Artisanal Market of Guayaquil — Local services in Guayaquil

Nice place to buy handcrafted souvenirs plus you can also find some really good craftmanship in clothes, art, souvenirs, leather work if you have a trained eye and at bargain price, most if not all places allow you to bargain price (up to 30% of the first price they ask) my advice to get these discounts is to be charismatic, don't be afraid to joke around, laugh and enjoy as it is part of the experience of buying there, also write down prices when you're making an offer in case language is a barrier, cause numbers never are. And if you really want something, look and ask around for it so you can learn the real price, or someone willing to cut the price.

Things to notice are that parking spots are somewhat hard to find, place is clean but a little busy with people, depending on the day you're visiting. The market is a safe place but I wouldn't recommend bringing anything valuable if you're walking from/to the Malecon 2000 that is some blocks away, better take an Uber after your shoppings.

Have...

We loved this market! The people are warm and friendly; there are plenty of hand-made items, as well as souvenirs from which to choose. A friend bought a hand-woven hat for $30: Otherwise sold for around $250 in tourist shops. He also bought precious handmade clothes for his four-year-old daughter. We bought t-shirts, lava bracelets, and a handmade dress. Another friend found a hand-tooled belt, which she had cut down to her size. It was a necessary and wonderful stop after nearly two weeks in Ecuador and The Galapagos. And unlike many such markets that I have visited in other Latin American countries, the bathroom was...

Photo is from a parking spot right next to one of the smaller corner entrances to the mercado artisanal. If you can't find a parking spot on the first try, drive around the block. I've been here about a dozen times over the years when traveling from the US to Guayaquil to visit family. You can find all things Ecuadorian to pick up as souvenirs of your trip. This time I picked up some Ecuadorian key chains and fridge magnets. A lot of the vendors are connected and own several stalls. If they see you can understand Spanish, sometimes they will speak to each other in Quechua...