Arts and Crafts

Chile may lack the colorful indigenous markets of its Andean neighbors Peru and Bolivia, but it compensates with artisanal ferias in both urban and rural areas, especially in summer. Certain crafts are similar and nearly universal: basketry, stone and wood carvings, copperware, lapis lazuli jewelry and statuary, and cotton and woolen weavings. There are also regional specialties.

Santiago’s Barrio Bellavista [1] is one of the best urban areas for crafts, but Valparaíso [2] and Viña del Mar [3] also have good selections. On Valparaíso [2]’s Plaza O’Higgins, the Sunday antiques market is the country’s best.

In the Norte Grande, especially in the altiplano, Aymara weavers produce llama and alpaca caps, sweaters, and other clothing, but much of this material arrives from Peru and Bolivia. Throughout the heartland and well into the south, huaso horsegear is unique—look for the elaborately carved stirrups in particular.

Mapuche communities, which produce exquisite silverwork, and Sur Chico resorts do have good selections of indigenous crafts, and the towns of Angelmó (Puerto Montt [4]), Dalcahue [5], and Castro [6] (both on the Isla Grande de Chiloé [7]) have picturesque waterfront markets. Chiloé [7] carvers produce model dalcas (dugouts), palafitos (houses on pilings), and dolls, while weavers in the entire Sur Chico and into Patagonia create sweaters and caps (from sheep’s wool rather than llama or alpaca).

The Polynesian Easter Island [8]ers (Rapanui) produce souvenir moai of both wood and stone, modeled after the massive pre-Columbian stone statues but also in the style of later indigenous carvings. While there’s plenty of ready-made stuff to buy, it’s also possible to order a larger custom moai; since this may take several days, do it soon after arrival.

Throughout Chile, bargaining is less common and aggressive than it is in the Central Andean highlands, but it’s not completely inappropriate; just don’t make insultingly low offers. In souvenir shops and other businesses with an obvious overhead, such as suburban shopping malls, bargaining is inappropriate.