5 Best Places to Shop in Cuenca and the Southern Highlands, Ecuador

If you're in the market for leather, Concuero sells good-quality shoes, wallets, and handbags.

Original designs in ceramics, murals, and jewelry are for sale—browsers are welcome—at Eduardo Vega's Workshop and Gallery. Vega is Ecuador's most famous ceramicist and designer. The gallery not only sells Vega's beautiful designs, but you'll get a really good cup of coffee here. On El Turi hill, known as the Mirador de Turi, it's also the best spot for a spectacular view of Cuenca. The Galería de Arte 670 has a good selection of Vega designs.

Galería Jorge Moscoso has a limited but precious collection of antiques.

On a tour of Homero Ortega & Hijos, arguably Ecuador's best-known purveyor of Panama hats, you'll see how palm-leaf fibers are transformed into elegant headware. You'll also have the opportunity to buy one for as little as $20 up to $250.

Kinara stocks stylish gold and silver jewelry and shawls made of traditional ikat textiles, in which the threads are knotted and dyed prior to weaving.