Places to Shop
1. Plaza las Americas
The largest shopping complex in Puerto Rico has more than 200 shops, including well-known names such as Macy’s and Banana Republic. Independent shops sell everything from cigars and jewelry to electronics.
Av FD Roosevelt 525, Las Américas Expressway, Hato Rey • 787 767 5202
2. Moca
The traditional center of mundillo lace-making in Puerto Rico, Moca is the best place to buy beautiful blouses and tablecloths. You can see these being handmade on telares (lap boxes) at family-run crafts stores that open out on to the street. November is the best time to visit, when the mundillo festival is held.
3. Calle Fortaleza
This cobbled street in the heart of Old San Juan is lined with art galleries, boutiques, and craft stores. It gets crowded with shoppers when cruise ships are in port, so don’t expect great bargains. Barrachina’s serves free rum as you peruse its arts and crafts, cigars, and jewelry.Old San Juan
4. Puerto Rican Arts & Crafts
This store has a huge selection of crafts, including a tremendous range of santos and papier-mâché carnival masks. A separate section sells gourmet Puerto Rican food items, while an art gallery at the rear sells exquisite silk-screened serigraphs.Calle Fortaleza 204, Old San Juan • 787 725 5596
5. La Calle
This is the best place in San Juan to buy irresistibly grotesque carnival masks (caretas), made of papier-mâché and painted in gaudy colors. Prices range from $10 to $2,500, depending on quality and complexity.
6. Plaza del Mercado de Santurce
Providing a taste of traditional Puerto Rico in the heart of the modern city, this atmospheric market (known as “La Placita”) is a great place to haggle over fresh fruit and vegetables, handicrafts, and home-made remedies at botánicas (medicinal stalls). The vendors host street parties with live music and dancing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
7. Calle del Cristo
This charming colonial street has many of Old San Juan’s most stylish boutiques, as well as art galleries and lively cafés. Browse through paintings set out by artists on Plazuela Las Monjas, or pick up some creative and eclectic art and jewelry at Bóveda.
8. Orocovis
Carved wooden santos, priced from $50 to $1,500, are the specialty of the artisans in this town. Most notable are the works of Celestino Avilés and his son Antonio Avilés Burgos. A good time to buy is during the Festival de Artesanías in September.
9. Avenida Ashford
This tourist strip is famous for its cosmopolitan shops and high-end boutiques selling quality ware. It also has lots of bars, cafés, restaurants, and day spas where you can relax after a day’s shopping (for further details see Avenida Ashford).
10. Puerto Rico Premium Outlets
This charming mall boasts neocolonial architecture and beautiful mountain views. Apart from excellent discount offers on some of the best brand names, the mall has a host of great eateries in the food court.1 Premium Outlets Blvd, Barceloneta • 787 846 5300
Top 10 Souvenirs
1. Carnival Masks
These frightening papier-mâché demon masks (caretas) make great wall-hangings. The best come from Ponce.
2. Coffee
Puerto Rico’s mountain-grown coffee, hard to find off the island, can be bought at local specialty shops.
3. “Maboiti” Birds
These life-size bird figurines, hand-carved by Elpidio Collazo González (1937–2007), are now collectors’ items.
4. Santos
These folksy hand-carved figures of Catholic saints are the quintessential Puerto Rican craft item.
5. Mundillo Lace
Delicate lace clothing and cloths handmade in Moca are eagerly sought by collectors.
6. Jewelry
San Juan is a great place to buy designer watches and jewelry at duty-free prices.
7. Music DVDs
There is a vast choice of merengue and salsa albums. Look for traditional jibaro country music too.
8. Taíno-Inspired Ceramics
Well-crafted replicas of artifacts unearthed at Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes can be bought in museums and craft stores.
9. Cigars
Hand-rolled Puerto Rican cigars are good value, as are Dominican imports, but Cuban cigars are not sold here.
10. Guayaberas
These tropical shirts for men are not only stylish, but also perfectly suited to the hot climate.
