Shopping is a casual activity here. There are only a few shops of any sophistication. Shop owners will bombard you, especially on Avenida Hidalgo, selling Saltillo rugs, onyx, silver, Guatemalan clothing, blown glassware, masks, folk art, beach paraphernalia, and T-shirts in abundance. Prices are lower than in Cancún or Cozumel, but with such overeager sellers, bargaining is necessary.
The one treasure you're likely to take back is a piece of fine jewelry -- Isla is known for its excellent, duty-free prices on gemstones and handcrafted work made to order. Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies can be purchased as loose stones and then mounted while you're off exploring. The superbly crafted gold, silver, and gems are available at very competitive prices in the workshops near the central plaza. The stones are also available in the rough. Von Hauste (tel. 998/877-0331) located at the corner of Morelos and Juárez streets, is the grandest store, with a broad selection of jewelry including diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and tanzanites at competitive prices. It's open daily from 9am to 5:30pm and accepts all major credit cards.
