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Cuenca Travel Guide

Cuenca Shopping

Arte con Sabor a cafe - Cuenca
Arte con Sabor a cafe
by elsadran
Go shopping in Cuenca with recommendations, reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and locals.
Local Time 3:40 am Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Cuenca ShoppingTips 1 - 10 of 14  
Popular Shopping | Miscellaneous Shopping Tips | All Tips (14)
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Barranco: The real panama hat!!
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  • By CaptainAmerica on April 26, 2004
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  • Wonderful hats... - Cuenca
    Wonderful hats...
    by CaptainAmerica
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    Very nice shop where you can buy the real super-fino panama hat, as well as less pricey hats, for men and women. They finish the hats themselves and you can choose your hat and the finishing. The shopkeepers are nice, friendly and very helpful. They may prepare your hats for the flight (even if you did not buy them at the shop but in this case, do not forget the tip). There's a small museum too.

    All the shop!

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  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Address: Calle Larga 10-41

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    Taller de sombreros Angel Zhunio: Panama Hats
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  • By CaptainAmerica on April 26, 2004
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  • Traditiona hats - Cuenca
    Traditiona hats
    by CaptainAmerica
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    Small shop in the center of Cuenca more famous for its traditional hats than for panamas. However, it really worth a visit to see the owner refurbish the hats or ear his opinion on a hat.

    A traditional hat... or just have a look.

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  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Address: La Condamine at Tarqui
  • Directions: In the city center. Just ask for the shop!

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    Plaza Rotary: a real authentic local market
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  • Updated By richiecdisc on March 17, 2008
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  • the typical Mercado exterior - Cuenca
    the typical Mercado exterior
    by richiecdisc, 1 more photos
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    One of the great joys of South American travel are the local markets. Whether you are shopping or just looking at crafts, produce, or snacks it is a sensory assault you’ll not soon forget. Cuenca has a great local market at Rotary Plaza. Its forte is produce with vendors setting up makeshift stands outside and more established venues in the interior. There are also food and drink vendors so it makes for a cheap, authentic place for lunch. It closes down early and it’s not the safest place to walk around at night. We met some fellow travelers that were staying in the area and did not have any problems but like us they weren’t generally out at night and got from point A to B as quickly as possible.

    Great cheap lunches and fruit drinks along with produce are the real finds in this very authentic local market.

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  • Theme: Food and Drink
  • Address: Mariscal Lamar & Hermano Miguel
  • Directions: The eastern side of the Old Town

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    Centro Municipal Artesanal CEMUART: Artesanias in Cuenca
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  • Updated By calcaf38 on October 13, 2007
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  • CEMUART entrance - Cuenca
    CEMUART entrance
    by calcaf38, 2 more photos
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    If you like to do all your souvenir shopping boom-boom in one hour flat, this is the place for you. Arranged around two courtyards, and on two levels, CEMUART is a co-op of craftspeople. You will find Tagua carvings, lots of textiles, leather, pottery... Another good place for some last minute shopping (open late) is the Galeria El Tucán. It looks more upscale than the CEMUART co-op, but the prices are the same (see third photo). The Galeria is situated Antonio Borrero 7-35, near the corner of presidente Córdova.

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  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Address: General Torres 7-33
  • Directions: Across the street from the Plaza San Francisco Market. The entrance is under an arcade, next door to the Casa de la Mujer.

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    Any one of the hat shops and factories in Cuenca: You gotta buy a hat
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  • By pchamlis on May 24, 2003
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  • My wife, Bonnie, models a Cuencan hat - Cuenca
    My wife, Bonnie, models a
    Cuencan hat
    by pchamlis
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    Ask at your hotel desk. There are several hat shops and factories at which you could shop. You might want to take a little tour to see how the hats are made. Very interesting.

    The straw "Panama-style" hat of your dreams. Customize as you choose with silk or color.

    $35-50 US. (The US dollar is the coin of the realm in Ecuador)

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  • Theme: Other

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    ABC Libreria: Used books English
  • Updated By retired_poppi on February 7, 2007
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  • ABC bookstore exterior - Cuenca
    ABC bookstore exterior
    by retired_poppi
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    The ABC bookstore has a large, well organized, collection of used books in English. The prices of the books on the shelves are clearly indicated. The owner, Carol, is very knowledgable about the books and takes great pride in the organization of them. The selection of language translation dictionaries includes English/Spanish, German/Spanish, French/Spanish, Italian/Spanish, and Portuguese/Spanish. There is also a good selection Spanish language materials.

    Sell your Ecuador travel book before you depart and purchase something to read on the airplane going home. The ABC bookstore will purchase any used book for $US 2.00.

    Typical January 2007 examples: Dick Francis @ $US 4.50, Tom Clancy @ $US 7.00.

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  • Theme: Books
  • Address: Padre Aguirre 8-11 y Sucre
  • Phone: 593-7 2845 749
  • Directions: Diagonal to the flower market. Or, think of it as behind the new cathredral, across the street
  • Other Contact: liberia_abc@yahoo.com

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    All Over the City: Street Markets
  • Updated By lemondrop on January 1, 2008
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  • Lots of local flavor at the street markets - Cuenca
    Lots of local flavor at the
    street markets
    by lemondrop, 1 more photos
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    Evrywhere you go in Cuenca, you will run into street markets selling all manner of things. Plenty of local crafts are available, and you can find most anything else you need for your travels as well. Bargaining is expected.

    Be sure to bargain. At first offer half of the asking price, then try to settle for something in between. The more items you buy from a particular merchant should bring you a bigger discount

  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Directions: All over the place

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    Arte con Sabor a cafe: best combination for coffee and shopping
  • Updated By elsadran on April 22, 2008
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  • Arte con Sabor a cafe - Cuenca
    Arte con Sabor a cafe
    by elsadran, 3 more photos
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    A wonderfully decorated place where you can have a cup of coffe in a very artistic environment with excellent taste. All the items seem really unique, and beautiful in their imaginative simplicity. I almost liked everything! The prices are very good and I think even if you just go for coffee, you will finally give in and buy something. There are also many little inexpensive things which make a nice gift. Bags, decoration ..delights, paintings, jewelry of good quality silver made by the best ecuadorian designers, and many tasteful items for as cheap as 2$-5$. There is also a permanent exhibition and sale of a famous local painter. Click on the picture

  • Theme: Gifts
  • Phone: (593)7-2829426
  • Directions: It's at Paseo 3 de Noviembre1-48 y Colonel Talbot, which is near the Museum of Modern Art. Walk towards the river, go down some steps and you will see it on the corner. Very special! This region is called Otorongo.
  • Website: arteconsaboracafe@hotmail.com
  • Other Contact: (593)99-897008

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    Artes J . G - CUENCA: exclusive gifts..
  • By elsadran on April 19, 2008
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  • Artes J.G. - Cuenca
    Artes J.G.
    by elsadran, 3 more photos
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    In Cuenca you will surely spend one morning at least strolling down Calle Larga. Just next to the museum of the Aboriginal Cultures, there is a small but very interesting shop with a treasure of beautiful items. There are necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets. The owner is the artist and designer of the jewelry and most of the decorative pieces made of gold and silver, beautiful semi-precious stones, bone, clay, tagua ( a kind of coconut) and coral - also on black coral which is very rare. The designs are exclusive and very imaginative. There are artifacts and antiquities. The prices are very good and you won't have to negotiate. He also repairs watches. It's the perfect place to get special gifts for your friends and family. Above the originally shaped door you will see the artist's initial J. G which stands for Jorge Gonzales Click on the photo Artes J.G. Al lado del Museo de Culturas Aboriginas un tresor de joyas de disenos exclusivos. Collares, anillos, manillas, gargantillas, aretes en coco, coral, tagua, oro y plata, y piedras semipreciosas. Artesanias, antiquedades. Todo en buenos precios. Ademas arreglo de relojes. El disenador es Jorge Gonzales. El mejor lugar para regalos especiales!

  • Theme: Jewelry
  • Address: Calle Larga 5-48 - CUENCA
  • Phone: tel. 099027091

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    Barranco - naturalmente clasicos: Buy a Panama hat in Cuenca
  • By Schmudi on August 9, 2006
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  • Cuenca Shopping
    by Schmudi, 3 more photos
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    Friendly, nice, museum included... And they can send the hats all over the world!

    For sure, buy a panama hat. There are all prices and qualities, starts at 10 Dollars, but it`s possible to buy a superfino from Montecristi here, too...but for much more money :-)

    10-300 Dollars

  • Theme: Other
  • Address: Calle Larga 10-41
  • Phone: 593072831569

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    Overview
         		General Tips
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    Restaurants
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 19    		Hotels and Accommodations
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    Things To Do
    Tips: 65 - Photos: 58    		Nightlife
    Tips: 9 - Photos: 5
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 6    		Tourist Traps
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    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 7 - Photos: 6    		Transportation
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    Local Customs
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2    		Packing Lists
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    Shopping
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 12    		Sports Travel
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    Flights
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 8

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