On our first full day in Bogotá we wanted to immerse ourselves in the city and what better way to experience its heartbeat than by heading straight to its largest food market?
A 40-minutes walk from La Candelaria, venturing down several potholed streets, past Bogotá’s ‘red-light’ district and industrial sector of the city to arrive at one of the most unexpected non-touristy food markets I’ve ever visited: the market of Paloquemao.
For anyone remotely interested in knowing more about Colombian food, Paloquemao is the place to go, bringing together suppliers of meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits from all over the country.
If you get peckish during your visit, the market is also peppered with local eateries. On reflection, I now wish I’d indulged in a bowl of Sancocho de pescado, a Colombian soup made up of green plantain, yuca, corn on the cob, and fish. Though chicken is most popularly used for this dish and it’s what I saw most people slurping down at the market.
A market for foodies
To give you an insight into what to expect on your visit, an atmosphere of locality oozes throughout the place. By this, I mean it’s not a food market designed for tourists, instead, it’s where local farmers and people who appreciate the value of delicious, unpretentious food gather to do business or fill their stomachs.
Unlike many food markets I’ve visited in Europe, you won’t find fancy stalls with eye-catching branding, but you will find some of the biggest, freshest fruits and vegetables you’ll probably ever set your eyes upon. The produce is eye-catching for all the right reasons! Just look at the size of the pumpkins!
Some of the freshest fruit you'll ever see
Simply walking around and getting lost between the sections is half the fun. You’ll spot fruit you’ve never seen before. For me, this fruit was the Guanábana, which reminds me of a jackfruit due to its shape, size and characteristic prickly skin. However, it’s completely different inside, with pure white ‘flesh’ that tastes extremely refreshing, delicate and sweet.
The highlight of the market, personally for me, was the fruit. One thing you come to realise about Colombia is that it has an abundance of tropical fruits – to match that of South East Asia – and they have the best fruit smoothies imaginable to accompany any meal no matter where you are. I saw the biggest, healthiest-looking avocados I’d ever seen and comparatively to the UK cost next to nothing.
The most striking thing about Paloquemao is how local life and produce overflows from every crevice and corner. It’s a working market, with deliveries constantly being delivered to one stall or another. Watch out for one of the many carriers whose job is to hoard massive sacks of produce on their backs or trolleys through the tiny corridors that connect the various sections. It’s this constant bombardment of people, noise and aromas that makes a trip to Paloquemao so exciting.
As a lot of people say, one of the best ways to see a culture is through visiting a local market and trying the foods that the locals eat on a regular basis. I’m a big believer of this, but it can be very difficult to get the true essence of discovery when you don’t speak the language, like me in Colombia.
Therefore, if I had done this trip to Paloquemao again, I’d probably go with a guide or someone who at least speaks Spanish. The people working at the market were so friendly, but my lack of Spanish meant I couldn’t fully enjoy their warm personalities and ask them the questions I found myself wishing to know when I saw foods I’d never seen before. Nevertheless, a smile goes a long way when you want to interact with people!
But whether you go alone or with a foodie guide, you’ll most certainly marvel at the sheer volume and quality of produce. Be sure to head to this place on an empty stomach, as you’re probably going to want to try a bit of everything.
How to get to Paloquemao Food Market
Address: Calle 19 # 25-04, Bogotá, Colombia.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 4:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sunday and holidays 5:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
2 Responses
How did I miss this in Bogota?! Looks amazing.
Hi! I reckon you’re not the only one… it’s pretty out of the way from Bogota’s typical walking routes. Though you now know for next time… 😉