It is hard to believe that just a month ago I was living my best life in Cartagena. If I could go back tomorrow, I would! I enjoyed the city that much — so much beauty and culture… and amazing shopping!

I was not expecting to love Cartagena’s shopping scene as much as I did. I knew my favorite earring designer, Mercedes Salazar, was Colombian, but I had no idea how many amazing designers and boutiques Colombia was hiding. As we strolled the streets each morning, we would make a mental note of all the cute shops we saw and wanted to return to. Pro tip – save your shopping for the hottest part of the day and do your outdoor sight-seeing in the morning when it is cool.

Today I am rounding up some of my favorite stores. Some have websites in English if you want to shop online and others are more local, but if you’re planning a trip to Cartagena, you won’t want to miss any of these!

St. Dom – Very upscale and chic, St. Dom has a great selection of higher-end Colombian designers. But, with the exchange rate (3 to 1) you can definitely afford to splurge here.

Glory Ang – Glory Any is where I picked up this adorable skirt. They seem to specialize in this ruffle skirt silhouette.

Casa Chiqui – Casa Chiqui has a great selection of swimwear, bags, and over-the-top earrings.

Mercedes Salazar – Mercedes Salazar has recently started to explode in the States. The nice thing about shopping this designer locally is the items are half what you will pay in the States! I picked up these amazing hoops.

Martha De Royet – If you want to unleash your inner sexy Colombian, this store is for you. Lots of original, flirty and body-hugging designs.

The Streets of Cartagena – Not a chic boutique, but there are lots of local street vendors around the city selling fun head scarves and straw bags and hats.

More on Cartagena:
The Colors of Cartagena
The Blue Apple Beach Club
Cartagena Travel Diary