Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao

The Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao is a working wholesale and retail market in the Los Mártires district of central Bogotá, Colombia, at Carrera 25 No. 19-20. Opened in 1972, it supplies much of the capital with flowers, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and prepared food under one roof, and it serves local shoppers and restaurant buyers far more than tourists. The fruit aisles are the main draw for visitors. Stalls stock granadilla, lulo, mangostino, zapote, uchuva, borojó, curuba and many other species rarely seen outside Colombia, and vendors commonly cut open samples so that newcomers can try before buying. Several stalls sell fruit plates and fresh juices, and a plate of mixed tropical fruit costs about COP 15,000, while a bag of fruit typically runs COP 5,000-15,000. The flower hall is the other highlight, with roses, lilies, orchids, heliconias and other cut flowers sold in bulk and trading at its busiest between roughly 5:00AM and 7:00AM. Elsewhere the market has butchers, fishmongers, cheese and egg sellers, and a food section serving traditional breakfasts and lunches such as calentado, tamales, caldo de costilla and hearty soups at low prices. Visitors usually spend one to two hours, and the best window is between 6:00AM and 9:00AM, when the flower and fish halls are in full swing and produce is at its freshest. The market opens around 4:30AM and closes about 4:30PM from Monday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sunday, ending around 2:00PM. Crowds build through the morning and thin out in the afternoon, when many stalls begin to close. The market is reached easily by TransMilenio to Paloquemao station on the Calle 19 corridor, close to the entrance. The floors can be wet and the aisles narrow and busy, so closed shoes are sensible. Photography is generally tolerated, but it is polite to ask vendors before photographing them or their stalls up close. Petty theft can occur in crowded areas, so keeping valuables secure is advisable. Combined with the historic centre nearby, the market offers a direct look at how everyday food supply works in Bogotá.