Chile

Lapis Lazuli. Don't leave Chile without a brooch or bauble made from the country's signature stone, lapis lazuli, a deep blue semiprecious stone flecked with golden specks of pyrite and white calcite. Bellavista is known for its lapis lazuli work—head there, in Santiago, for jewelry or figurines. Try Lapiz Lazuli Handicrafts Factory (Bellavista 0298), Chile Handicrafts (Bellavista 0211) or Carillanca Workshop (043 Antonion Lopez de Bello).

Woven ponchos. The town of Chonchi, south of Castro, on the island of Chiloé is known for its woven goods. Woven wool is made into durable blankets and ponchos worn by locals and travelers alike. Because the wool is raw and full of natural oils, most blankets and ponchos are water-resistant. Buy them from markets in Puerto Montt and from the artisans' village in Centro Artesanal Los Dominicos (Av Apoquindo 9085, tel. +56 2 245 4152), which carries one of Santiago's largest selections of crafts.