Shopping in Colombia
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Plaza de Mercado
For a true locals’ experience, head to Plaza de Mercado, a bustling covered market where you can grab plenty of comida corriente, tamales and fresh-squeezed juices.
reviewed
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Parque Artesanía
On Loma de la Cruz, this is one of Colombia’s best artesanía markets. You’ll find authentic, handmade goods from the Amazon, Pacific coast, southern Andes, and even Los Llanos.
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A
Plaza Minorista José María Villa
Home to a huge, bustling undercover market with more than 2500 stalls, selling mostly food. It was established in 1984 to remove hawkers from the streets. Open daily.
reviewed
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CC La Pasarela
CC La Pasarela is a two-story shopping center that’s elbow-to-elbow computers and parts. You’ll find great prices on laptops and repairs.
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Mercado de San Alejo
A colorful craft market great for cheap buys or simply to stroll around.
reviewed
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C
San Andresito
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 almost everything that can be bought in Colombia. It is one of the cheapest places to buy video, hi-fi and TV equipment, computers, film and photographic gear, watches, cassettes and CDs, and clothing and footwear. Urban buses and busetas go there from the center – you can catch them on Calle 19.
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D
Éxito
Hypermarkets, huge supermarkets offering food and a wide range of everyday products such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, household appliances and stationery, are located in the outer suburbs and on the city outskirts. The major local player on the market is the Medellín-born chain Éxito. There is also a convenient branch at the northern terminus of the TransMilenio, as well as four others scattered around the city.
reviewed
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Handicraft Shops
Villa de Leyva has a number of handicraft shops noted for fine basketry and good-quality woven items such as sweaters and ruanas (ponchos). There are some artisan shops on Plaza Mayor and more in the side streets, particularly on Carrera 9. A number of weavers have settled in town; their work is of excellent quality and their prices are reasonable. Most craft shops open only on weekends for the tourist rush.
reviewed
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E
Centro Comercial de Chipichape
A typical evening begins at the Centro Comercial de Chipichape, an upscale mall just north of the main drag along Av Sexta. Caleños of all ages come to launch their evening with a cerveza (beer) or two at one of the many outdoor cafés.
From here you might head to a bar or lounge along the Av Sexta corridor.
reviewed
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Librería Lerner
A great bookstore in the center that stocks many Spanish-language guidebooks on Colombia, as well as a full gamut of maps, including the AutoGuía Turística de Colombia (a color, spiral-bound map/guide; COP$19,900), and the 12-map series of national routes Mapas de Ruta (sold individually for COP$1200, or as a packet for COP$13,000).
reviewed
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Centro Comercial Palacio Nacional
A palatial building from 1925 in the center, it has been transformed into a shopping mall with more than 200 budget shops (most selling clothing and footwear). The area around the Palacio, nicknamed El Hueco (The Hole) by the locals, features plenty of bargain stores.
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G
Pasaje Rivas
A couple of blocks west of Plaza de Bolívar, this nontouristy craft market is a good spot for cheap buys, including lots of straw hats, T-shirts, toy figurines, baskets and ruanas (Colombian ponchos). The entrance next to Iglesia de la Concepción reads ‘Pasaje Paul.’
reviewed
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H
Local Market
There’s no shortage of good food in Leticia. The local specialty is fish, including the delicious gamitana and pirarucú. You can find cheap food stalls and fresh fruit and veggies at the local market.
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Upalema
For something a little unique, the exclusive artisan homewares and handicrafts at Upalema aren’t reproduced anywhere on the street. It’s pricey, but it’s top quality stuff, unrivaled elsewhere.
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J
San Miguel
Open for 70 years, and with many old-timers milling over new options, this classic hat maker is the best of the bunch on the block. Mostly felt fedoras or cowboy hats pressed before your eyes.
reviewed
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Plaza Central de Usaquén
Just north of the main square in the villagelike Usaquén, you’ll find food, colorful purses, assorted handicrafts and bamboo saxophones – there’s a satellite area a couple of blocks east too.
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K
La Casona del Museo
By the Gold Museum, this old building houses a convenient, cheerful collection of nice souvenir stands (the best for handicrafts being Colombia es Bella on the second floor) and a nice cafe.
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Plaza de Bomboná
Plaza de Bomboná is a covered market with craft shops that sell bargain leathergoods, plus lechona (stuffed pig) if you get the munchies for some roast pork.
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Mercado de San Alejo
This City Center classic fills a parking lot, with coca leaves and coca tea available, and a host of yesteryear items (posters, books, knickknacks) that are fun to sift through.
reviewed
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Amarelo
This small shop sells and rents all the camping gear you’ll need (eg a tent is COP$8000 per day) and takes bookings for rooms in its bungalow at Suesca. Sells boots too.
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Centro de Alta Technología
If you’re not finding the electronic accessory you need at a mall, the Centro de Alta Technología is packed with digital camera and computer stands.
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Artesanías de Colombia
In a hacienda next to the Iglesia de las Aguas, this classy shop has higher-end crafts (lots of home accessories, plus purses, toys, hammocks and some clothing).
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Añil – Tienda de Artes Plásticas
Añil – Tienda de Artes Plásticas is a delightful gallery that sells paintings, sculptures and hand-painted T-shirts by local artists.
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Market
Go and see the colorful market held on Saturday on the square three blocks southeast of Plaza Mayor. It's best and busiest early in the morning.
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Artesanías El Balay
Up north, this is one of many Carrera 15 choices near Zona Rosa, with a huge room of handicrafts, plus a Colombia flag football (COP$27,000).
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