14. Shopping in Costa Rica - Handicrafts
Costa Rica offers those who love to browse and buy a rich variety of items that reflect the country's tastes and culture. In major urban areas and especially in San Jose, shopping malls offer a broad selection of merchandise: quality clothing, accessories, toys, linens, furniture. Costa Rica's malls are complemented by smaller specialty shops located in the business districts.
Crafts can commonly be found in artisans markets. Handmade ceramics, wooden articles, straw items and other handicrafts, all of which make excellent souvenirs. Many store, sell reproductions of pre-Columbian gold and silver pieces, as reminders of the nation's heritage.
All these works of art can be acquired at places such as: "Plaza de la Cultura" next to the National Theatre and the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, in downtown San Jose. Other suggested places for souvenirs are: The National Handicraft Market and CANAPI, as well as the town of Moravia, east of San Jose, that offers a wide variety of handicraft stores and workshops.
The most important woodcraft center is Sarchi, a picturesque town located in the Alajuela province, here the visitor will be able to buy not only bracelets, earrings or jewel boxes made out of wood, but at the same time they can take home an impressive piece of precious wooden furniture or the famous Costa Rican oxcart, well known throughout the world.