I will be spending a week in July touring the islands. I am interested in native arts and crafts and jewelry. Any suggestions what are the best buys and where to purchase the items. I love silver jewelry, pottery, and paintings. Thanks for your help.

Whatever you find on the Galapagos Islands themselves will not be native (to the islands, that is)--it will be shipped there from mainland Ecuador, if not China, and marked up about 30%. I strongly suggest you do your shopping in Quito or Guayaquil, whichever place you stop at before reaching the Galapagos. EXACTLY the same items will be in these mainland cities and for far less.

There are good shopping opportunities in Quito and at the various local handicraft markets in the region. Woven and knit items are a specialty, as are gemstones.

In Galapagos you have smalll handicraft markets.
1) Baltra Island (airport): At the exit of the airport you have some alternatives.
2) San Cristobal Island (Puerto Baquerizo) this is a small town with basic services and handicraft locals.

If you need more views of Galapagos, please visit:
http://www.GalapagosVirtual.com

i actually suggest Cuenca my mother went to Cuenca for 2 weeks and she got really great things down there like for example:
gold, white gold "silver"
art carfts
paintings
home decor

If you need to know where she went you can write back andi will be glad to help

Jennifer