Portal de los Dulces

Cartagena

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DESTINATIONS colombia cartagena Shopping Portal de los Dulces

Portal de los Dulces

Portal de los Dulces is, indeed, something of a portal to the world of Colombian sweets. Vendors here specialise in and peddle all manner of dessert, with table displays set up all along this particular stretch of arcade in Plaza de Los Coches. Many of the wares feature coconut in some form ('cocada', available in multiple flavours, and the colourful 'cubanito' rolls are among the most popular). If in doubt, try one of the pre-assembled "tasting sets".

Shopping

Must-buys range from food stuffs to hand-crafted accessories and interior decor items. Coffee tops the list of the former, given that Colombian beans are among the world's most revered. Beans from all corners of the country may be purchased in Cartagena, but if you're looking for as local as it gets, look for beans from the Quindio region (Café San Alberto is the primary distributor). Other edibles (and drinkables) include Colombian chocolate, made with regionally harvested cocoa beans, and drinks like Aguardient, the Colombian national drink with a potent tone of anis, and rum. Fruit will likely prove difficult to transport, but it's definitely worth purchasing and sampling some of the local favourites like mango, soursop and granadilla. Hammocks, mochila bags and leather goods are some of the other best things to buy in Cartagena (and Colombia in general), and if you're looking for that extra something special, emeralds may be a great item to purchase — Colombia is the world's largest producer, and great deals are to be had.