15 Best Places to Shop in Central Valley, Costa Rica

Expat artist Barry Biesanz creates unique, world-class items from Costa Rican hardwoods, which are turned (a form of woodworking) on-site. Local artisans also ply their trade here. It's difficult to find, so take a taxi or call for directions.

Stop in at this unique artisan shop, a picturesque wood cottage embellished with monumental carvings by local wood sculptor Macedonio Quesada, the creator of the House of the Dreamer. Though Macedonio died years ago, his sons Miguel and Hermes continue the tradition, carving interesting, often comical little statues out of coffee roots, which they sell for $20 to $40.

In the nicest of the many stores south of town, you can wander through the workshops and see the artisans in action. Despite the name, offerings extend well beyond oxcarts, and Chaverrí is a good place to buy wooden crafts of all kinds. Chaverrí also runs a restaurant next door, Las Carretas, which serves a variety of local food all day until 6 pm and has a good lunch buffet.

Grecia’s covered weekend farmers’ market is one of Costa Rica’s liveliest and best. It runs Friday afternoon and evening until 9—fairy lights sparkle during the evening hours—and starts up again at 5 the next morning, winding down around noon. Fresh produce is yours for the buying and, if you time it right, homemade tortillas and cinnamon rolls too. While either day is fun to attend, there's a better selection of produce on Friday.

Large glazed pots with ornate decorations that range from traditional patterns to modern motifs are the specialties here. Flowerpots and lamps are also common works here, and the staff will happily show you the production process, from raw clay to art.

It’s as much about the socializing as it is about stocking up on produce at Santa Ana’s Sunday-morning farmers’ market. In a town increasingly fast-paced and growing exponentially, the market provides a glimpse of a quieter, more traditional time. Things get underway shortly after dawn and begin to wind down about 1 pm.

Escazú's Saturday-morning farmers' market makes a terrific place to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables if you're preparing a do-it-yourself lunch or just want to snack. Vendors start lining the street on the south side of the church around dawn, and things begin to wind down by late morning.

Costa Rica's most upscale mall—think Kenneth Cole, Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, and many of their Costa Rican counterparts among its 194 stores—looms over the highway between Escazú and Santa Ana.

This airy, pleasant, and huge shopping mall with 320 stores is on the main road south of town. It has a branch of almost every international fashion boutique, as well as a multiplex cinema and a wide choice of cafés and restaurants.

Get to know a bean of another kind during a private tasting at the workshop of the country's best artisanal chocolate makers. It starts with an informative talk about the historical and cultural significance of the cacao bean, includes a demonstration of tempering chocolate by hand, and ends, of course, with a sampling of exquisite chocolates made from 100% organic cacao. Tasters can also stay for an elegant lunch on Sibö's pretty terrace. Reserve 48 hours in advance.