Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
El Salvador Shopping
Search:

El Salvador Shopping

Luisa’s Aunt Linda Tending the Pupusas - El Salvador
Luisa’s Aunt Linda Tending the Pupusas
by thelukey
Go shopping in El Salvador with recommendations, reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and locals.
Map
El Salvador ShoppingTips 1 - 10 of 12  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Santa Tecla Market: Piñatas galore
  • Tip Rating:
  • By saundix on July 24, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by saundix
    • The central market in San Salvador known as the mercado cuartel is quite a busy place and can be somewhat dangerous so go to the Santa Tecla Market instead. You can find just about everything but still keep an eye on your wallet.

    The shop keepers will ask you to stop by their stands to see what they have and will invite you to look without feeling shy "sin pena".

    Pick up a piñata for your next party- they're really nice and come in so many different styles. Don't forget to get the matching piñata stick. Last year I bought a Barney piñata and opted for the Pikachu stick to go with it. We had a blast filling it with candy and then breaking it at my birthday party. I was able to carry it on the plane without any trouble and since it wasn't filled it wasn't heavy. Another party favor to look for at the piñata stands are the "cascarones" or eggs filled with confetti. They are colorful real eggs that have been emptied of their contents and filled with paper confetti. The guests then sneak up on each other and crack them over each other's heads. My 4 year old nephew loved these.

    Now even the markets accept either colones or dollars but always ask to pay less anyway. It's a fun game for you and the shop keeper. Enjoy the experience.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Other
  • Address: Santa Tecla (Nuevo San Salvador)
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting El Salvador?

    Read reviews about El Salvador Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Ärbol de Dios Gallería: Gallery of El Salvador's Most Famous Artist
  • Tip Rating:
    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 19, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • Fernando Llort, Artist and Proprietor - El Salvador
    Fernando Llort, Artist
    and Proprietor
    by Ken_Weaver
    Fernando Llort, one of El Salvador's most famous artists has a wonder gallery, restaurant and gift shop that I have visited on three occasions. The original pieces in the gallery range from US$100 to $3000. The prints run less than $100. I bought a framed print in the gift shop for about $47. There are also shirts, tablets, books and ceramic tiles available.

    Llort's original oils are very nice if that fits in your budget. I have purchased numerous framed prints and some nice ceramic tiles which I have used in recent remodels in my home.

    All price levels. Remember, US currency is the national standard now in El Salvador

  • Theme: Art
  • Address: Calle La Mascota y Avenida de Masferrer
  • Phone: 503.263.9206
  • Website: www.lagavia.8m.net/remo/tunel2.html
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Sorpresas
  • Tip Rating:
    • canuckmike
  • Updated By canuckmike on March 13, 2007
  • El Salvador Page by canuckmike
    • Sorpresas - El Salvador
    Sorpresas
    by canuckmike
    Sorpresas are a roundish object such as an egg, apple or similar objects on a little base. Then when you lift the object up there are detailed, little scenes or figures of local daily life. There are ones with a lady at a well or a market scene or a little church scene. Also there are some adult orientated ones. A man and a woman naked together getting frisky. I guess the adult ones originated in Ilobasco which recieved some trouble from the local priest. Anyway the are good cheap (costs a couple of bucks) small souvenir that is identified with El Salvador.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Local Craft
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Marañón
  • Tip Rating:
    • thelukey
  • By thelukey on May 15, 2005
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Marañón - El Salvador
    Marañón
    by thelukey
    Most everyone knows what a cashew is, but perhaps not everyone knows that cashews come attached to a juicy, tasty fruit called the “marañón.” I certainly didn’t know that the marañón existed until I was sent to live in El Salvador. It’s not my favorite fruit, but it’s certainly worth a try, especially when made into a “fresco” (fruit juice-based drink). Be careful if you decide to just grab one and eat is, because the juice is said to stain. This particular marañón was photographed at the Joya de Cerén archeological site.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Nances
  • Tip Rating:
    • thelukey
  • By thelukey on May 15, 2005
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Nances - El Salvador
    Nances
    by thelukey
    One of the many fruits that I came across for the first time in El Salvador is the nance. Generally I'd rather eat dirt than nances – they smell like rotting flesh, and don’t taste much better – but they do serve as the base for a fairly decent moonshine. My friends in La Laguna gave me widely conflicting advice as to how long I should let the nance-and-molasses concoction sit and ferment. We ended up drinking mine after it had sat in a dark corner of my house for a couple of months. It didn't really seem to have much alcohol, but it did taste pretty good.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting El Salvador?

    Read reviews about El Salvador Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Tamales
    thelukey
  • Updated By thelukey on October 24, 2007
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • The Only Tamal Luisa Ever Made - El Salvador
    The Only Tamal Luisa Ever Made
    by thelukey
    A Salvadoran-style tamal is essentially a little block of soggy corn jello filled with a green bean or two, some undercooked chucks of potato, and a chicken bone. Real appetizing, no? Prior to the time I spend living in El Salvador, I was only familiar with the firmer, drier (and, in my opinion, superior) Mexican version of the tamal. Eventually, I reached a point where I could finish and even enjoy a Salvadoran tamal – an important accomplishment since tamales are the celebratory food of choice in many Salvadoran households – but I would never put them on a list of my favorite Salvadoran foods.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Marañón Japonés
    thelukey
  • By thelukey on August 11, 2006
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Marañón Japonés - El Salvador
    Marañón Japonés
    by thelukey
    Another fruit that I first encountered in El Salvador, the “Japanese cashew fruit” is also known, in Nicaragua, as the “manzana de agua” (water apple). It has a somewhat flowery taste. Worth a try if you happen to find any on sale.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Back to the Fruits
    thelukey
  • By thelukey on August 11, 2006
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Paterna - El Salvador
    Paterna
    by thelukey
    Another native fruit that might be unfamiliar to many travelers, the paterna can be consumed in a number of ways. The white fuzz that surrounds the seeds can be peeled off and eaten. I’m not sure how to describe the flavor, other than to say that it’s a fairly mild flavor as far as fruits are concerned. The seeds are sometimes thrown into soups, or they can be boiled and then eaten with a touch of lemon juice, some hot sauce, and a pinch of salt.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Eating Flowers
    thelukey
  • By thelukey on August 11, 2006
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Pitos - El Salvador
    Pitos
    by thelukey
    One common Salvadoran joke remarks that Salvadorans are so poor that they even eat their national flower (the flor de izote). Other flowers that appear in Salvadoran cuisine include loroco and pitos. Pitos are most frequently cooked either with beans or with eggs, and they are said to have sleep-inducing properties similar to the chemicals contained in turkey meat.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    August, Time to Buy the Anonas
    thelukey
  • By thelukey on November 30, 2005
  • El Salvador Page by thelukey
    • Anonas - El Salvador
    Anonas
    by thelukey
    The end of July might mean many things to many people in many places. Here in El Salvador, for me the end of July has special significance because I then know that the anona harvest is just around the corner. During each of the past three years, I've spent the better part of July pestering my friend Paty, who lives in the midst of some prime anona territory, asking her on a daily basis if the season's first anonas have ripened yet. Why? Because they're just so, so good. The mushy flesh (which can range be off-white or pale pink, depending on the variety of anona) found inside this irregular, pale green, grapefruit-sized little ball of ambrosia has the flavor and consistency of custard. If you travel through El Salvador in or around the month of August, do your taste buds a favor and hunt down some anonas in the market (where they shouldn't cost any more than $0.50 each). You'll know that they're ripe if they are already split open, as shown in the photo. If you can't find any ripe ones at the market, you can buy an unripe one and store it in a paper bag at room temperature for a couple of days.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Food and Drink
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    1 | 2
    More El Salvador Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 41 - Photos: 63
    Things To Do
    Tips: 109 - Photos: 185    		Nightlife
    Tips: 16 - Photos: 17
    Transportation
    Tips: 26 - Photos: 25    		Restaurants
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 15
    Shopping
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 11    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 38 - Photos: 43
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 22    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 15
    Local Customs
    Tips: 16 - Photos: 27    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 6
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 7 - Photos: 7    		General Tips
    Tips: 41 - Photos: 32
    Best El Salvador Travel Deals

    Hilton San Salvador
    A Hotel Near El Salvador, SV. Our Best Rates. Guaranteed.

    Costa Rica Ten Days $995
    Fully Escorted Tour. All Inclusive. Free 28 Page Information Guide.

    Salvador Hotels
    Save Up To 50% on Hotels! Great Salvador Hotel Deals at ORBITZ

    Holiday Inn Hotels
    Salvador. Near convention center. Official site. Book online today.

    Salvador Hotels
    Hotel Photos, Info & Virtual Tours Find the Hotel You Want at Expedia!

    Sponsored Links

    More El Salvador Travel Deals

    Travel El Salvador
    Special Airfares to El Salvador Book TACA Airlines Now & Save!

    Marriott® Int'l Hotels
    Get Marriott's Best Rate Guarantee. Great Deals Online. Reserve Now.

    Breezes Panama Resort
    1st Breezes Resort on the Pacific Grand Opening - Book Now!

    Sponsored Links

    Cheap hotels from
    Cheap flights from
    Cheap car rentals from
    Cheap cruises from
    Cheap vacations from




    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.