Central & South Coast - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 320

which is where you'll be too, by the way. If you have a large enough
group of friends, you can actually rent one of these chivas privately.
Try Viajes Horizontez, 4-2281-260.

Ecuador's biggest mall is Mall del Sol , near the airport at Av.
Constitucion and Marengo. A recent addition near downtown is
Centro Comercial Malecón 2000 , near the southern end of
Malecón Simon Bolívar. There are plenty of others around the city.
Just ask the concierge or taxi driver for the nearest major shopping
mall (better the concierge, as the taxi driver may be looking for a lon-
ger fare). For daily necessities and an interesting overall experience,
the huge Bahía market area has it all, but pay close attention to the
quality of what you are purchasing. It is near the southern end of the
Malecón around Av. Olmedo and extends as far west as Chile.

For handicrafts, the largest open market is Mercado Artesanal ,in
the downtown area between Loja and Montalvo, and Córdova and
Chimborazo. Prices are good for the quality, but be sure to shop
around and bargain if you feel something is overpriced. There are also
good artesanía stores along the Malecón, including some at the
Centro Comercial Malecón 2000, along the southern stretches of the
waterfront street.