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| Go shopping in Colombia with recommendations, reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Colombia Shopping | Tips 1 - 9 of 9 |  |
Colombia is the worlds largest producer of Emralds and you can find some amazing stones here. Just remember that the Emrald is the most subjective of stones, even experts disagree as to their value.
While you should buy only from a reputable dealer, Go to the square in the emrald district and find the many men standing around just waiting to pull little white envalopes out of their pockets to sell to you. There are many ways to make a emrald look better than it really is so be careful with your money and buy from reputable stores or bring an expert you trust.
As little as $20 as much as a Million Leave a Comment Theme: Jewelry
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Colombia is famous for high quality and very, very cheap emeralds ('esmereldas'). Jewelry stores specialising in this particular gem are common.
Jewelers in La Candelaria, Bogota, are probably the best (i.e. cheapest) place to buy them - there are many stores with a wide selection of merchandise.
Alternatively, don't be surprised if you're approached on the street in this area by a guy with some gems the size of your fingernail in an envelope he just carries round in his pocket - one road in particular is full of such merchants. However, the advantage of going to a store is that they will provide you with a certificate of authentification, so you can be reasonably sure you aren't buying a piece of green plastic...
Cartagena also has a very large number of jewelry stores, but prices are vastly inflated - seriously, you will pay 2 to 3 times what you'd pay in Bogota.
There's something to fit every budget. I bought a small gold cross containing six emeralds, each of diameter approximately 2mm, for £30 (US$45), in Bogota. Note that I saw exactly the same piece in a store in Cartagena, offered for £80 (US$120). Don't forget to haggle over the price - they expect it and the first price you are offered will be inflated. Leave a Comment Theme: Jewelry
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As most South-American cities, Colombian cities are also devided into the north and the south parts. The northern parts of the cities are cleaner, nicer, newer, and also more expensive. There you can find huge department stores and more modern buildings and shops. The place you should go to, if you are looking for cheap stuff (anything from clothes and shoes to CDs, souvenires and food) is the sothern part, called El Centro. The "centers" of the cities are also the most touristy places since these are the oldest parts filled with sight-seeing places (churches, monuments, architectural sights etc.). These parts are filled with marketplaces where you can find anything you need. There are typical open-air markets and cheap stores as well as huge buildings incorporating small stands where you can find absolutely everything and very cheaply.
Souvenires, clothes, CDs (copies as well as originals), make-up, house-hold items, shoes, basically - anything you can think of, just remember, that most of the things there are "fakes" - so you shouldn't go there, if you want an original Nike or Adidas things.
As little as possible. And be sure to bargain. The first price is usually not the best one, so use your skills and negotiate. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: Southern parts of the cities.
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I?ve read some postings here that seem to recommend buying emeralds in downtown Bogota on the street.
First of all, for security reasons you shouldn?t negotiate or buy emeralds on the street, second, the people who sell emeralds on the street usually take advantage of the tourists and sell them fake emeralds, unless you?re an expert in emeralds don?t risk buying a piece of green polished glass.
Buy emeralds only in jewelry stores, there are many in the downtown area, specially along a small street east of Carrera Septima (the main thoroughfare that takes you to the Plaza de Bolivar) and at any jewelry store located in Malls and hotels. Leave a Comment Theme: Jewelry
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The ’stone’ in question here is, of course, the emerald, which Cartagena is famous for. 98 percent of the world's emeralds are mined in Colombia.
There were many jewellery stores around the centre that sold emeralds. There was even one store called ‘Romance In The Stone’. A pun to the fun and funny treasure-hunting movie starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Clever. Leave a Comment Theme: Jewelry
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Any bookstore or via the Internet, e.g. Amazon.
Books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez to immerse yourself into a dreamlike, colorful Colombian world. My favorites:
- "Love in the Times of Cholera"
- "Love and other Demons"
Around US $ 10 per item. Leave a Comment Theme: Books
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What is worthwhile buying in Colombia? Colombian coffee is good! The country is also known for producing textiles, baskets, hammocks, pottery and ceramics. And it is also famous for leather articles, art, antiques, gold and semiprecious stones and of course emeralds, a very important business in Colombia. It's better not to buy anything valuable in the streets because it will probably be fake. Theme: Other
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One of Colombias biggest exports is Flowers. The roses you bought in the States are probably from here of Equedor, and while over $1billion are exported every year there are plenty still left in Colombia. I rarely go without fresh roses in my house, bought from venders right off the street.
They are fresh and if you pick some nice tight buds, will last for weeks. Funny enough the cheap, $4 for a dozen, ones from the street, seem to last better from the big ones from the stores, and those can cost as much as in the U.S. Leave a Comment Theme: Flowers
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This area has literally dozens of "opticas"
They all offer free prescriptions if you are buying glasses. I bought 3 pairs paying between $28 - $39 a pair. Glasses are made in under an hour. In the US, doing something like that costs about 10x more. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Ave Cuidad De Lima & Ave Fernando Mazuera
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