Shopping in Bolivia
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Liliana Castellanos
Sells stunning llama and alpaca fashion items.
reviewed
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Artecampo
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 families. The truly inspired and innovative pieces include leatherwork, hammocks, weavings, handmade paper, greeting cards and lovely natural-material lamp shades.
reviewed
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Markets
Cochabamba is Bolivia's biggest market town. The main market is the enormous La Cancha, which is one of the most crowded, chaotic, claustrophobic, and exhilarating spots in the country. You'll find it near Plaza 14 de Septiembre. Around the town's markets you'll find just about everything imaginable, but keep an eye out for pickpockets.
The largest and most accessible area is Mercado Cancha Calatayud, which sprawls across a wide area along Av Aroma and south toward the former railway station. Here is your best opportunity to see local dress, which differs strikingly from that of the Altiplano.
The Mercado Incallacta and Mercado de Ferias spill out around the old railway…
reviewed
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Mercado Negro & Upper Market Areas
The area from Plaza Pérez Velasco to the cemetery has a largely indigenous population and is always bustling. Traffic honks through the narrow cobbled streets, cholitas (Quechua or Aymará women) rush about making purchases and pedestrians jostle with sidewalk vendors.
The Mercado Negro (Black Market), roughly within the area around Max Parades, Tumusla, Tamayo and Santa Cruz, is the place where undocumented merchandise, much of it bootlegged, is sold along with just about everything else.
In the case of CDs and DVDs, vendors make no effort to conceal the origins: the covers are merely photocopied. It also stocks imitation designer clothing and inexpensive camera film.…
reviewed
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Av René Moreno
Av René Moreno is the place for souvenir shopping. Beware that prices are much higher here than in La Paz for llama and alpaca wool goods, so perhaps save your pennies by shopping in the capital.
Woodcarvings made from the tropical hardwoods morado and the more expensive guayacán (from US$20 for a nice piece) are unique to the Santa Cruz area. Relief carvings on tari nuts are also interesting and make nice portable souvenirs. Locals also make beautiful macramé llicas (root-fiber bags).
reviewed
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Mercado 16 de Julio
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 Plaza 16 de Julio. This shopaholic’s paradise has absolutely everything, from food and electronics, to vehicles and animals, all at reasonable prices. You’ll have to fight your way through the crowds, though (warning: watch your wallet in both senses of the phrase).
reviewed
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Market
Favored Potosí souvenirs include silver and tin articles available in Stands near the market entrance on Calle Oruro; many of them were produced in the village of Caiza, 80km south of Potosí, which now has its own co-op shop featuring naturally dyed llama and alpaca wool items. Here, small dangly earrings, hoop earrings, spoons and platters cost between around US$1 and US$5.
reviewed
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Central Market
The Central Market is home to some gastronomic highlights. Don't miss the fresh juices and fruit salads - they are among the best in the country. The vendors and their blenders always come up with something indescribably delicious - try jugo de tumbo (unripe passion-fruit juice). Upstairs, you'll find good, filling, cheap meals in sanitary conditions (for a market, anyway).
reviewed
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Centro Artesanal Moxos
Local Beni crafts, including weavings, woodwork and ceramics, are sold at the Centro Artesanal Moxos, southwest of town. Look out for the pifano, an indigenous flute made from the wing bone of the Jabiru stork using a technique over 1000 years old – it’s the staple instrument of the unique Moxos music.
reviewed
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Artesanías Kurmi
For local handiwork look for the friendly Artesanías Kurmi, in a rustic two-story white house. Here Wilma Velasco sells wonderful homemade and hand-dyed clothing, hats, dolls, bags and wall-hangings for excellent prices; also ask to try the homemade orange wine! There's no sign, but if you ring the bell, she'll open up.
reviewed
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Market Comedor
For quick eats, cheap meals are on offer at the market comedor (dining hall) and nearby street food stalls. Our intensively researched 'Best Uyuni Salteña' award goes to the small cart that you can find mornings on Potosí outside the Banco de Crédito near the corner of Bolívar.
reviewed
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Condoriri
A good selection of new and secondhand climbing, trekking and camping equipment can be found here. It sells everything from ropes and backpacks to boots, compasses and headlamp batteries, plus a selection of high-quality climbing hardware, books and maps. Also rents out equipment and has a repair service.
reviewed
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Inca Pallay
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 the store that returns the highest percentage to the weavers themselves. You can sometimes see weavers at work in the patio.
reviewed
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Mercado Tradicional
Tucked away in the middle row of the Mercado Fermín López is the impressive Mercado Tradicional, which has more dried llama fetuses and flamingo wings than a voodoo master has pins. The affable vendors are more than happy to explain the usage of their wares.
reviewed
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Arco Iris
Opposite Sopocachi Market, Arco Iris has an extensive pastelería (cake shop) and deli featuring fine specialty regional meat and dairy treats like smoked llama salami, plus products such as fresh palm hearts and dried Beni fruits.
reviewed
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Mercado de Ganado
The fascinating Mercado de Ganado livestock market operates Wednesdays and Sundays at the end of Avenida Panaméricana, far to the south of the center; it's worth taking a taxi out there to see it in operation. As always, it pays to get there early-ish.
reviewed
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Alpaca Works
If you have been hunting for the perfect alpaca sweater, contact the alcaldía (town hall) about Alpaca Works, a women’s cooperative where you can browse their existing stock or order a customized Western-style sweater.
reviewed
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ASOPEC
Saturday and Sunday are market days. ASOPEC offers artesanías, produced and sold by Bolivian women from local communities, with all proceeds going to the makers. Wool, ceramics, soap, candles and even ice cream are on offer.
reviewed
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Osano
Along the road to Finca La Víspera, this Japanese religious sect sells organic vegetables fertilized with divine light. For under B$7 you can be blessed with the ‘energy’ of the Mahikari Luz Divina – go on, don’t be shy.
reviewed
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ARAO Artesanías Oruro
This place offers the best selection of high-quality, cooperatively produced handicrafts from four communities in the Oruro department, starting at B$70. The naturally dyed wool rugs and wall hangings, shoulder bags and ponchos are especially notable.
reviewed
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Ajllay Wasi
A complete selection of quality textiles from different weaving centers. Weavers take their crafts to the shop personally so they receive a bigger chunk of the profits. An explanation of the design of your textile is provided with every purchase.
reviewed
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Artesanías
Llama and alpaca wool bags and clothing are sold at artesanías (shops selling locally handcrafted items) in the center and at the bus terminal, while the cheapest articles are found around the northeast corner of Mercado Campero.
reviewed
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Pacha Mama
A new store offering the biggest and best selection of local artesanías in town. Aymará owner Sayda Quispe offers some of his own jewelry and clothing designs, and it’s also a sales point for Lonely Planet books.
reviewed
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Arte Nativo
A recommended store is Arte Nativo, selling ecologically sound, indigenous handiwork and so improving the economic condition of rural women who weave with the naturally dyed wool of sheep, llamas and alpacas.
reviewed
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Mahikari
Along the road to La Víspera, this Japanese religious sect sells organic vegetables fertilized with divine light. For around US$1 you can be blessed with the 'energy' of the Mahikari Luz Divina - go on, don't be shy.
reviewed