Chile Info
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
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Home Country: chile
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 Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject: SHOPPING IN CHILE / CHILE SHOPPING GUIDE (SANTIAGO) |
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SHOPPING IN CHILE (SANTIAGO)
Shopping Centres
Santiago is home to two American-style megamalls: Parque Arauco, Av. Kennedy 5413, open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sunday and holidays from 11am to 9pm; and Alto Las Condes, Av. Kennedy 9001, open Monday through Sunday from 10am to 10pm. Both offer a hundred or so national brands and well-known international chains, junk-food courts, and multiscreen theatres (Parque Arauco is closer to Providencia). The best way to get to Parque Arauco is by cab (about US$4- US$5 from Providencia), or take the Metro to Escuela Militar and take a blue "Metro Bus" that will drop you off at the door. Note that weekends are hectic and jam-packed with shoppers. There are no metro stops near Alto Las Condes.
Like most Latin American nations, many Chileans sell out of shopping galerías, labyrinthine minimalls with dozens of compact shops that independent vendors can rent for considerably less money than a regular storefront. Most are cheap to midrange clothing stores, upstart designers with fun styles but so-so fabrics, or importers of crafts, antiques dealers, tailors, and so on. A vibrant, bustling example is the Mall Panorámico, Avenida Ricardo Lyon and Avenida 11 de Septiembre (Metro: Pedro de Valdivia), with 130 shops and a department store across the street. For funky boutiques, try the "Drugstore," on Avenida Providencia between Las Urbinas and Avenida de Fuenzalida (walk back to where the café seating is and go left). Several blocks away on General Holley, Suecia, and Bucarest streets, you'll find more expensive, upscale clothing boutiques. Chile's version of Rodeo Drive is Alonso de Córdova in the Vitacura neighbourhood -- there are also good-quality boutiques here, including furniture, household goods, and jewelry.
Crafts Markets
Crafts markets can be found around Santiago, as either permanent installations or weekly events; however, highly recommended is Los Domínicos above all other markets for selection and quality (Av. Apoquindo 9085), open Tuesday through Sunday and holidays from 10:30am to 7pm. The permanent shopping area, designed like a mock colonial village, is a one-stop shopping arcade for those who want to buy gifts all in one fell swoop. There are hand-knit sweaters, lapis lazuli, arts and crafts, antiques (expensive), and Chilean traditional wear such as ponchos. It sits next to the (usually closed) San Vicente Ferrer de Los Domínicos Church, built in the 18th century. To get here, you'll need a taxi because the market is high in Las Condes. The cost to get here is US$3 to US$5 one-way if coming from Providencia.
If you are short on time, then try the largest market in Santiago, the Feria Santa Lucía, at Cerro Santa Lucía (on the other side of Alameda; Metro: Santa Lucía). The outdoor market is hard to miss, with its soaring billboards and sprawl of stalls hawking clothing, jewelry, and arts and crafts -- even some antiques and collectibles. Hours vary, but it's generally open Monday through Saturday (sometimes Sun) from 10am to 7pm. In Bellavista on weekends, a crafts fair runs along Calle Pío Nono (Metro: Salvador), where you'll find dozens of booths selling a variety of goods such as jewelry and old records, but it's pretty scrappy and most vendors are do-it-yourselfers with trinkets displayed on fabric laid out on the sidewalk. |
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