20 Best Shopping in Ecuador

Folklore Olga Fisch is one of Quito's more expensive, and curious, shopping experiences. The shop is in the colonial home of the late Olga Fisch (1901–90), who worked with craftspeople to turn folk art into modern works of art. The store specializes in handwoven rugs, tapestries, clothing, and pottery inspired by indigenous motifs. While you're here, visit the splendid museum upstairs and have lunch or afternoon tea in the small, informal restaurant in the garden or dinner in the intimate indoor restaurant.

Galería Latina offers an enormous selection of sterling-silver jewelry, ceramic figures, baskets, alpaca clothing, and antiques.

Bertha Pachay, in nearby Montecristi, is one of the area's foremost purveyors of quality Panama hats.

If you're in the market for leather, Concuero sells good-quality shoes, wallets, and handbags.

Original designs in ceramics, murals, and jewelry are for sale—browsers are welcome—at Eduardo Vega's Workshop and Gallery. Vega is Ecuador's most famous ceramicist and designer. The gallery not only sells Vega's beautiful designs, but you'll get a really good cup of coffee here. On El Turi hill, known as the Mirador de Turi, it's also the best spot for a spectacular view of Cuenca. The Galería de Arte 670 has a good selection of Vega designs.

El Cade sells items carved from the seed of the tagua palm, a hard substance also known as vegetal ivory.

El Centro Artesanal specializes in hand-knit sweaters and other items.

The most extensive collection of handicraft shops is in Quito's modern shopping mall, El Jardín.

Galería Aymara exhibits the art (painting, sculpture, and jewelry) of 19 Latin American artists, three of whom have taken up residence here on Santa Cruz.

Galería Jorge Moscoso has a limited but precious collection of antiques.

On a tour of Homero Ortega & Hijos, arguably Ecuador's best-known purveyor of Panama hats, you'll see how palm-leaf fibers are transformed into elegant headware. You'll also have the opportunity to buy one for as little as $20 up to $250.

Homero Ortega & Hijos, Cuenca's famous Panama hat maker, has a store here in Quito.

Iguana Factory sells its own distinctive "evolution revolution" T-shirts with Charles Darwin in a variety of poses.

Kinara stocks stylish gold and silver jewelry and shawls made of traditional ikat textiles, in which the threads are knotted and dyed prior to weaving.

In addition to regional crafts, La Bodega has an extensive collection of sweaters in wool and cotton.

At the Saturday market held on Latacunga's Plaza San Sebastián most of the goods for sale are geared to the locals—fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Pick up one of the shigras, the colorful, handwoven hemp bags used by indigenous people.

In the tiny mountain village of Pujilí, 10 km (6 mi) west of Latacunga, colorful markets are held on Sunday and, with much less ado, on Wednesday. Few tourists find their way here, so instead of gringos in T-shirts you'll see locals in bright turquoise or carmine ponchos and miniature fedoras buying and selling produce, pottery, and costume jewelry.

Recuerdos sells balsa-wood carvings of parrots and other birds made in a workshop behind the store.

The market town of San Miguel de Salcedo, 14 km (9 mi) south of Latacunga, has pleasant streets and plazas that make it appealing on any day. However, it's most interesting to plan your visit around the Sunday market or the smaller one held on Thursday.

In Saquisilí, 13 km (8 mi) northwest of Latacunga, indigenous people in regional dress fill all eight of the village's dusty plazas during the Thursday market, where you can pick through piles of traditional wares—including painted wooden masks of animals and devils.