Arts and Crafts

For visitors seeking high-quality crafts by local artisans, Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts (204 Calle Fortaleza, 787/725-5596, daily 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) is your one-stop shopping spot. This large two-level store has everything from original paintings and prints to ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and more.

For a small selection of authentic Caribbean crafts, stop by Tienda de Artesanías (Museo de Las Americas [1] in Ballajá Barracks, on Calle Norzagaray beside Quincentennial Plaza, 787/722-6057, Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.). It has a nice but small mix of quality baskets, shawls, pottery, jewelry, Santos, art posters, and CDs.

Máscaras de Puerto Rico (La Calle, 105 Calle Fortaleza, 787/725-1306, Chilean [at] coqui [dot] net, http://home.coqui.net/chilean [2], Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.) is a funky, narrow shop in a covered alleyway selling quality contemporary crafts, including masks and small reproductions of vintage cartel posters.

There are two nearly identical shops on the same street called Haitian Gallery (367 Calle Fortaleza, 787/721-4362; and 206 Calle Fortaleza, 787/725-0986, haitiangallery [at] aol [dot] com, www.haitiangallerypr.com [3], daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.). They both sell a great selection of Haitian folk art, including brightly colored primitive-style paintings and tons of woodwork, from sublime bowls to ornately sculpted furniture. There’s a small selection of Indonesian imports, such as leaf-covered picture frames and photo albums, and tourist trinkets.

Puerto Rico Homemade Crafts Gallery (403 Calle San Francisco, 787/724-3840, http://tallercocuyopr.com [4], Mon.–Sat. 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) is an excellent source for authentic local crafts and folk art—both traditional and contemporary. The shop carries a large selection of vejigante masks, plus native Taíno reproductions, cartel posters, coconut-shell tea sets, jewelry, and Santos.

The Poets Passage (203 Calle Cruz, 787/567-9275, daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) offers a funky collection of local arts, crafts, and books. The store is owned by local poet and publisher Lady Lee Andrews. Poetry nights are held every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Tourist tchotchkes, shell jewelry, vejigante masks, gourds, beaded necklaces, and seed jewelry can be found at Ezense (353 Calle Fortaleza, 787/725-1782, ezense [at] yahoo [dot] com, daily 10 a.m.–7 p.m.).