Shopping in Nicaragua
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A
Mercado Oriental
Stash your cash in a couple of places (sock, bra) and try to find a local guide for Central America's largest market and scariest shopping experience. But it's so cheap, and probably the only place in town with live hand grenades…
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B
Supermercado Las Segovias
Self-caterers can visit Supermercado Las Segovias, a half block from PetroNic, a solid supermarket with great deals on gourmet coffee.
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Artesanía Nicaragüense
Among the largest of several souvenir shops clustered right here, with the area's incredible pottery and crafted leather items.
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C
Market
The big, bustling Market is a fine place for fresh veggies, cheap thongs and much, much more.
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D
Mercado Artesanías
Masaya's main claim to fame is shopping, and savvy buyers come here to find great deals on Nicaragua's finest handicrafts. Tours and taxi drivers drop you off at the 1888 Mercado Artesanías, a somewhat incongruous, black-basalt Gothic structure with a Spanish-fortress motif, including turrets, towers and oversized gates.
Despite a major fire in 1966, it was used as a regular market until 1978, when Somoza's National Guard all but leveled it. The building, which covers an entire city block, was abandoned until renovations began in 1994.
Today it is a wonderful place to stroll, with attractive booths separated by wide and breezy walkways, showcasing the highest-quality…
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E
Cerámica Negra Tradicional
Matagalpa, along with Jinotega, is known for its smooth, heavy black pottery, an effect achieved by specially preparing the volcanic clay, firing it until red hot, then removing bowls and pots with tongs and tossing cedar ashes over them. Cerámica Negra Tradicional, two blocks east of the cathedral, offers pieces by Doña Ernestina Rodríguez, including jewelry and tiny tea sets. There are several other shops nearby.
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Super Stop & Go
Expats in the know hit this hidden spot for Nicaragua's best selection of gringo grub - caviar, curry paste, eight kinds of barbecue sauce and more. Don Pan, with gourmet baked goods, and Bavaria Delikatessan, with imported meats and cheeses, are nearby.
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F
Casa de los Tres Mundos
This is Ernesto Cardenal's home turf, selling not only his sleek, modernistic sculptures but also a great selection of top-quality naïve paintings from the Archipélago de Solentiname, books and DVDs (most in Spanish, all leftist).
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Casa de los Tres Mundos
The foundation here sells a very good lefty selection of books, magazines and other souvenirs, including Wani magazine, 'the voice of the Caribbean Coast', and Gente de los Gallos, your cockfighting resource.
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Al Anticuario
Selling off unbelievably beautiful antiques, some several hundred years old, this is the place to find a cathedral-quality saint or hand-carved mahogany furniture. It's a couple of blocks north of Iglesia de La Merced.
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Nature Shoppe
This natural grocer has all the vitamins and mysterious holistic treatments you need, plus the organic cookies you want. It also arranges massages, acupuncture and other treatments by reservation.
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Harold Antiques
Sandino began collecting beautiful antiques and high-quality replicas when he was hired to find props for the movie Walker; today this place is packed to the brim with beautiful stuff.
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H
Metrocentro
Watch young, rich Managuans mate and date at more than 50 glittering boutique shops and department stores, dainty cafés and beauty salons; there's also a cinema and food court.
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InterConnection Wellness Center
After all that sightseeing, don't you need to pamper yourself with a massage, facial or perhaps some reflexology? Try InterConnection Wellness Center, upstairs from Cafe DecArte.
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Las Tejedoras Manuales de León
Pick up an all-cotton, vegetable-dyed tapestry at this women's collective, which makes all manner of woven goods on big wooden looms, some dating from the Spanish colonial era.
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I
Supermercado Salman
Just west of La Casa de Cultura, Salman is half grocery store, half superstore, with everything you need and lots you don't, plus the cheapest cup of (Presto) coffee in town!
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Nica Chic
Cool clothes, handmade furniture and an oddball selection of affordable art make this worth a stop - there's also a book exchange with titles in English and German.
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La Tunoza Cooperative
In the community of La Tunoza, about 5km north of Estelí, this women's cooperative makes paper out of natural fibers like tuza, rice and pine needles.
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J
Librería Hispamer
Hispamer has the country's best selection of Nicaraguan and Latin American literature, history and poetry, plus local news and arts periodicals.
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Claroscuro
This Cuban-run gallery represents about 35 Nicaraguan artists, some of them amazing, and periodically has openings where you can meet them.
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Galería Solentiname
If you can't make it out to the islands, this attractive gallery featuring top-of-the-line work will make you want to figure out a way.
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K
La Unión Supermercado
La Unión is the best supermarket in town. This place has more gringo brands than anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest.
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Sultan Cigars
Watch folks hand-roll Estelí and Ometepe's finest into stronger capa maduras or smoother sumatras.
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Libraría Don Quijote
Load up on lefty texts or dog-eared paperbacks (some in English, German and French) at this quaint used bookstore.
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Casa Clarita Maximus Spa
For relaxing after a big day of sight-seeing, there's Casa Clarita Maximus Spa, with facials, massages and more.
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