Shopping in Cartagena

Shopping in Cartagena

The historic Old Town, El Laguito and Bocagrande are the best places to shop in Cartagena. Las Bovedas, a centuries old jail turned shopping centre, is one of the biggest shopping areas in the walled city. Dealing mostly in handicrafts items, clothes and souvenirs; it is a place worth visiting, though many of the Cartagena shops sell similar items.

The mild Arabica coffee produced in Colombia is very popular. Available at many shops in Cartagena, it is definitely a must buy. Locally made hammocks, hats and woven baskets make excellent gifts and souvenirs. Leather belts, bags, jackets and other items are worth checking out too.

Cartagena is dotted with jewellery shops. But don't be surprised if you find that most of the jewellery on display is of gold or gold inlaid with emerald and other precious stones. This is because a lot of gold is mined here and Colombia is the world's largest producer of emeralds. Loose emeralds and other stones of different sizes and quality can be bought here. However, unless you are an expert, it is hard to tell the quality of stones. So make sure to ask for certificates of authenticity. Don't hesitate to bargain and never buy stones from street vendors.

The street vendors of Cartagena can be quite persistent. They line up at side streets and squares offering all sorts of goodies from fruits, coconut milk, sunglasses and cigars to scarves, leather goods, stones, wood carvings and jewellery. They even offer to exchange foreign currency for you (definitely not a good idea). If they cannot convince you to buy something, their next trick is to lure you into a shop from where they get a commission for any purchases you make. The best way to get rid of street vendors is to say a firm "No" and walk away.