The best fashion and gift stores Sierra

Attractive local crafts store run by José Ruiz and his family, pure Otavaleños for several generations. You'll find a wide selection of jewelry, clothing and local objects, as well as excellent ideas for gifts and souvenirs. If you haven't found what you're looking for in the Plaza de los Ponchos or the adjacent streets, you may well find it here, as the Ruiz family is always on the lookout for originality and doesn't just sell the same things as in the market. Many of the items on offer here are impossible to find elsewhere.

In front of the Las Conceptas museum, you will find a pretty shop that you cannot miss, installed in a colonial house painted in pale pink. You will find all types of Panama hats. From the cheap souvenir panama to the superfino panama, whose prices can reach a thousand dollars. A quality paja toquilla hat can take several months to make, which explains the sometimes astronomical prices of these world-famous headwear. Don't hesitate to bargain a little.

For book lovers and history buffs, this is the place to come for an excellent coffee and a good book. A vast choice in English, Spanish and even Danish, as the owner, Nynne, is herself originally from that country. Her companion, Juan, is an inexhaustible source of information on Latin American history, and will be delighted to help you find the perfect book to complement his information. He also makes beautiful jewelry that will be a perfect souvenir of your visit to this unique Baños location.

If you like reading in Spanish, you will probably find your happiness here. You will find, on two floors, all kinds of books (cooking, psychology, photos, travel...) and novels mainly in the language of Cervantes. There is a small selection of books in English and a few in French, but we won't go out of our way for that. One can take the time to browse through the books. This chain of bookshops also has stores in Quito and Guayaquil, perhaps you will find there the small souvenir of the country which you miss.

José Jiménez and his wife work tirelessly in their workshop, a few kilometers from Gualaceo (35 km from Cuenca) to make macanas, unique handmade shawls of which she and he alone hold the secret. The pigments that color the shawls are natural and this meticulous work is done entirely by hand. José and his wife will be happy to explain the different stages of making a macana and you can buy one on the spot. Miss Ecuador 2009 even wore one of these shawls during a fashion show.

This is probably the best jewelry store in Chordeleg. A little way from the tourist center, on the main access road to the village, you'll find here the finest silver wire jewelry to be found in the region. The designer is right in front of you in his workshop, and if you have a little patience, he can even create the jewel of your dreams on your instructions. The choice is impressive and the prices very reasonable. The ideal place to bring back a true piece of art from your trip that will leave no one indifferent.

An institution in Cuenca for the many expatriates who have settled there, Carolina's bookshop is a good place for reading lovers. You will find there many books in English, but also an interesting choice in French which will be able to fill your travel library if you are not yet a fan of E-books ;-) Dictionaries, literature, history and many other topics are covered in the books that make up this eclectic collection. Possibility of exchanges. Friendly welcome.

For generations, the Ortega family has been dedicated exclusively to the production and export of the legendary Ecuadorian Panama hat. Alicia is now at the helm of the company. In this factory, we show you and explain the different phases of production, from the preparation of the straw to the laying of the little fabric ribbon. All price ranges, from the most accessible to the highest, depending on the fineness, the manufacture and the originality of the model, influenced by the Parisian or New York fashion...