Shopping in Baja California
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Bazar Casa Ramirez
Several readers have recommended this labyrinthine, two-story handicrafts store with items from all over Mexico. Prices are a little steep, but quality is high, and you'll definitely find a colorful selection. It has a large selection of Day of the Dead paraphernalia.
reviewed
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Copal
Copal On the east side of Plaza Mijares, Copal has an interesting assortment of crafts, jewelry, rugs and masks.
reviewed
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Fruitlandia
Bring home some fresh traditional sweets such as ground, sweetened semilla de calabaza (squash seeds), tamarindo con chile (tamarind paste with chile), pepitorias (brittle sesame and peanut bars), candied limes, jamoncillo (milk fudge) and chilacayote (candied squash). Be sure to try the bright green biznaga (candied cactus), a local specialty.
reviewed
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Arte 256
It's well worth the slog to find this fabulous gallery owned and operated by Tijuana native Joly Lacarra. The revolving exhibitions are generally outstanding. To get there, head out Blvd Aguas Calientes, and up Tapachula, past the Hipódromo. After Tapachula veers left, hang a right (at the big black building). This streets merges with Mérida which you follow up to the gallery.
reviewed
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Mercado Los Globos
Bric-a-brac collectors will find heaven on earth at the Mercado Los Globos, a sprawling market area spanning eight square blocks on Calle 9a, several blocks east of Av Reforma. Vendors sell everything from old cutlery, dusty plates and broken 1970s radios to fruits, vegetables and a plethora of dried chilies. Weekends are the best time to visit.
reviewed
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Fausto Polanco
A veritable museum of Mexican crafts, this two-story shop stocks some of the finest work in town. The furniture is beautiful, and the decorative arts and home accessories are stunning. There's a particularly good selection of pictures and frames, some great ceramics and some smaller pieces.
reviewed
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Galería Pérez Meillon
In the Centro Artesanal de Ensenada, this gallery sells authenticated pottery from the Paipai (one of Baja California’s indigenous peoples known for fine craftwork, particularly pottery and baskets), Mata Ortiz (a major pottery center in central north Mexico) and Kumiai weaving.
reviewed
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Mercado El Popo
El Popo is the most colorful downtown market, with stacks of fresh cheeses, sweets, wooden spoons, piles of dried chilies, kitchenware, herbs, incense, santeria, candles, love soaps, stacks of bundled cinnamon sticks, bee pollen and fruit all pushing you toward sensory overload.
reviewed
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San Miguel Surf Shop
Drop in here for surf boards, gear and - depending on who's behind the counter - information on the local surf scene. The owner, Eduardo Echegaray, has been shaping surfboards (long and short) for some twenty years, and his prices are lower than equivalent boards in the USA.
reviewed
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Veryka
Plaza Bonita (Cárdenas at Blvd Marina) has several shops, including Veryka, which showcases the very best of Mexican artisans and crafts persons. The prices are high, but these are internationally known artists. It's worth a browse even if you don't intend to buy.
reviewed
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Mercado de Mariscos
An Ensenada institution is the colorful (and odiferous) Mercado de Mariscos, where you can admire - and purchase - the daily catch. After browsing the piles of abalone steaks, tuna slabs, and mounds of purple octopi, hit the taquerías across the way.
reviewed
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Mercado Hidalgo
This is where locals come to buy spices, dried chilies, exotic produce, fresh tortillas and seasonal specialties made from Aztec grains. Be sure to check with customs before taking fruits or vegetables over the border. Dried hibiscus flowers make excellent tea.
reviewed
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Dos Lunas
This bright, colorful shop will get you in the holiday mood. Stocking reasonably priced resort wear made of natural fibres, as well as great jewelry and kiddies' clothing, it's well worth a pre-beach visit. They also have a branch in Puerto Paraíso.
reviewed
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Corsica
San José is a veritable museum of contemporary painters, and browsing its galleries - whether you intend to buy or not - is a highlight. Corsica features works by some of Mexico's top artists. This is one to pop into even if you're not buying.
reviewed
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Plaza Bonita
Plaza Bonita has several shops, including Veryka, which showcases the very best of Mexican artisans and crafts persons. The prices are high, but these are internationally known artists. It's worth a browse even if you don't intend to buy.
reviewed
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Stewart Gallery
As an artists' colony, Todos Santos has a plethora of art galleries and loads of boutique stores. The man who essentially kicked off the Todos Santos art scene is Charles Stewart, and his Stewart Gallery is a good place to start.
reviewed
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Mercado de Artesanías
Jewelry, blankets, furniture, baskets, silver, pottery and leather goods are available in stores on Avenidas Revolución and Constitución at the sprawling Mercado de Artesanías just south of Comercio (Calle 1a).
reviewed
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Mercado N Bravo
Downtown's indoor seafood and vegetable market has a section of food stalls guaranteeing some of the cheapest eats in town (soups, seafood, stuff like that). You'll enjoy them only if you can handle the smell of fish.
reviewed
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Galerías Zen-Mar
Galerías Zen-Mar offers Zapotec woven wool rugs, silver bracelets, and masks from Oaxaca and Guerrero. Also on sale are traditional craft items, such as ceramics, from other mainland indigenous peoples.
reviewed
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Mercado Municipal
Jewelry, blankets, furniture, baskets, silver, pottery and leather goods are available in stores on Avenidas Revolución and Constitución, at the Mercado Municipal.
reviewed
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Galería de Todos Santos
The joy of shopping in Todos Santos lies in wandering the streets and seeing what you turn up. Another of Todos's galleries, and one not to miss, is Galería de Todos Santos.
reviewed
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Curios Tony
As for crafts, Curios Tony makes for a great browse, stocking everything from ceramics and jewelry to glassware and textiles, all from Baja and mainland Mexico.
reviewed
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Casa del Artesano Sudcaliforniano
Next to the tourist office, this excellent store sells jewelry, handicrafts, paintings, sculptures and clothes made in La Paz and Baja California Sur.
reviewed
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Votive Stalls
For Catholic votives, candles, incense, crucifixes and other religious bric-a-brac, browse the votive stalls adjacent to the Catedral de Guadalupe.
reviewed
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Galería La Caja
Located directly across Tapachula from the race track, this wee gallery is another great place to check out some of Baja's best-known artists.
reviewed