Planning a trip to El Salvador for a shopping vacation to San Salvador, the capital city of the country? Shopping in San Salvador is a different experience altogether than shopping elsewhere in the country. The city veritably offers everything that an avid shopaholic would always want. Whether you want to visit small variety stores, street markets, on-room food stores, expensive designer shops or high-end malls, all these and much more are available in this beautiful city.
Before you actually set out for you shopping sojourn, here are some of the basic facts you need to know. This would give you a brief idea about what is shopping all about in the city. The town squares are transformed into markets on weekends. You can find almost everything being sold at these markets such as calculators, arts and crafts items, decorative wooden boxes, textiles, furniture, clothing, ceramics, and various other handicrafts as well. You can buy most of these items at good bargain prices.
Let’s embark on a shopping tour of San Salvador now. You will need to spend at least 15 days for your shopping. It is only then you will satisfy yourself with the shopping expedition. Here’s a brief itinerary of your shopping tour.
San Salvador is home to some of the largest malls in the Americas. These malls are complete with bars, vibrant country-themed restaurants, designer stores, and faux cobbled streetscapes. Be ready to spend at least two days exploring these fabulous malls. Visit the sprawling Mercado Central mall if you want to purchase something more authentic and traditional. You will find anything and everything being sold here. The Mercados Naciona de Artesanías is another great place situated behind the Fería Internacional de El Salvador. Here you can shop for arts and handicraft items at one place itself. This outdoor market is great favorites with tourists looking out for crafted goods to take back home as souvenirs. You will find a wide range of items such as colorful wood sculptures depicting local and national heroes and personalities, black pottery, indigo dresses, miniatures, and more. The prices of the items vary and you can get a good bargain. It is open all seven days of the week from 9 am to 6 pm. This is undoubtedly one of the best places in the city to buy souvenirs.
After spending good time exploring the city’s malls, it’s time that you move forward on the next leg of your shopping tour. You will again need to spend another two days enjoy the fascinating Suchitoto Arts at ‘This is My Land Artisans’ Market’, which is situated in the Central Plaza. This is a popular weekend market open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You will be amazed to browse through the rich El Salvadorian crafts such as black clay dishware, embroidered fabrics, indigo-dyed clothing, ornaments, jewelry, handmade hammocks and much more. This famous crafts and food market in the picturesque village of Suchitoto is a great attraction for tourists visiting the country. Want to enjoy the yummy Argentine barbecue? Then head to the La Casa del Escultor. After enjoying the barbecue, you can also buy an artwork created by its owner.
Your entire fifth day will be spent visiting the Concepción de Quezaltepeque and La Palma. While on your day trip north to Concepción de Quezaltepeque, a hammock heaven and small hilltop village to north of Lago Suchitlán, you will need to continue your journey towards the Honduran border and finally reach La Palma, a mural-filled mountain town. Here you will enjoy and purchase colorful arts and crafts at Placita Artesanal La Palma and Artesanías Kemuel.
Nearly all the towns in El Salvador have their own specialties. The town of Nahuizalco is famous for its wicker ware and furniture. The focus of Juayúa town is primarily on food. Apaneca focuses on flowers. The Ataco town is renowned for the production of premium coffee. In fact, all the towns have a number of handicrafts stores as well where souvenir knick-knacks, ceramics and artworks can be found. If you love horseback riding or want to go for a coffee tour, you need to stay back in Ataco and enjoy all these. You will however be required to spend two days to visit these towns and indulge in some great shopping.
It would just be a fantastic idea to spend another two days to visit the art galleries in Managua. The art scene here is the most vibrant of all the places in Central America. The popular art galleries of Galería Solentiname and Galería Añil are worth visiting.
Shopping at all these places in San Salvador is undoubtedly an exciting and exhilarating experience. You will want to visit this Central American destination again and again for your shopping expedition.
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