Near the main departures hall in Terminal 1, this is the go-to for last‑minute Bolivian gifts.
Souvenir Shop Artesanías sits airside in Terminal 1 at El Alto International Airport, handy if you’ve already cleared security and still want something distinctly local. Expect shelves of alpaca and llama textiles, small ceramics, keychains, and fridge magnets themed around La Paz and Lake Titicaca. Most smaller trinkets run in the 20–60 BOB range, so you can fill a gift bag without blowing a whole day’s budget.
The shop usually keeps standard airport hours, roughly aligned with early‑morning departures and late‑night arrivals out of LPB, so you’ll often find it open even for 05:00–06:00 flights. Compared with the duty‑free nearby, this place leans heavily into handicrafts: woven scarves and gloves, simple silver‑tone jewelry, and painted wooden items that actually say “La Paz” or “Bolivia,” not just generic South America.
Quality can vary piece to piece, but many of the knit caps and gloves are marked as alpaca or alpaca blend, with prices typically between 70 and 150 BOB. Check labels and stitching before paying; at this altitude (over 4,000 meters), a thicker hat or neck warmer bought here can genuinely help on the way to the aircraft steps.
Cards are widely accepted, but several reviewers mention smaller merchants at El Alto preferring cash, so keep at least 100–200 BOB handy in case the card machine at Souvenir Shop Artesanías decides to act up right before boarding.
Tip: If your gate is close to the main Terminal 1 departures concourse, swing by Souvenir Shop Artesanías first, then grab coffee; lines at the café near security can easily eat 10–15 minutes before morning flights.