Colombia Forum

Epicatt2
Joined 2015
Posts: 172

8 years ago

Does Medellín have a Mercado Central . . . ?

8 years ago

Have been reading the Colombia Forum for a couple months now and have seen that the many options for shoppingare available from upscale stores, Malls, Centros Comerciales, places like Pricesmart, Exito and so on. There are supermarkets and tiendas, too, of course.

But no one has ever mentioned whether there is anythng like a Mercado Central in towns like Medellín or on its various sub-divisions like Envigado or, say, in nearby Caldas. Or in smaller cities like Cali, Pereira, Ibagué, Neiva, etc.

What I mean by that is a permanent central market with small stalls selling foods, fruits, veggies, meats, and hard goods like shoes, clothing, household goods, even small restaruants, etc., all manned by small private vendors like there is in Costa Rica. (I thought they'd have this concept in Panamá, too, but apparently not.)

BTW the idea of the mercado central is not the same as that of a féria del agricultor, which is a weekly thing that comes together in smaller and some larger towns and happens regularly on a different day of the week depending on which town one is speaking of. The Mercado Central has cheaper prices than the local supermarkets and the féria del agricultor is cheaper than the mercado central...

So now how about Colombia? Do these things exist there? I never found anything like that in Medellín when I was there, or in any of the other towns that I visited.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Colombia Guide

Expats in Colombia discuss the pros and cons of living in Colombia. From the Colombian people to driving to taxes and more. As challenging as it can be, expats in Colombia clearly find that there is a lot to love about a country that is a surprising expat hot spot.

Colombia Forum
Join our Colombia forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Colombia.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Colombia.

Best Places to Live in Colombia

If you're considering a move to Colombia, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Colombia in 2023.

Healthcare in Colombia

Our guide to healthcare in Colombia covers public and private healthcare in Colombia, hospitals, vaccinations, prescription medications and more.

Cost of Living in Colombia

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Colombia.

Moving to Colombia Guide

With its bustling cities, beautiful beaches and friendly Colombians, Colombia is an increasingly popular destination for expats of all ages. Expats in Colombia offer insightful tips for those moving to Colombia.

Real Estate in Colombia

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Colombia.

Pros & Cons of Living in Colombia

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Colombia.

Retiring in Colombia

Advice for people retiring in Colombia.

10 Tips for Living in Colombia

If you've recently arrived in Colombia, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Colombia.

Additional Information:

Visit our Colombia Index for a Full List

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Colombia by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Colombia.