In a land of artisans and beautiful natural materials, it’s important to know what to buy and where. From hats to knits to jewelry to ceramics, here’s your Cuenca shopping guide.
Barranco Panama Hat Factory/Museum (Calle Larga 10-41)
Despite its name, the Panama hat is native to Cuenca. Historically, this style of hat was exported to Panama, and then shipped internationally from there. Head to the Panama Hat Museum on Calle Larga to learn about the hat’s production and to purchase one of your own. The finer the thread, the higher the quality and the more expensive the hat. You will find hats ranging from $20 to $500.
Casa de la Mujer (on General Torres y Presidente Cordova, behind the San Francisco Market)
At the Casa de la Mujer, you will find an indoor market full of small treasures. Here you can purchase traditional baskets, jewelry, handmade shoes, small instruments, wooden products, and much more. Expect slightly higher prices than at the San Francisco Market, but great quality.
San Francisco Market (Mariscal Sucre and Padre Aguirre)
If you’re looking to buy more affordable ponchos, scarves, knits, or blankets, the San Francisco Market is your place. Vendors come from the Otavalo region, famous for its fabrics, to sell their products in Cuenca. If you have room in your suitcase, consider purchasing one of the uniquely patterned blankets, ponchos, or alpaca sweaters, each of which you can buy for about $20. You may want to get one for yourself, too, given the sometimes-unexpectedly cold days in Cuenca.
Ambrosia (Simon Bolivar 13-86 and Estevez de Toral)
Whether you’re in the market for Ecuadorian coffees, jams, chocolates, or oils, Ambrosia is sure to have something to suit your needs. You will also find a variety of lotions, soaps, and accessories.
Manos del Mundo is one of Cuenca’s first fair-trade souvenir stores. All of the products are handmade in Ecuador and one-of-a-kind. You will find beautiful art, textiles, alpaca products and more. The prices are a bit higher but all products are of high quality.
Mascha (Luis Cordero 5-48 y Honorato Vasquez)
Mascha is a small boutique that sells diverse products from local artists. Here you will find small gifts like T-shirts, scarves, stuffed animals and beauty products. The products are more modern and funky than you might find elsewhere, but it’s still a great way to support the local markets.
Galerias el Tucan (Presidente Borrerro 7-35 y Presidente Cordova)
This two-floor souvenir shop is my favorite in town for its diverse selection of items. The first floor is full of handicrafts such as jewelry boxes, purses, nativity sets, and jewelry. Upstairs you will find some clothing for adults and children, knit scarves, gloves, hammocks, and blankets.
The Hippie Market (Benigno Malo y Gran Colombia)
The “Hippie Market” is a small square full of a dozen individual stands selling their artisan products. The government arranged the market to support individual artists and provide them with a decent place to sell their work. Come here for smaller items such as stone jewelry, wire figures, and dream catchers.
Eduardo Vega is one of the most well-known ceramic artists in Cuenca. His gallery is located in a house at Turi, near the city’s touristy lookout point. From the main overlook spot you can walk down the hill and find it as the first house on your left. Whether you’re looking for art, home décor, or dishes, Eduardo Vega will not disappoint.
Artisan Guitars (Padre Aguirre y Presidente Cordova, in front of the San Francisco church)
San Bartolome, a town outside of Cuenca, has a long tradition of making guitars by hand. Craftsmen from this town come to Cuenca every Thursday afternoon, close to the Plaza de San Francisco, to sell these one-of-a-kind pieces. You can also take a trip to the town, which is part of the “route of the guitars,” to buy a special Ecuadorian guitar. The price you pay for a handmade guitar here is much lower than the market price abroad.
Gualaceo (45 minutes east of Cuenca)
Gualaceo is an Ecuadorian town known for its leather goods and hornado (roasted pig, which can be found at the downtown market). This is where Cuencanos go shoe shopping. You can find great boots and shoes of all kinds at one of the numerous shoe shops around town. I’ve had great luck at one called Rise (Davila Chica 10-78 y Vicente Pena Reyes). Prices of leather or synthetic styles range from $10 to $60.
Chordeleg (1 hour east of Cuenca)
Chordeleg is a small town outside of Cuenca that is well known for its jewelry. It is a traditional Ecuadorian town, with a square in the center and shops surrounding it. This is the place to go for silver. Traditional jewelry styles here feature large earrings, rings and bracelets with the filigree technique, which is the art of delicately molding wire. While some simple pieces can cost $10, you can also find very high-quality jewelry at a luxury price point. Chordeleg is one hour outside of Cuenca, just 10-15 minutes past Gualaceo by car.
Aside from these spots, keep your eye out for the city’s open-air street markets, known as ferias. The largest ferias are in the first days of November for Fiestas de Cuenca, and in the second week of April. Artisans also come together at the regular Mercart, which takes place around the city on a monthly basis.
Have any other favorite spots to shop around town? Share them with us in the comments section below.
7 Responses
Very helpful information for the expat shopper. Well done, Kelly. Common Ground restaurant, Gran Colombia y Unidad Nacional, has a monthly feria on or about the third Saturday of each month. About 15 vendors selling gifts and consumables.
Very informative shopping guide for unusual items. Also, approximately fifteen vendors on the third Saturday of each month (Oct 22, this month) sell consumables and gifts at Common Ground Sports Bar and Restaurant, Gran Colombia y Unidad Nacional. From 9 AM till 4 PM.
Please go to Galapagos Artesanias just a few blocks off Parque Calderon. It’s on Presidente Cordova, south side of street, between Borrero and Hermano Miguel. Along the white wall you will see a small blue & white doorway, signage with name and a cute turtle above doorway. Also says it is an authorized postal outlet, meaning she can weigh, mail & ship anything just as the P.O. can. The doorway’s stairs lead up to a much bigger space. Laura is the owner, she understands a lot of English, speak clearly. She will speak in Spanish VERY SLOWLY & CLEARLY, & check for understanding. If you don’t speak Spanish, she will still be gracious & it will be delightful, I think she just prefers Spanish if possible.
She only sells crafts made in Ecuador. Incredible items from around the country, all parts – coast, jungle, etc. Anything you buy she will tell you what region/people makes it and how it’s made! When she learned we were buying as gifts, she even included for free a postcard picture for each gift recipient showing the lake area in which it was made by the indigenous. She is so proud of her country, & she’s just joyous & loving every time. Her prices are GREAT.
NOTE: a GOOGLE MAP SEARCH DOES NOT SHOW THIS STORE IN THE CORRECT LOCATION. However Google Street image does show it if you look at the street where I describe.
Galapagos Artesanias is excellent. Owner Laura is terrific.
I would also add Rotary Plaza to your list…you can find many unusual items and some common touristy stuff, but it is a special place dedicated to the indigenous artisans of Cuenca.
you also forgot the Rotary Market
Also see the gift shop at the archaeology museum on N. side of Calle Larga eastward before Pumapungo. I have not been in a couple years, but they have jewelry, textiles, pottery reproductions, and quite a few of the traditional stylized paintings of farmland/volcanoes/villages that you find in Otavalo.