Where to Shop in Costa Rica
An Artisan Market in Plaza la Democracia in San Jose, Costa Rica.
So you are addicted to shopping and you are not sure that Costa Rica will give you what you need? Rest assured. Over the last decade, shopping here has become really rewarding. Whether you want to buy souvenirs, shop like the locals, or simply want to buy a pair of shoes and a nice dress, it is all there for you!
It would be a shame to go back home without some indigenous products, for yourself and also for your family and friends. Costa Rica has very interesting wood handicrafts made by some of the few indigenous tribes still living here. The Borruca People make interesting ritual masks, for instance, which are always a winner. Going to Borruca itself is quite a trip but you can find some of the best ones in La Casona, in the center of San Jose, and in Galeria Namu, just behind the Holiday Inn. You will also see very beautiful and refined woodcarvings made of the precious woods of Costa Rica; they are the perfect souvenir to bring back from here. Also, leather good are popular, belts, bags, or a good pair of genuine cowboy boots, maybe!
To get a glimpse of a typical local shopping day, the central market of San Jose has got to be the best choice. Everything is there; clothes, food, little sodas where you can try rice and beans, medicinal herbs, flowers, and a variety of handicrafts to choose from. It is colorful, noisy, busy, buzzing, so, watch your bag and pockets and don’t go there dressed to kill either.
A trip to the town of Sarchi may be more your style, for wooden crafts, as this is where many of them are actually made. It is even possible to visit some of the factories, and see how these magnificent Oxcarts are made. The Oxcarts are one of Sarchi’s specialties, but they also make smaller articles such as kitchen utensils and a collection of small souvenirs, jewelery boxes, trays, little hummingbirds, turtles, etc. Here you will find the best sampling of Costa Rican souvenirs at ‘warehouse’ prices as you are probably purchasing them from the artist who made them. Sarchi is found about half hour away from San Jose, past the airport, following the signs for San Ramon. Follow this road for some 15 minutes, and you will soon see the sign for Sarchi.
For a different kind of shopping, meaning, the pair of shoes, or the dress, then, we have the malls of course! Multiplaza in Escazu has many goodies; Zara, Mango, Guess, Kenneth Cole, and the list goes on… On the other side of town, there is another one, Multiplaza del Este, pretty much the same scenario, in the central part of San Jose, you have the Mall San Pedro, which is in San Pedro of course, near the Airport you have the Mall Cariari, and in Heredia the Paseo de Las Flores. All the malls have cinemas, and a choice of fine restaurants and fast food. They are spacious, safe, and pleasant to stroll through, even if you are not planning on spending any money!
| Written by Mireille Darras |
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Filed under: Travel on May 28th, 2008
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I love shopping in San José, and the handmade wood crafts are really some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
Just to add to your list, one of my favorite places to frequent is the Artisan Fair just east of Avenida Central’s pedestrian walkway (right across the street from the Curridabat & Tres Rios buses). They have some of the most gifted artists and best prices I’ve seen in the country. I recommend anything made with cocobolo, especially as a present - just make sure you price compare (i.e. walk up and down the market) before you buy.
I’d just like to comment on ‘precious wood’ from Costa Rica. There should be an awareness of the origin of these woods because most of the precious hardwoods are no longer legal as their supply has been seriously depleted from irresponsible harvesting. Therefore, the buying of this wood today is supporting the plundering of the rain forests in Central America.
In Galeria Namu there is no wood for sale whose origin is not known and considered appropriate. We have amazing bowls in wood that is recycled from old fence posts and trapiche columns etc. As the gallery is also ‘fair trade’ your purchase is supporting local and indigenous artists - another good reason to make your purchases there!
Thank you for all your feed backs. It is indeed always good to know shopping can actually bring a helping hand to the indigenous artists of this country, they need any help they can get! Thank you Aisling. And I will most definitely visit the artisan fair, thank you Erin!