4) If your idea of a travel souvenir is a duffel stuffed with original art, then OLIANDA is a must see! Located in the heart of the Los Muertos shopping district, this brightly painted two-story studio is a treasure trove of tribal masks, native curios and pint-sized works of art. Of course there are giant artifacts too that will have to be shipped back home and the friendly staff is happy to make arrangements.

Proprietor Brewster Brockmann is one of Vallarta’s most accomplished artists. Brewster’s solo show debuted last week at Galeria Pacifico featuring his signature over-sized canvasses along with a new series of smaller, budget-friendly works. We snapped up a sculptural figure for Casa Aguacate, our showcase house in Alta Vista. She’ll be delivered and installed today. We can’t wait! Bookmark this page for next month’s list of local finds…