Shopping in Chile - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

Chile is a great place for shopping, as here you can find big shopping malls, colorful markets, and countless souvenir shops. Most shops are open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. One of the largest shopping centers in Chile is "Parque Arauco" in Santiago, Kennedy Avenue. You can buy branded clothes and household goods, watch a movie in one of the cinemas, go ice skating, play bowling or have a snack in one of the restaurants where live music plays. On the same street, there are "Alto Las Condes" Shopping Center housing shops like "Adidas", "Isadora", "Lush", "Converse" and others, as well as excellent cafes and restaurants - "Starbucks", "Havanna", "Dunkin' Donuts" and so on. "Mallplaza" malls can be found throughout the country: in Alameda, Tobalaba, La Serena, and 14 more cities. This chain founded in 1990 is now famous for its excellent cafes, hundreds of brand shops, and cinemas.

Chile has a huge number of markets with fresh local fruits and vegetables, souvenirs, and alpaca wool clothing. "La Vega Central Market", a huge indoor food market in Santiago, opens at 4:00 am and closes at 7:30 pm. The market has operated for at least a century, but its modern, civilized design it received in 1985. It sells fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Chile and Peru, as well as meat and other foods. Here you can also have a pizza or a cake in small cafes. The market is very popular and crowded, so it is important to watch your wallet.

While in Pucon, find time to visit "Artesanal" Market where high-quality woolen clothes and handmade souvenirs are sold. And in Valparaiso, there is a colorful indoor market - "Cardonal". This large building dating more than a hundred years offers delicious fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish. A huge flea market in Santiago, "El Persa Bío-Bío", offers a myriad of unique Chilean souvenirs and rarities, as well as furniture, cosmetics, books, antiques and much more. You can grab a snack in Cafe Bío or Piscis Australis Restaurant or drink a refreshing tropical juice in Jugos Tropicales. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

All sweet lowers are encouraged to visit small confectionery "La Dulcería" in Valparaiso. It is a store of amazing delicacies such as caramel and milk candies of various shapes, tender cakes, toffee, cakes - all made by hand and beautifully packaged in front of buyers. In Arica, look for small "Frutos Rojos" shop selling sweet juices, dried fruits, nuts, olive oil, and herbal teas.

Chilean culture is rich and amazing, and every traveler needs to take its piece home - unique Chilean souvenirs. You can literally take with you part of the Chilean land, as some of the popular souvenirs - ceramics - are made from Atacama clay. Another great souvenir would be the traditional mask of the Ona people from Tierra del Fuego who disappeared about one and a half centuries ago. The colorful wooden masks were used for attracting fertility. Pay special attention to quality woolen products. They are sold in markets and souvenir shops and made mostly of alpaca and Patagonian wool.

Chile is famous for its high-quality copper products. These can be painted plates, figurines, decor items, and so on. Another pride of Chile, blue semi-precious mineral Lazurite, is considered a stone of friendship and honesty. Except for Chile, the stone is mined only in Afghanistan, so it's worth to buy at least one ornament containing it or just a rough stone. The price depends mainly on the size of the stone.

It wouldn't be superfluous to mention the best souvenir shops in Chile. This is, for example, "Emporio Ñamku" in Malalcahuello selling souvenirs made of wood, wool ponchos, and beautiful tableware. The richest souvenir shopping spot is Los Dominicos Handicraft Village located near the Andes, where there are about two hundred shops offering all kinds of crafting wonders, herbs, and desserts. In general, unique souvenirs can be found throughout the country. But keep in mind that products sold in Patio Bellavista Shopping Center on Providencia Island are greatly overpriced.