While you are here you may find that want to bring part of Costa Rica back with you. How can you do that without breaking the bank? Where should you go to find the highest quality of souvenirs from
local artisans and painters? The are two places in Costa Rica that are perfect to find anything from trinkets for your friends or the perfect art piece to bring part of Costa Rica into your home.
The Mercado Central (Central Market) is literally at the heart of San Jose and it’s a perfect place to observe daily Costa Rican life. It’s located at between avenues central and 1 and Calles 6 and 8, occupying a whole block. Inside you’ll find plenty of sodas (small cafes), butcher shops, and cheese shops but most importantly you’ll find an endless supply of souvenirs. Take the time to walk around the market before you buy anything. Try to take notice of the price differences and the selection available at each shop. Make a mental note of what you want to buy and how much you think it’s really worth, then you’re ready to start haggling and start buying. Try to buy most of the things that you want at one or two shops. The more you buy, the larger the discount that you’ll get from the vendors. In the end, this is the cheapest way to shop.
Small souvenirs like wallets, leather coin purses, key chains and shot glasses are usually $5 USD or less, especially if they are part of a larger purchase. Souvenirs like small wooden ox carts, toy guitars, hand painted clay pots and feathers can be found for around $10 USD. Larger more ornate ox carts and intricate paintings depicting old Costa Rica, or the different panoramas including the various volcanoes and beaches can be as much as $40 USD. Beautiful, high quality, hand-crafted leather purses and briefcases are well worth the $40-$50 USD. (If you aren’t in Costa Rica, but still want to shop for Costa Rican goods, visit this web-site.)
Some of the things found at the market are the same as you would find at a souvenir shop by the beach or closer to your hotel, however the market offers greater variety and higher quality products. Make the time to stop by the Central Market where you can always find something uniquely Costa Rican.
For more on shopping in Costa Rica, check out these posts.
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