14 Best Shopping in The Highlands, Guatemala

Artesanías Innova exhibits and sells beautiful textiles and ceramics created by nine highlands artisan cooperatives.

Bazar de Café sells fine roasted coffee from here in the highlands (fair-trade, of course).

Purchase coffee from area cooperatives at Café Conciencia, as well as peanut butter and macadamia nuts.

Near Parque Centro América, the Centro Comercial Municipal has a more limited selection of souvenirs.

The best-known buy-at-the-source purveyor of hand-blown glass is the artisans' cooperative COPAVIC. Come to watch works being created from recycled glass weekday mornings at its showroom/factory 10 km (6 mi) south of town.

Creaciones Utzil manufactures small dolls that wear more than 100 varieties of typical Guatemalan dress. (Barbie never had a such a wardrobe.)

Literary- and politically-minded Quetzaltenango has several fine bookstores, three with good selections in English. El Libro Abierto deals in used books, as well as postcards and organic coffee.

The Gallo Store sells T-shirts, caps, and mugs with the logo of Guatemala's best-known beer, as well as the complete line of beer itself.

Artesanía from most of the villages in the region can be found in the Mercado La Democracia. Since there are relatively few shoppers, prices tend to be lower than elsewhere in the city.

The bustling Mercado Minerva, next to the main bus terminal, is the best of the city's markets. There are plenty of interesting handicrafts to be found here. But watch your pockets—groups of skillful thieves prey on tourists coming to and from the buses.

North & South Bookstore is strong in works dealing with history and politics.

Trama Textiles exhibits scarves, bags, and tablecloths woven by a local women's cooperative.

Vitra is one of the city's most noted stores. You'll find excellent hand-blown glass at affordable prices.

Vrisa Bookstore has many used books in English.