s workshop in Barrio Belén are highly recommended. He’s renowned locally as one of the…

  • Tortoise Gallery

    Puerto Ayora

    You'll find one-of-a-kind gifts at this jeweler, with exquisite handmade works by Ecuadorian artisans. Some pieces incorporate lava forms, others feature…

  • Galería Aymara

    Puerto Ayora

    A high-end artists boutique selling uniquely designed handicrafts, jewelry and ceramics.

  • 500px Photo ID: 143362997 - Handmade woven sashes for sale at the outdoor craft market in Otavalo, Ecuador

    Market

    Otavalo

    This is the reason everyone comes to town. For centuries, Otavalo has hosted one of the most important markets in the Andes, a weekly fiesta that…

  • Mate gourds sold on Feria de Tristan Narvaja, market on Calle Dr Tristan Narvaja.

    Feria de Tristán Narvaja

    Montevideo

    This colorful Sunday-morning outdoor market is a decades-long tradition begun by Italian immigrants. It sprawls from Av 18 de Julio northwards along Calle…

  • Chanchamayo Highland Coffee

    Amazon Basin

    Here you can sample and buy the coffee for which Chanchamayo is famous. (Peru is one of the world’s largest coffee producers but nearly all gets exported…

  • Galería Arte Uirapuru

    Leticia

    Leticia's largest craft shop sells artifacts from local indigenous groups, as well as traditional medicines from a natural Amazonian pharmacy. At the back…

  • Gilson Martins

    Rio de Janeiro

    Like its flagship store in Ipanema, this colorful shop sells well-crafted wallets, messenger bags, purses, key chains and other items with images of…

  • Frutos Rojos

    Arica

    This atmospheric little shop sells nuts and dried fruits, juices, coca leaves, yerba maté, teas and almond-stuffed nuts and olive oil from the Azapa…

  • Vinomio

    Santiago

    This boutique wine shop has the most knowledgeable staff in town to help pair serious oenophiles with rare bottles not found in the supermarket. You might…

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