4 Best Shopping in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

Ceramicist Mayer Shacter and his wife Susan Page have an amazing collection of decorative and utilitarian folk-art pieces from all over Mexico in several showrooms. On the way to several hot springs, the pilgrimage center at Atotonilco, and the town of Dolores Hidalgo, the 5,000-square-foot gallery is a destination in itself, and not just a must for avid shoppers. In 2014 the editor of the art magazine series Artes en Mexico called the shop "without a doubt the finest exhibition and sale of Mexican popular art in the country." It's open by appointment only. If you are serious about high-quality folk-art pieces, make an appointment.

At Camino Silvestre ("wild road"), an eclectic and slightly eccentric selection of gifts and home furnishings delights the eye, all arranged as if in a home or garden rather than a store. Bird and nature themes predominate: choose among hummingbird feeders, birdhouses, framed prints, fine linens, wool rugs, art prints and paintings, and much more. Adjacent is a pricey but pretty tea room. There's a second location at Zacateros 46 (Tel.415/121–3359).

Rooms surrounding the central, plant-filled patio of this old colonial house are filled with handicrafts from the region and beyond. Browse for rough-hewn wooden bowls; table runners made on back-strap looms, from cotton dyed with colors of animal and vegetable origin; pottery and shawls from various Michoacán towns; and scary wooden masks, among other quality items. Look for it in a row of shops just to the right side of La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud. It's open daily.

La Casa del Quijote is a one-stop shop for high-end gifts and handicrafts. There are two floors of merchandise, offering a huge selection of crafts from all over Mexico. The staff speaks English well and are happy to help customers learn about the store's wares, which emphasize jewelry and pottery.