Colombia Info
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Posts: 17
Home Country: columbia
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 Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: SHOPPING IN COLOMBIA / COLOMBIA SHOPPING GUIDE (BOGOTA) |
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SHOPPING IN COLOMBIA (BOGOTA)
OVERVIEW
Special purchases include local handicrafts, cotton, wood and leather goods, woolen blankets, ruana, and traveling bags. Hotel shops carry excellent gold reproductions of ancient Colombian jewelry. Colombia produces first-grade stones, and the emeralds are among the most perfect in the world.
Bogotá's shops and markets stock all types of leather and wool goods designed for life on the high plains. Handwoven ruanas (ponchos) are particularly popular; the natural oils in the wool make them almost impervious to rain. Colombian artisans also have a way with straw: toquilla, a tough native fiber, is used to make a dizzying variety of hats, shoes, handbags, and even umbrellas.
Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0900-2000
Currency
Colombian Peso (COP) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of peso50,000, 20,000, 10,000 and 5000. Coins are in denominations of peso1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50.
Currency exchange
The exchange rate tends to be lower on the Caribbean coast than in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali. The US Dollar is the easiest currency to exchange at hotels, banks, shops and travel agencies, but all establishments charge an exchange fee. Travelers are advised to only use reputable exchange houses.
Credit & debit cards
All major cards are accepted, but check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Traveller's cheques
These are not always easy to change in the smaller towns, except at branches of the Banco de la República. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars which can be exchanged at banks, foreign exchange and large hotels.
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is unlimited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited subject to declaration on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to US$25,000.
PLACES TO SHOP
Almacen de Antiguedades Leonardo F
A good bet for quality antiques.
Address: Carrera 4 No. 12-34, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/334-8312
Anticuarios Gilberto F. Hernández
Antiques shops are found mainly in the northern districts of Chapinero, Chicó, and Usaquén. One of the best is Anticuarios Gilberto F. Hernández.
Address: Calle 79B No. 7-48, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/249-0041 or 091/248-7572
Artesanías El Zaque
Artesanías El Zaque offers especially good buys on hammocks.
Address: Centro Internacional, Carrera 10 No. 26-71, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/342-7883
Centro Andino
Stylish boutiques dominate the chic Centro Andino, an anchor of the Zona Rosa since 1993. Tower Records, the only major chain store, is a good place to buy English-language magazines and newspapers. There's a U.S.-style food court and a movie theatre on the fourth floor.
Address: Carrera 11 No. 82-71, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/636-0012
El Balay
El Balay stocks the city's widest selection of souvenirs from around Colombia.
Address: Carrera 15 No. 75-63, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/248-5833
Flea Markets
The flea market in the Centro Internacional takes over a parking lot alongside the Museo de Arte Moderno, on Sunday. It is a good place to hunt for antiques, handicrafts, and just plain junk.
Address: Calle 24, ½ block east of Carrera 7, Bogotá, Colombia
An upscale Sunday flea market in Usaquén has a good selection of high-quality local crafts.
Address: Carrera 7 No. 119B-33, Bogotá, Colombia
Galeria Cano
In both the Centro Internacional and the Centro Comercial Andino is It sells emeralds as well as gold jewelry using striking pre-Columbian designs taken from the Museo de Oro. Other location: Edificio Banco Mercantil, Carrera 12 No. 84-07, PHONE: 091/635-0529.
Address: Edificio Bavaria, Carrera 13 No. 27-98, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/336-3255
H. Stern
There are countless jewelry shops in the Centro Internacional along Carreras 6 between Calles 10 and 13. H. Stern sells all kinds of precious gems.
Address: Tequendama Hotel, Carrera 10 No. 26-21, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/283-2819
Hacienda Santa Barbara
Farther north is the upscale Hacienda Santa Barbara, constructed as an extension of a colonial-era plantation home.
Address: Carrera 7 No. 115-60, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/612-0388
Maria Cancino
The two branches of Maria Cancino stock both Colombian antiques and European pieces.
Address: Calle 63 No. 9-54, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/212-6353
Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares
The shop at the Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares carries handmade items.
Address: Carrera 8 No. 7-21, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/342-1266
Pasaje Rivas indoor market
In the warren of stalls at the daily Pasaje Rivas indoor market look for bargain-price ponchos, blankets, leather goods, and crafts.
Address: Carrera 10 at Calle 10, Bogotá, Colombia
Unicentro Shopping Center
The massive Unicentro Shopping Center in Bogotá's affluent north is one of South America's largest air-conditioned malls and has a huge selection of stores.
Address: Av. 15 No. 123-30, Bogotá, Colombia
Phone: 091/213-8800 |
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