San Juan has the island's best range of stores, but it isn't a free port, so you won't find bargains on electronics and perfumes. You can, however, find excellent prices on china, crystal, fashions, and jewelry. Shopping for local crafts can also be gratifying: you'll run across a lot that's tacky, but you can also find treasures, and in many cases you can watch the artisans at work. Popular items include santos (small carved figures of saints or religious scenes), hand-rolled cigars, and handmade mundillo lace from Aguadilla, vejigantes (colorful masks used during Carnival and local festivals) from Loíza and Ponce, and fancy men's shirts called guayaberas.

Shopping from the Caribbean and beyond are drawn to metropolitan San Juan, Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, containing 190 stores, including J.C. Penney’s, Sears, Macy’s, and dozens of smaller stores for clothing, gifts, electronics, cosmetics, etc.  Other commercial centers include:  Plaza Carolina in Carolina, Rio Hondo in Levittown, Plaza del Carmen in Caguas and Mayaguez Mall in Mayaguez, Plaza de Aguadilla in Aguadilla, and Plaza del Caribe in Ponce.

Do not forget that Puerto Rico is a large producer of rum, with many different types ranging from light rums for mixing with soft drinks to dark brandy-type rums.  Hand made cigars can still be found in Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra.  A wide variety of imported goods from all over the world are available.  Local artesanias include wooden carvings, musical instruments, lace, ceramics, hammocks, masks and basket-work.