Shopping · Cartagena · Colombia
Shopping in Cartagena
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Cartagena centres on crafts — Wayuu mochila bags, hammocks, emeralds and hats — plus design boutiques in the walled city. Bocagrande has the modern malls. Best souvenirs: Wayuu mochila bags, Sombrero vueltiao and Emeralds.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Wayuu mochila bags
Where to shop
Las Bóvedas
Craft and souvenir shops in the vaults of the city walls in San Diego.
Walled city boutiques
Colombian designer clothing, jewellery and homeware in the streets around Calle de la Iglesia and Plaza de San Diego.
Bocagrande malls
Shopping centres with international brands and air conditioning.
Markets
Mercado de Bazurto
The city's chaotic main market for food and everyday goods; best visited with a guide.
El Portal de los Dulces
Traditional sweet sellers under the arcade by the Torre del Reloj.
What to buy
Wayuu mochila bags
Hand-crocheted bags made by Wayuu women from La Guajira; quality and price reflect the tightness of the weave.
Sombrero vueltiao
Colombia's national hat, woven from caña flecha fibre; finer weaves take longer to make.
Emeralds
Colombia is a major emerald producer; buy only from established jewellers with certificates.
Hammocks
Woven cotton hammocks from the coast are light enough to carry home.
Colombian coffee
Single-origin beans from specialty cafés in the old town.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · San Diego
Las Bóvedas
Twenty-three vaults built into the walls in the late 18th century, once used as storerooms and later as a prison, now house craft and souvenir shops selling hammocks, mochila bags and Wayuu weavings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Free
Market · Pie de la Popa
Mercado de Bazurto
Cartagena's sprawling, chaotic main market sells fish, meat, fruit and household goods, with cheap lunch stalls cooking fried fish and stews.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Carimañola, Cocadas and dulces típicos, Limonada de coco and Fresh fruit juices. Breakfast stalls, bakeries and street vendors across the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $$$$ | The walled city's grand plazas, churches and boutique hotels in restored colonial houses |
| San Diego | $$$ | The quieter, residential side of the walled city with small plazas and convent hotels |
| Getsemaní | $$ | Former working-class barrio of murals, hostels, salsa bars and evening street life |
| Bocagrande | $$ | High-rise hotels, the city beach and malls on a narrow peninsula |
| Manga | $$ | Residential island district with early-20th-century villas and marinas |
| Zona Norte | $$$ | Beach resorts and new towers north of the airport towards La Boquilla |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in COP. A voluntary 10% service charge is usually added to restaurant bills; it is customary to pay it if service was good. Tip guides and boat crews a little, and round up taxi fares.
- Withdraw cash from bank ATMs inside banks or malls and decline dynamic currency conversion on card payments.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in October; the busiest months are December–January.
- January: Hay Festival Cartagena — literature and ideas (usually late January)
- January: Cartagena Festival de Música — classical music (usually January)
- March: Cartagena International Film Festival (usually March or April)
- December: Christmas lights and New Year's Eve celebrations in the walled city
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Cartagena?
Wayuu mochila bags, Sombrero vueltiao, Emeralds and Hammocks.
+Where is the best shopping in Cartagena?
Las Bóvedas: Craft and souvenir shops in the vaults of the city walls in San Diego.
+What are the best markets in Cartagena?
Mercado de Bazurto and El Portal de los Dulces.