- Mercado Nacional de Artesanías (San Salvador; tel. 503/2224-0747): Long rows of vendors sell unique hammocks, textiles, ceramics, and decorative crafts from artisans around El Salvador. The quality of the art and crafts is high, and the prices aren't bad in what is the capital's best handicrafts market.
- Diconte Artisans' Shop (Ataco, El Salvador): This five-room shop in the town of Ataco, along the Ruta de las Flores, offers unique whimsical paintings, woodcarvings, and crafts in the surrealistic style of Ataco's two main artists, as well as a room full of colorful textiles made on-site by artisans working five old-style looms. You can also watch the artisans work from the shade of a small garden-side coffee and dessert cafe here.
- Mercado Central (San Salvador, El Salvador): Mercado Central near San Salvador's central plaza is the antimercado. It's a sprawling, seemingly chaotic warren of shouting vendors, blaring horns, and old women in traditional clothes chopping vegetables in the street. Its biggest attraction is that it's not an attraction. Instead, it's the place to visit if you want to see a slice of unfiltered El Salvadoran life.
- El Arbol de Dios (Av. Masferrer, Colonia Escalon, San Salvador, El Salvador; tel. 503/2263-9206): El Salvador's most famous artist has moved to more expansive premises, where he can now display his distinctive naïve art and how he makes it.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
