Must-see shopping in Bolivia

  • 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…

  • La Vinoteca

    Tarija

    The best shop to pick up a bottle of the local vino, singani or other specialty food products. Carlos, the owner, is happy to open bottles to try by the…

  • Mercado 16 de Julio

    La Paz

    For an excellent market experience don’t miss the massive Mercado 16 de Julio, which stretches for many blocks along the main thoroughfare and across…

  • Mercado Campesino

    Sucre

    A fascinating, sprawling market that's easy to get lost in, wandering row after row of goods from mundane everyday products to traditional foods. It might…

  • Centro Artesanal Moxos

    Amazon Basin

    Local Beni crafts, including weaving, woodwork and masks, are sold at the Centro Artesanal Moxos, 300m southwest of town by the cemetery. Look out for the…

  • Artecampo

    Santa Cruz

    The best place to find fine artesanías (locally handcrafted items), this store provides an outlet for the work of 1000 rural cruceña women and their…

  • Inca Pallay

    Sucre

    This weavers' and artisans' cooperative has an impressive array of high-quality handmade crafts, not all from the Sucre area. Prices are high, but this is…

  • Madres de Clarisa Convent

    Bolivia

    The Madres de Clarisa Convent sells homemade cakes, 10 types of creatively flavored biscuits and ridiculously sweet wines. You’ll find it down the steps…

  • Chocolates Para Ti

    Amazon Basin

    It's moved next door into the toy store, but this beloved shop still offers a wonderful selection of Sucre's most delicious chocolates, wrapped with love…

  • The Writer's Coffee

    La Paz

    A gorgeous old-school bookstore with floor-to-ceiling shelves and great titles on local art and history. There's a chilled-out coffee shop in the front…

  • Centro Cultural Tacana

    Amazon Basin

    The Centro Cultural Tacana has a handicrafts store and celebrates the Tacana people’s cosmovision. It's located on the southwest side of the main plaza in…

  • Spitting Llama Bookstore & Outfitter

    Lake Titicaca

    A great collection of secondhand books in English, German and French, as well as plenty of Lonely Planet titles. Also sells trekking maps and camping…

  • Spitting Llama

    Cochabamba

    International brands of camping equipment and trekking clothing and gear for sale or rent, and foreign-language books, including Lonely Planet guidebooks.

  • La Cambita

    Amazon Basin

    Chonta-wood plates, jipijapa baskets and organic coffee from Pilón Lajas are but a few of the intriguing Amazonian products on offer.

  • Artesanía Sorata

    La Paz

    A community-focused project that specializes in export-quality handmade dolls, original alpaca products and other beautiful items.

  • Mucho Mundo

    Santa Cruz & Gran Chiquitania

    Sells all kinds of bric-a-brac designed by a group of resident artists. One of several similar places along this street.

  • Sampaya Outdoor Equipment

    La Paz

    The best of Illampu's many outdoor stores, with backpacks, tents, hiking shoes, coats, pants and other trekking gear.

  • Asarti

    Cochabamba

    Expensive but reliable Asarti, on the ground floor of an office building, makes export-quality alpaca clothing.

  • Comart Tukuypaj

    La Paz

    Offers export-quality, fair-trade llama, alpaca and artesanías (handcrafts) from around the country.

  • El Ceibo

    La Paz

    Chocoholics mustn’t miss El Ceibo, an ecologically friendly producer of fantastic local chocolates.

  • Arte y Cultura Sucre

    Sucre

    Gallery shop selling local artists' works, from paintings to ceramics and jewelry.

  • Awaj Warmi

    Sucre

    Some of the highest quality alpaca designs you'll find, with prices to match.

  • Mercado Fermín López

    Bolivia

    The impressive Mercado Tradicional in the middle row of Mercado Fermín López has more dried llama fetuses and amulets than a voodoo master has pins. The…

  • Asopec

    Santa Cruz & Gran Chiquitania

    Asopec offers artesanías (artisan goods) produced and sold by Bolivian women from local communities, with all proceeds going to the makers. Wool, ceramics…

  • Clothing Stalls

    Amazon Basin

    The cheap clothing stalls along Pando are a good place to pick up hamacas (hammocks; single/double B$120/250) and finely woven cotton and synthetic…

  • Feria Serrano

    Bolivia

    Starting at the train station, this street market extends north along Av Serrano, swallowing whole blocks on Thursdays and Saturdays.

  • Market

    Uyuni

    The big market day in Uyuni is Thursday when Av Potosí gets taken over by stalls selling anything from arts and crafts to television sets; Sunday is a…

  • Mercado Negro

    Bolivia

    The mercado negro (black market) has a mishmash of consumer goods, and occupies an entire block between Avs Santa Cruz and Regimiento Chichas.

  • Ventura Mall

    Santa Cruz

    Sleek, modern mall out by the fourth anillo, with a huge choice of international chain stores, bars, restaurants, banks and a cinema.

  • Bodega La Concepción

    Tarija

    The office of the winery 25km south of Tarija, just before the village of Concepción.

  • ARAO Artesanías Oruro

    Bolivia

    This place offers a small selection of high-quality, cooperatively produced handicrafts from four communities in Oruro.

  • Paseo Artesanal La Recova

    Santa Cruz

    An alleyway packed with little stores selling both authentic and fabricated handicrafts at reasonable prices.

  • Kodak

    La Paz

    For passport-sized photos and printing. The helpful staff can also arrange someone to fix a broken camera.

  • Mercado Americano

    Sucre

    A trip to this market, around the junction of Mujía and Reyes, will keep clothes junkies busy for hours.

  • Mercado de Ferias

    Bolivia

    The central Mercado de Ferias has lots of produce stalls and comedores (dining halls) upstairs.

  • Eros Sex Shop

    La Paz

    All kinds of products and stimulants, because despite the altitude, you just might wanna get it on.

  • Mercado Villa Fatima

    Bolivia

    This popular local Sunday market in the north of the city deals in imported Argentinian products.

  • Cava de Bodegas

    La Paz

    Award-winning, high-altitude Bolivian vintages are available at this small wine-and-liquor store.

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