Shopping is something that intrigues everyone and something that is loved by almost everyone. Barring a few scarce people, everyone loves shopping and is always on the lookout for good places to shop at.
This merriment of shopping scales up to new levels when you are visiting a new city or even a country like Ecuador. In the case of Ecuador, a country having immense historical and cultural importance, you can hardly keep yourself off the markets and places for shopping in Ecuador that offers a variety of products!.
As RocApplywe understand how vital it is for you to have a steady shopping lifestyle in a foreign land! Ecuador has an ongoing tradition of handcrafts that are practical, beautiful, and also make for great souvenirs.
Popular products include woven textiles such as tapestries, sweaters, ponchos, and shawls. The famous Otavalo Market is one of Latin America’s oldest craft markets, operating since Incan times.
These days, indigenous and other artisans sell a wide range of handiwork comprising ethnic jewelry, masks, wood and stone carvings, blankets, and hammocks here. There are stalls every day, but Saturday is the optimal time to shop as out-of-town Indians come to sell their wares.
Panama hats, named for the accessory worn when the canal was being built, are actually an Ecuadorian product, and some of the coolest hats in the world.
Montecristi in Manabi province has many of the remaining master weavers who craft these by hand over several days or even months in some cases, out of toquilla palm straw that has been split as thin as thread. The finer the fibers, the more flexible the hat, and prices can range from USD 10 up to several thousand dollars.
The country’s volcanoes have created hot springs with reputed healing properties. Banos is a small city in the Oriente, at the foot of the active Tungurahua where Las Piscinas de la Virgen has thermal pools of different temperatures and waterfall scenes. Alternatively, those based in Quito could try an overnight excursion to Papallacta Termas, a spa hotel with 12 landscaped mineral springs of varying temperatures, beautiful mountain views, and full treatment packages.
When shopping in the markets, feel free to bargain. If you want to get an idea of how much you should be paying, visit the state-run craft markets, which have steady rates. Shops here are mostly open from 8:00 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m on weekdays.
Most are closed at least once a week, usually on Sundays, but you will still find something open every day of the week.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
