Must-see shopping in Colombia

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Dulces del Jardín

    Around Medellín

    This cavity-inducing sweets factory is famous throughout Antioquia for its wide variety of arequipe (a sweet dessert of milk and sugar), conserves and…

  • Artesanías Caballo de Troya

    Medellín

    An excellent one-stop gift shop conveniently located on the road to the airport (if you take the Las Palmas route). It sells quality handicrafts from…

  • Hacienda Santa Bárbara

    Bogotá

    This mall is built around a colonial casona (a large, old house; 1847), making the place a fine combination of historic and modern architecture, and it's…

  • Brincabrinca

    Bogotá

    This small coffee bar doubles as a seller of super-hip T-shirts designed by Colombian and international contest winners.

  • Ábaco

    Cartagena

    An erudite-looking bookshop-cafe that's short on space but big on atmosphere, with the obligatory ladder to reach the higher shelves. Search carefully and…

  • Parque Artesanal Loma de la Cruz

    Cali

    This is one of Colombia's better artesanía (local craft stall) markets. You'll find handmade goods from the Amazon, Pacific coast, southern Andes and even…

  • La Tienda Feroz

    Villa de Leyva

    This great little shop features the unique art of 27 Colombian artists and is the spot to pick up items that aren't typical tourist wares. The owners have…

  • Artesanías Margot

    Nuquí

    Next to the airport, this small artesanías shop has a great selection of wooden carvings and other local arts and crafts. You might even spot an authentic…

  • Mambe

    Bogotá

    This excellent Usaquén shop houses a limited but extremely well done selection of weekly rotating Fair Trade handicrafts from 50 artisan-driven…

  • Mercado de San Alejo

    Bogotá

    This city-center classic fills a parking lot with a host of yesteryear items (posters, books, knickknacks) that are fun to sift through.

  • Gems Metal

    Bogotá

    Dealer Oscar Baquero is one of Bogotá's most reliable emerald dealers, with nearly 40 years experience in industry. English is spoken.

  • Centro Artesanal Mi Viejo Pueblo

    Medellín

    This tourist-oriented handicraft market has a wide selection of souvenirs, including hammocks, bags and traditional clothing.

  • Cable Plaza

    Manizales

    Large upmarket mall with supermarket, cinema and many ATMs.

  • Librería Lerner

    Bogotá

    Stocks many Spanish-language guidebooks on Colombia and the full gamut of maps, including the Movistar guía de rutas por Colombia (a color map/guide; COP…

  • La Casona del Museo

    Bogotá

    This old building near the Museo del Oro doubles as a kind of colonial-style mall, filled with a convenient and cheerful collection of souvenir stands…

  • Colombia Artesanal

    Cartagena

    A set of several stores in the Old Town offers an excellent selection of brightly hued Colombian handicrafts from all over the country. The salespeople…

  • Pasaje Rivas

    Bogotá

    A couple of blocks west of Plaza de Bolívar, this craft market is a good spot for cheap touristy and nontouristy buys, including lots of straw hats, T…

  • San Miguel

    Bogotá

    Open for nearly 75 years, this classic milliner is the best of the bunch on the block. Mostly felt fedoras and cowboy hats, pressed before your eyes.

  • Camping Amarelo

    Bogotá

    This small shop sells all the camping gear you'll need, including tents, which start at COP$390,000, and boots. Also rents.

  • Atlantis Plaza

    Bogotá

    Modern mall with ATMs, Hard Rock Café and a multiplex cinema.

  • San Andresito

    Bogotá

    One of Bogotá’s biggest shopping areas is San Andresito, which spreads over several city blocks. It’s packed with a couple of thousand stalls that have…

  • La Galería

    Cauca & Huila

    Farmers come to buy and sell at San Agustín's Monday market. It's a raucous scene with few tourists. Besides fruit, vegetables and panela (dried sugarcane…

  • Casa del Artesano

    Caribbean Coast

    It’s very difficult to hang around Mompós watching the residents sway away the days in their distinctive rocking chairs and not want one for yourself…

  • Centro Commercial y Artesanal La Bombona

    Cali & Southwest Colombia

    A covered market selling warm clothes, souvenirs and handicrafts. If you're after the ultimate in cheesy gifts it's hard to go past the model guinea pigs…

  • El Arcón

    Cartagena

    This impressive place housed in a handsome colonial mansion is the best antiques shop in the walled city, a veritable treasure trove of art, furniture and…

  • Quevedo Libros y Antiguedades

    Bogotá

    Swapping books in hostels might not always lead to a good read. Improve your options browsing the shelves of this crammed bookshop, home to a rather…

  • Centro Comercial Palacio Nacional

    Medellín

    This city center palatial building from 1925 has been transformed into a shopping mall with more than 200 budget shops (most selling clothing and footwear…

  • Plaza Central de Usaquén

    Bogotá

    Just north of the main square in the village-like Usaquén, you'll find stallholders selling food, colorful purses, assorted handicrafts and bamboo…

  • El Tesoro

    Medellín

    For some shopping or just to rub shoulders with Medellín high society, head to the upscale El Tesoro mall. It has a variety of European and American…

  • Parque de los Periodistas

    Bogotá

    Facing La Candelaria’s north end, this market is really about junk – old radios, electronics, videotapes, tools and whatnot.

  • Panamericana

    Medellín

    This huge bookstore has a limited selection of English titles. It also sells maps of Medellín, plus laptops and accessories.

  • Centro Comercial El Puente

    San Gil

    San Gil's most modern shopping mall, with multiple chain stores, a supermarket, various restaurants and a Juan Valdez cafe.

  • Mercado de San Alejo

    Medellín

    This colorful craft market is great for cheap buys or simply for strolling around.

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