Bring A Piece Of Puerto Rico Home
Puerto Rico’s vibrant local shopping scene encompasses everything from artisans making traditional handicrafts to young makers shaking up contemporary fashion and design. Whether you're looking for a vejigante mask, a hand-woven hammock, or a cute top and handmade jewelry, the island has entire streets, hidden shops, and annual festivals that are dedicated to only-in-Puerto Rico finds.
Old San Juan is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico that is an islet, connected to the rest of (San Juan Metro) by 3 bridges at the southeast corner. This street is best for traditional crafts and artwork, with many shops selling woven hammocks and other home décor items, as well as ceramics, serigraphs, paintings, and sculptures, usually depicting scenes from the Old City or the countryside of Puerto Rico. Among the most popular souvenirs are vejigante masks, which come in two styles: the classic Loíza coconut masks and the Ponce papier-mâché version. One of the most visited shops is Shopconcalma, which sells many styles of handmade purses and bags, designed in collaboration with local artists using colorful fabrics and upcycled denim.
Puerto Rico has annual festivals and events that celebrate its craftspeople and makers. The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián is the biggest party in Old San Juan, and also the year's biggest gathering of artists and makers. The event takes over the Old City from Thursday to Sunday with parades, live bands, circus performers, dance troupes, workshops for kids, and hundreds of artisans in every square selling traditional folk art and other unique and colorful handmade pieces. The Timbiriche Design is another famous event. This annual fair is held by the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC) in December, with local designers selling art pieces, homewares, jewelry, etc while local dance companies perform.
