Cuenca Shopping Tips by elsadran

Name of Shop: Artes J . G - CUENCA

In Cuenca you will surely spend one morning at least strolling down Calle Larga. Just next to the museum of the Aboriginal Cultures, there is a small but very interesting shop with a treasure of beautiful items. There are necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets. The owner is the artist and designer of the jewelry and most of the decorative pieces made of gold and silver, beautiful semi-precious stones, bone, clay, tagua ( a kind of coconut) and coral - also on black coral which is very rare. The designs are exclusive and very imaginative.
There are artifacts and antiquities. The prices are very good and you won't have to negotiate.
He also repairs watches. It's the perfect place to get special gifts for your friends and family.
Above the originally shaped door you will see the artist's initial J. G which stands for Jorge Gonzales

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Artes J.G. Al lado del Museo de Culturas Aboriginas un tresor de joyas de disenos exclusivos. Collares, anillos, manillas, gargantillas, aretes en coco, coral, tagua, oro y plata, y piedras semipreciosas. Artesanias, antiquedades. Todo en buenos precios. Ademas arreglo de relojes. El disenador es Jorge Gonzales. El mejor lugar para regalos especiales!



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Theme: Jewelry
Phone: tel. 099027091
Address: Calle Larga 5-48 - CUENCA

Name of Shop: Arte con Sabor a cafe

A wonderfully decorated place where you can have a cup of coffe in a very artistic environment with excellent taste. All the items seem really unique, and beautiful in their imaginative simplicity. I almost liked everything! The prices are very good and I think even if you just go for coffee, you will finally give in and buy something. There are also many little inexpensive things which make a nice gift. Bags, decoration ..delights, paintings, jewelry of good quality silver made by the best ecuadorian designers, and many tasteful items for as cheap as 2$-5$. There is also a permanent exhibition and sale of a famous local painter.

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Theme: Gifts
Phone: (593)7-2829426
Directions: It's at Paseo 3 de Noviembre1-48 y Colonel Talbot, which is near the Museum of Modern Art. Walk towards the river, go down some steps and you will see it on the corner. Very special! This region is called Otorongo.
Website: arteconsaboracafe@hotmail.com
Other Contact: (593)99-897008

Name of Shop: Museo Taller de Sombrero

Panama hats are made of “paha toquilla”, which is the toquilla straw plant growing in the north coast of Ecuador. So their origin is Ecuadorian but they took the name because they were first shipped in Panama, before being sold to the markets of Asia, and Europe.
Their quality depends on the number of weaves per square inch and the quality of the weave. The more densely woven it is the more expensive. But the quality of the weave counts, too. They often say that a good panama hat can hold water and not lose its shape even if you fold it and roll it. It also should feel smooth and soft when you touch it. There are many degrees of quality even going up to thousands of dollars. But you can get a decent one for as little as 20$US. The Museo Taller de Sombrero is in Calle Larga where you can find a wide variety of quality, colors and designs, although the original design is only one. The history and the procedure of the hat manufacturing is explained and Theodore Roosevelt is said to have helped it to become popular when he wore it during his visit to the Panama Canal. Since then millions of heads have enjoyed its shade.

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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Calle Larga 10-41 entre P.Aguirre & Gen. Torres