Colombia's Gift Giving Guide

We’re fast approaching the season of giving for many cultures and Colombia is no exception. Whether you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift or just trying to find a nifty souvenir for people back home, we’ve crafted a list of the best things to bring back from Colombia. Surprise a loved one with something unique beyond a mere magnet or keyring (although these could be a nice addition to a little Christmas package of goodies). 

Buying locally is further a great way to give back to the community. Make sure your money is contributing to the economy of local initiatives. A staple act for ensuring that you are traveling in a sustainable manner.

The list is divided into a guide of 5 typical Colombian souvenirs and 5 local artisanal products that will make for a unique gift for your loved ones back home.

We even polled our team here at IMPULSE to see what they had to say about it and have some of our favorite gift ideas below.

Bag it up - Colombia’s best bags and woven items

Tourists and Colombians alike love the various beautifully designed mochilas (bags) of Colombia.

The Wayúu mochilas are a highly popular gift or souvenir. An amazing place to get these is where they are made by the women tejedoras in the Guajira, the beautiful spot where the desert meets the sea. Also, of Wayúu origin are Chinchorros, large woven hammocks that make for a comfortable piece of portable furniture. To find out more about the Wayúu people, their heritage and their history, make sure to read our blog post about the Guajira region. 

You can, however, find these all over the country due to their popularity, but as with all souvenirs, it is important to pay a price that would be just to the people making these products, so as to ensure you are giving back to the community and engaging with responsible tourism. A single bag takes multiple months to make, displaying the value of these items, due to the time and effort dedicated to their design and creation.

Originally made by the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada near Santa Marta on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Arhuaca Mochila is another version of bag, that uses more natural soothing tones in their craft. The unique patterns of the bag are emblematic of the cosmic vision entrenched in the heritage of the Indigenous communities themselves. Their creation can also take up to 8 months, showcasing the intricacy of their design. 

In the region of Antioquia, the region headed by Medellín, the women of the Guna Indigenous culture (formerly known by the name of Kuna and Cuna) create the Artesanías de Mola.  These items come in all forms, such as shoes, bags, clothes, table cloths and wallets. The designs covering the pieces are created thread and string by the Guna, being trademark souvenirs of Antioquia.

One unique form of a bag (or object in which one can carry other smaller items) is the canastas de mimbre, being woven wooden baskets. These are great for storage in the house and will add a rustic touch to your collection of furniture or trinkets. 

Weaving is further popular in San Jacinto, Bolívar, land belonging to the Zenú and Guna people. Vertical looms are used to weave various objects such as hammocks, tapestries, and all woven products imaginable. A visit to this small town makes the items even more special. The products are well known for their vivid and varied use of colors. Due to the intricacy of their creation, these products have a high quality and resistance with their strong design and fabrication.

Although many people see and know of these items’ existence, it is important to make the effort to know more about the story behind them and their significance to the creators. Engaging with the history of the Indigenous tribes creating many of these objects is a great way to learn more about Colombia and get in touch with the diverse culture. Read our blog post on Colombia’s indigenous tribes to find out more.

Take with caution (and bubble wrap) - ceramic gifts 

One kind of crockery that is fairly popular due to the wide variety of designs and colors available, is the ceramics of Carmen de Viboral, located in Antioquia. The plates are known for the floral designs of every color that cover them.

Credit: Maruira tours

In the town of Ráquira is somewhat famed for its offer of artisanal items. One of the most popular items is the Trastes de Raquira, being the clay pots and dinnerware. Although somewhat delicate and difficult to take back in your baggage, these items will make for an authentic gift that is both useful and intricately beautiful. The town itself is situated on the road between Bogotá and Villa de Leyva, which also is home to many small stores filled with artisanal items.

Credit: Maruira tours

The Wayúu Indigenous culture is also renowned for its creation of such clay products, being the culture renowned for their endless types of handicrafts and great artisanal gifts, perfect in time for Christmas.

Barniz de Pasto is an artisanal technique used to decorate ítems with a resin known as Mopa-Mopa made from trees only found in the jungle of Putumayo, located in the far south bordering Ecuador.

Mini chiva buses are another popular ceramic-based gift. The chivas buses themselves were originally designed for rural public transport, adapted to the environment of Colombia’s mountainous landscape. Now many of these buses are used for tours and tourism-based activities throughout the country. The small, take-home version, originating from the Huila, are a lot easier to fit in your baggage than an enormous, brightly colored bus packed full of tourists.

Other Artisanal pesebres (figurines) are in abundance here in Colombia. 

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice - Colombia’s best edible gifts

One of Colombia’s most well-known exports is chocolate, made straight from the source. Go get more authentic chocolate experience with some of the artisanal chocolate producers in Colombia, and get a wide selection of different chocolate flavors, textures, and richness. Go visit our article about Colombian peace leaders to find out more about one of our favorite chocolate vendors, Distrito Chocolate. 

Additionally, for a richer flavored hot chocolate, you can snatch up a stack of olleta chololatera (chocolate sticks), or chocolate in pastillas (chocolate buttons). Both of which are meltable in some boiling hot milk or water and readily purchasable all over the country. A great souvenir to accompany these items is a Molinillo, which is the traditional wooden whisk used to make hot chocolates. Use of the whisk creates a fluffy, frothy texture to your drink, and even better for a hot chocolate with cheese, just one of Colombia’s unique specialties. By reading our blog about the history of cacao you’ll discover even more about the production of Chocolate in Colombia.

Get some Colombian spice in the life of someone back home with some famous Colombian aji. Make sure you know the person's level of spice tolerance, so as not to gift them fire in a bottle, unless, of course, they love a healthy dose of spice.   

Some of the favorite Colombian sweets include bocadillo, made from guava extract and goes great with everything, especially with a bakery treat. Although a pandebono (bread treat) filled with bocadillo and cheese may be difficult to get back unsquashed and ruined, the bocadillo itself will make for a great sweet treat for any lucky recipient back home.

Arequipe is a caramel sauce that is endemic in Colombia. It goes great with anything to add that little bit of sweetness to any food or dish.

Cocadas can be found all over the country, with a variety of different varieties. The basic recipe involves ground cloves, coconut flakes, panela, cinnamon and a splash of citrus. The process behind them is extremely intricate and many of the recipes are family traditions, that live on today through hand made production. However, the most important and well known are those from the Caribbean, with a similar variation known as Alegrías being famed in their town of origin, San Basilio de Palenque. On a visit to San Basilio you too can indulge in these sweets and learn the history of the people, home to the first freed people of African origin in all of the Americas. Try and compare to find out which ones you like best. Just put it down to market research, taste testing to find the best present for the gift recipient.

Alfandoques or Melcochas are sweets extremely typical of the coffee region of Colombia, although they may resemble cocadas, they have a distinct texture and taste. They are made with Panela, which is a staple of all Colombian treats. They are wrapped in dried plantain or sugarcane leaves and a delicious treat that won’t damage or melt in your bag on the route home.

Panela itself is a favorite sweetener of Colombia, and many combine a chunk of the sweet with water to make a sweetly refreshing drink known as Agua Panela, you can even add some cheese if you’re feeling like a splash of dairy.

Slurp it, Sip it, Stir it - the boasted beverages of Colombia

The volcanic soil of Colombia, our location high above sea level and proximity to the equator, all contribute to the flavor of our rich coffee. This is especially true of the region Paisaje Cultural Cafetero, found in the four Colombian departments of Quindío, Armenia, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca, which can be visited on our Magical Towns tour through the quaint coffee towns of Quindio. However, there are also many renowned coffee producers all over the nation, outside of these specific regions.

Smoother, sweeter coffee is easier to come by here, meaning you won’t need as much if any sugar or sweetener to accompany your coffee.

One of the most popular brands is Juan Valdez which is purely Colombian, and many artisanal brands are easy to find all over Colombia. However, there are many other smaller coffee farms creating delicious artisanal coffee waiting to be discovered, that are well worth a visit. Read about some of the off-the-beaten-track coffee towns, as the best spots to find the perfect artisanal blend. Or check our blog posts about the best cafés in Medellín and Bogotá to taste-test and pick-up some exceptionally good coffee.

Coca Tea is soothing and is a great combatant for niggly ailments such as a cold or a stomach bug, and even altitude sickness.Although natural coca leaves and products derived from them have nothing in common with the drug cocaine produced from it through various chemical processes, some countries have limitations on importing some coca products,so make sure to check this before putting your eggs in this basket as your only gift. 

Wrap it up - the most stylish and authentic Colombian clothing and accessories

One of the most typical souvenirs taken from Colombia is the vueltiao sombreros. These hats have been declared a cultural symbol of Colombia as an example of the Zenú culture, one of Colombia’s longest-lasting Indigenous cultures. The hats come in all different sizes, with varied rims. These are native to the Caribbean coast, but as with all the highly popular items, you can find them in most corners of the country.

Ruana Ponchos make for fantastic protection against the cold and will be a warmly welcomed Christmas gift for those hailing from the Northern Hemisphere that is now deep in colder winters. You will find them everywhere.

For those sympathetic to some beautiful, well-designed jewelry, we have a few extra recommendations.  Beaded bracelets, collars, and earrings, or jewels in mostacilla, show the dedicated handiwork needed for their creation just by looking at them.

Colombia is the producer of over half of the world’s emerald market, and known as being some of the best quality in the world. The price of the emeralds has great disparity, depending on the age and quality. Bogotá itself is home to the biggest Emerald dealer, with a market dedicated to the sale of the gem in the downtown La Candelaria district. It is important to go to a reputable dealer and then check the quality of the stone by holding it to the light yourself before settling on a price. However, if you bargain right and identify a good stone you can get a huge discount of normal gem prices. 

Bachué Joyería is one Colombian company that sell traditional, artisanal jewelry pieces with socially conscious practices. The company solely supports locally sourced and produced products, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly processes and the acknowledgment of indigenous history and craftsmanship. Follow more of their story and see all their unique products over on Instagram!

For some real tourist wear, you can even grab a shirt, sticker or hat branded with some classic colombian saying, like que más parcero (what’s up bro/mate) or que chimba. 

Hopefully, these ideas have helped reduce the stress of trying to find some authentic, yet well-received Christmas gifts. Make sure to check out our other blog on Colombia’s unique Christmas traditions to ensure you are spending the Colombian holiday season the local way. What souvenirs and gifts are you bringing back from Colombia? Or have any other recommendations? Let us know in the comments! 

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