South America is a great destination for shopping, particularly if you are interested in things that are produced locally rather than imported and relabelled. Brazil, Colombia, and Peru stand out for the quality and authenticity of what they offer to shoppers looking for local finds.
Brazil
Gemstones
Brazil is a significant gemstone-producing country, especially in the state of Minas Gerais.
- Imperial topaz is found almost exclusively in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. (The rich gold-to-orange variety is one of the rarest gemstones on earth.)
- Amethyst and citrine are highly accessible since Brazil is the world's largest producer of both. (But quality does vary, so buy from reputable dealers.)
- Tourmaline, particularly Paraíba tourmaline, is found in the northeastern state of Paraíba, which glows with a neon blue-green caused by copper traces. (The genuine Paraíba tourmaline is extraordinarily valuable and even small stones are costly.)
- Alexandrite is rare due to the unique color-changing characteristics of this gemstone (green in daylight, red under incandescent light).
Where to buy: For serious gemstone purchases, the HStern and Amsterdam Sauer stores in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo sell certified stones and internationally recognized hallmarking. The local markets and street vendors sell lower-quality gemstones; know what you are buying. The town of Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais has excellent artisan gem dealers at significantly lower prices than the Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo flagships.
Brazilian Beachwear and Fashion
Brazil's swimwear and beachwear industry, specifically Lenny Niemeyer, Salinas, and the internationally famous Havaianas flip-flops are highly sought brands. The notorious Brazilian bikini cut swimsuit is distinct (higher cut on the hip, smaller coverage area) with high fabric quality. And, the prices in Brazil are significantly lower than for the same or equivalent brands internationally.
São Paulo is the fashion capital and you can find the Bom Retiro district, which is the wholesale fashion district where small retailers and the public can buy clothing at near-factory prices. Rua 25 de Março in downtown São Paulo is an enormous street market, or bazaar, for everything from kitchen goods to textiles at bargain prices.
Coffee and Food Products
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, especially the high quality of specialty single-origin Brazilian coffee from the Cerrado Mineiro and Sul de Minas regions. The specialty coffee roasters in São Paulo and Rio offer better products than the supermarket brands. Also look for cachaça (the sugarcane spirit used in caipirinhas) and Brazil nuts from Amazonian sustainable producers.
Colombia
Emeralds
Colombia produces an estimated 60–70% of the world's finest emeralds. The Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor mines in the Boyacá region produce stones with a warm, slightly yellowish-green "Colombian" color. If you are going to buy an emerald anywhere, Colombia is the place.
Where to buy in Bogotá: The gem trading street of Avenida Jiménez near the Banco de la República in downtown Bogotá has dozens of registered emerald dealers. The Emerald Trade Center on Carrera 7 has certified dealers. It is also worth nothing that that treated emeralds are common and almost all commercial emeralds are oiled (filled with cedar oil or resin to improve clarity). This is standard industry practice, but should be disclosed; so be sure to ask for a certificate from a gemologist, which better dealers will readily provide.
Coffee Products
Colombian coffee is among the world's most recognized, but the better coffee is found beyond the airport Juan Valdez franchise.
- Specialty roasters in Bogotá and Medellín like Café Cultor, Café Quindío, and independent micro-roasters in the El Poblado district of Medellín sell single-origin, micro-lot coffees from specific farms at prices that are great value.
- The Coffee region (Eje Cafetero) is the coffee-growing region of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, centred on the towns of Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira. When you visit, you buy directly from cooperative stores and farm tasting rooms. The coffee here is picked and roasted within days.
Leather Goods and Artisan Crafts
Colombian leather goods such as bags, belts, wallets, and shoes are high quality and sold at prices significantly below equivalent items in other countries. Medellín is Colombia's fashion and manufacturing capital where the El Centro district has dozens of leather workshops and artisan crafts worth your consideration.
- Mochila Wayuu bags are woven by the Wayuu people of La Guajira in the north. These colorful crocheted bags take up to a month to make by hand.
- Sombrero vueltiao is the Colombian national hat, woven from the cañaflecha reed in intricate black-and-white patterns by Zenú indigenous communities in the Caribbean coast region.
- Aguardiente is Colombia's anise-flavored spirit. And, regional varieties make good gifts.
Peru
Alpaca and Baby Alpaca
Peru produces approximately 80% of the world's alpaca fiber. The finest grade is baby alpaca and comes from the first shearing of a young alpaca and produces a fiber softer than cashmere, that is hypoallergenic and naturally thermal-regulating. A genuine baby alpaca sweater from a quality Peruvian producer costs $80–200 in Cusco or Lima.
- Cusco's San Blas neighborhood: The hillside artisan district above the Plaza de Armas has permanent workshops of weavers and knitters where you watch the artisans and buy directly from them (this supports the artisans at fair prices).
- Pisac and the Sacred Valley markets: The Sunday market at Pisac is one of the largest artisan markets in the Andes where quality can vary but the prices are low. While bargaining is expected, don't over-leverage or exploit because these items take days or weeks to make which directly supports the artisans' livelihoods.
- Lima's Miraflores: This district has upscale boutiques along Larco Mar where they sell certified baby alpaca alongside Peruvian silver and ceramics. (It is more expensive than Cusco, but products are authenticated and consistent.)
Silver Jewelry and Andean Crafts
Peruvian sterling silver jewelry which often depicts Inca iconography, pre-Columbian motifs, and semiprecious stones set in silver. Cusco's Plaza San Blas and its surrounding streets are the best single concentration of quality silver artisans. Other notable finds include,
- Retablos which are the painted wooden boxes with miniature scenes from Andean life, religious narratives, or Inca history inside. They are made in Ayacucho, where this craft originated during colonial evangelism.
- Mate burilado which are the carved and decorated dried gourds (mate) with intricate narrative scenes engraved onto the surface. (The small ones cost $5–15; large museum-quality pieces can cost $50–200.) And,
- Pisco which is a grape brandy. Peru and Chile both claim the origin of pisco, but Peruvian pisco has a distinct flavor since it is usually made from grape varieties (Quebranta, Torontel, Italia) and not aged in oak. You can buy a bottle of El Gobernador Quebranta or Barsol Italia to taste the difference.
Shopping Tips
- Bargaining: Expected at markets in all three countries; not expected in shops with fixed prices. In Peru Andean markets, bargaining is normal, so start at 20–30% below the asking price.
- Certificates: For gemstones (Paraíba tourmalines in Brazil, emeralds in Colombia), insist on gemological certificates or at minimum a written receipt stating what you are buying. (Customs authorities do take an interest in undeclared gemstone purchases.)
- Shipping: Large items (heavy textiles, ceramics, alpaca rugs) can be shipped internationally from major cities. Lima has several reputable international shipping agents near the Miraflores area. DHL and FedEx offices operate in all three capitals.
- Currency: Always pay in local currency where possible (BRL in Brazil, COP in Colombia, PEN in Peru) since vendors who accept other currencies often apply unfavorable exchange rates. Oh, and street money changers are not recommended.