Are Your Souvenirs Authentic?

We all do it. We go on a trip or vacation and we bring back souvenirs. How often have you given thought to how authentic your souvenirs are? Have you ever considered whether your souvenirs are ethically sourced? Could buying that item cause harm to a country, an economy, an ecosystem, or an endangered species? All these questions are important to consider when purchasing mementos of your trip.

SYTA, Student Youth Travel Association, recently published an article on how to teach your students to be conscientious travelers when purchasing souvenirs. Even if you are not a teacher planning a student tour, there are excellent guidelines for how to go about selecting and purchasing authentic souvenirs that support artisans and the local community in any country you may visit. The link to the article is below.

Below is a list of stores in Old San Juan that sell authentic souvenirs made by local artisans. In some cases you can even watch the artisan work. You won’t find any Chinese manufactured and stamped goods in any of these stores.

Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts 204 Calle Cristo 787-725-5596	Most of the items in this store are from local Puerto Rican Artisans. There are a few items from other Latin American countries, but the country of origin is marked.
Patchouli 152 Calle Cristo 787-725-3447	This store only sells items made by local Puerto Rican artists.
Mi pequeño San Juan 152 Calle Fortaleza 787-721-5040	Miniature plaques of actual houses and doorways found in Old San Juan. All items are hand painted.
El Galpón 154 Calle Cristo 787-725-3945	This shop specializes in Vegigante masks and santos (wooden figurines of Catholic saints).
Máscaras de Puerto Rico 105 Calle Fortaleza 787-725-1306	Another store specializing in Vegigante masks of all sizes.
Mi Rincón 251 Calle Cristo 787-723-1412	The store owner is an artist who sells her digital photos of Old San Juan, decorative art, and various hand painted items.
Olé 105 Calle Fortaleza 787-724-2445	This Artisan specializes in Panama hats. While these hats did not originate in Puerto Rico, they are all handmade right there in the shop.
Mundo Taino Calle Fortaleza 787-724-2005	There is a wide variety of hand crafted items from pottery to wood carvings, and jewelry. This store has a great selection.