Alternative Travel Cartagena SAS supports the national heritage of Colombia and recommends purchasing in the following shops, which offer sustainable products, considering the importance of national resources. In the production process the following shops act with social responsibility and respect the environment as well as the local communities.
Café San Alberto: The San Alberto coffee is a premium coffee, cultivated in Buenavista, in Quindío. A coffee with a unique origin, carefully selected. A number of intense selections make this product to an exceptional one, with an incomparable taste. The most awarded coffee of Colombia: The coffee won Gold in „Monde Selection“ in Brussels 2015 and the award for the finest flavour of ITQI 2015 in Brussels. Location: Diagonal to the cathedral. Calle Santos de Piedra 3-86, Cartagena
Tienda Mapalé: Run by Indigenous from the Arhuacos-tribe, you can purchase handmade, colombian products of natural fibres from different indigenous people in this shop. You will find traditional bags and masks of the following indigenous tribes: Wayuu, Kamtsa y Arhuacos. Location: Centro Calle Santos de Piedra, #34-62 Local 103, Cartagena 130001
Damartes (Damas y Madres del arte = Ladies and Mothers of Art), an association of women from the fishermen village La Boquilla, who founded their own company after participating in a handicraft-workshop, supported by the foundation ProBoquilla. They make jewellery, vases, belts and accessories out of coconut and sell their products. If you are interested just ask us and we connect you to those incredible women.
Bovedas: Constructed for military purposes the Bovedas were functioning as arsenals and prison during the Independency for the Spanish military. After a restauration they serve now as souvenir shops with handicraft, antiques and galleries. In Boveda number 8 the family of Eladio Gil Zembrano, the sculptor of the famous India Catalina statue sells his original paintings.
