Plaza de Mercado La América

The Plaza de Mercado La América is one of the market halls still running in Medellín. It's on Calle 45, in the La América district, and it's used mostly by people from neighborhoods like Laureles, Simón Bolívar, Lorena and El Velódromo. It has more than 110 businesses in about 240 covered stalls.

There's fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, herbs, panela, flowers, flowerpots and garden supplies, plus mops, baskets and religious items. It's a good place to try fruit you can't find outside Colombia: ask for a taste before you buy.

Inside there are food stands serving traditional lunch at a good price, like bandeja paisa and mondongo. Some vendors walk the aisles selling tinto (black coffee).

The city's Empresas Varias ran it until the nineties; since 2000 the vendors themselves have managed it as a cooperative. It's smaller and calmer than the Minorista, and hardly any tourists come.

What to see

• The tropical fruit stalls.
• The flower and plant stalls.
• The traditional lunch restaurants.
• The herb and panela stalls.

Getting there

• Metro: Floresta station (Line B), then about a 15-minute walk south.
• Taxi: ask for the La América market, Calle 45 with Carrera 80.

Tips

• Go in the morning, when the fresh produce arrives and it's busiest.
• Bring cash in small bills.
• Ask the price per pound or per unit before they bag it.