The best fashion and gift stores Bolivia

Timetable

Shops are generally open Monday to Saturday from 9am to midday and from 2pm to 6:30pm. In the Oriente, shops are open in the morning, but sometimes close around midday because of the heat, and don't reopen until around 4pm. Shops around tourist sites are generally open without interruption.

Budget & Tips

The country isn't exactly a shopper's paradise, but you'll find a few modern shopping malls in La Paz and Santa Cruz.

Bolivia's markets are among the most fascinating in South America, and the local handicrafts (textiles, alpaca clothing, tanning, jewelry, etc.) are well worth a closer look.

What's very local

Don't hesitate to haggle for anything, within reasonable limits. Bargaining is part of the Bolivian way of life, but discounts rarely exceed 25% of the original price. However, don't try to undercut the price of local handicrafts, as their survival depends on it. While haggling is part of the way of life in other Latin American countries, it is used much more sparingly in Bolivia. It may seem like a game, but paying a fair price (admittedly difficult to define) is a matter of survival for the locals and respect for the visitor's hosts.

When it comes to shopping for alpaca clothing, a visit to La Paz's Sagarnaga district, which is frequented by tourists from all over the world, is a must. These alleyways are probably brimming with the country's finest handicrafts, at attractive prices (lower than in other Bolivian cities). Negotiations are generally around 20%. All it takes is a smile from the cholita, a few words in Aymara (Kamisaki: "Hello, how are you?"; Waliki: "I'm fine").

Tourist traps

Beware: the markets are overflowing with counterfeit Western brands (T-shirts, clothes...), and it is strictly forbidden to bring them back to France (watch out when you go through customs!).