Shopping · Quito · Ecuador
Shopping in Quito
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Quito is a good place to buy Andean crafts: wool and alpaca textiles, toquilla-straw hats (the 'Panama hat', which is actually Ecuadorian), tagua-nut jewellery, chocolate and colonial-style woodwork. Bargain gently at markets. Best souvenirs: Toquilla-straw hat, Ecuadorian chocolate and Alpaca and wool textiles.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Toquilla-straw hat
Where to shop
Centro Histórico
Shops selling colonial-style religious art, sweets from the convents and toquilla-straw hats near the main plazas.
La Mariscal
Craft and souvenir shops around Calle Juan León Mera and the Mercado Artesanal.
La Floresta
Independent design shops, coffee roasters and chocolate makers.
Quicentro and El Jardín
Large modern malls in the La Carolina business district.
Markets
Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal
A covered craft market with dozens of stalls selling textiles, hats, ceramics and jewellery.
Mercado Central
Food and produce market near the Plaza Grande, best for a local lunch.
Otavalo market
The region's great textile and craft market, about two hours north, biggest on Saturdays.
What to buy
Toquilla-straw hat
The finely woven 'Panama hat' originated in Ecuador; quality and price depend on the weave.
Ecuadorian chocolate
Single-origin bars from Ecuadorian bean-to-bar makers travel well.
Alpaca and wool textiles
Scarves, ponchos and blankets, especially from Otavalo weavers.
Tagua-nut jewellery
Carved and dyed 'vegetable ivory' from a rainforest palm seed.
Colonial-style woodcarving
Small religious figures and frames inspired by the Quito School.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Centro Histórico
Calle La Ronda
A narrow colonial lane of whitewashed houses with wooden balconies and flower pots, La Ronda holds traditional craft workshops, small cafés and bars serving canelazo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Couples
Market · Centro Histórico
Mercado Central
A short walk east of the Plaza Grande, Quito's central market is the place for a cheap lunch of locro de papa, corvina frita or a fresh fruit juice at counters run by the same families for decades.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Canelazo, Colada morada and guaguas de pan, Helados de paila and Ecuadorian chocolate. Bars on Calle La Ronda and street stands during the Fiestas de Quito in December. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| La Mariscal | $ | Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city |
| La Floresta | $$ | Street art, independent cafés and some of Quito's most creative restaurants |
| La Carolina | $$$ | Business hotels, malls and the city's biggest central park |
| Cumbayá | $$$ | A warmer valley suburb with restaurants, a cycle path and easier airport access |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill; leaving a little extra in cash for good service is appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up is common, and guides on day tours usually receive a tip.
- Greet people with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before asking anything in shops or offices.
- Bargaining is expected at craft markets but not in shops or restaurants.
- Ask restaurants whether service and VAT are already included before tipping extra.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March, May and October–November; the busiest months are July–August.
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, shopping and first-timers
La Carolina
Business hotels, malls and the city's biggest central park
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Quito?
Toquilla-straw hat, Ecuadorian chocolate, Alpaca and wool textiles and Tagua-nut jewellery.
+Where is the best shopping in Quito?
Centro Histórico: Shops selling colonial-style religious art, sweets from the convents and toquilla-straw hats near the main plazas.
+What are the best markets in Quito?
Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal, Mercado Central and Otavalo market.