Both Morretes and Antonina offer a laidback shopping scene with some lovely shops set amidst a village atmosphere. You could pick up some of the locally made rum or hand woven baskets and tramcados which are typical of this region.
A walk around the quaint shops is a delight, especially along the river in Morretes and the waterfront in Antonina.
See our Morretes and Antonina Shopping Guide below for some tips on the best places to shop and pick up some great souvenirs whilst on your holiday. To recharge and rejuvenate yourself whilst shopping, stop for some tasty food or relax in one of the great Morretes and Antonina restaurants. For great shopping ideas throughout Brazil, see our Brazil shopping guide.
Morretes & Antonina Shopping Guide
Rum
Rum has traditionally been produced in this region since the eighteenth century using the pinga morreteana or the traditional pot or column stills, most of which are located on the Anhaia Road. Aging rum is stored for at least 7 years in wooden barrels. Alcohol in the rum interacts with the wood, which adds subtle colour and aroma and imparts a distinct taste to the rum. JD, aged in oak barrels, and banana pinga are popular varieties.
Sugarcane seedlings were first introduced into these coastal regions by John Dias, or JD, a Portuguese explorer. From the islands where cultivation first began, sugarcane was carried to mainland Morretes by resident Indians, where it has since been largely used in the production of rum.
Some distilleries are open for visitors and a good place to see the production is Porto Morretes (see list below).
Handicrafts
Handicrafts typical of this region are woven baskets and trancados, articles manufactured locally from straw.
General
In Morretes and Antonina you will find only a few bank branches and it might be difficult to obtain cash from an ATM. It is better to bring cash from Curitiba with you to avoid any inconvinience. It is not possible to cash traveller cheques there.
One of the first things you might notice when you go shopping in Brazil is the shortage of change. Brazilian street markets and small businesses are a shopper's delight, but cash is the only mode of payment accepted here. Ensure you carry adequate small change and manage it carefully. Commercial and business enterprises are obliged to return your change, but this may be a problem in small towns and tourist destinations. Do not expect to get 1 to 5 cents back. Such small coins are rare in Brazil.
There are two different R$10 notes in circulation. Red notes are made from flax, while blue notes are manufactured from polymer. The latter were first introduced in 2000 to commemorate the 500 anniversary of the discovery of Brazil by the Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral. Although still widely accepted, they are gradually being withdrawn and are being replaced by the red notes.
