I love wandering around markets and Antigua market, Guatemala certainly doesn’t disappoint. Located on the west side of Antigua it covers a vast outside and undercover area selling fruit and veg and nearly everything you could imagine.
The markets of Antigua Guatemala
After visiting Antigua Guatemala we decided to stay for a month. Local restaurants are a little expensive in this tourist town, so we decided to self-cater and shopped in the Antigua Market daily for food and supplies.
The outdoor market. Selling everything from jeans to knock-off DVDs.
Antigua Market Guatemala
Yes, Antigua market has it all. If you’re after jeans, shoes or bulk buy toilet paper you’ve come to the right place.
Wandering into the undercover maze you are confronted by all and sundry. Like most markets, the stalls are packed tightly and you are constantly weaving and bobbing.
I’ve not tried to buy anything other than food at the markets, so I don’t know what the quality is like, but if you look hard enough you may spot a bargain that lasts.
A word to the wise, watch out for pickpockets, as this must be heaven for them with the constant bumping and close contact. We strongly recommend anti-theft bags like this, for Guatemala.
Fruit and Vegetables in Antigua Market
This is what I love about the markets, food, all on display and tempting you to buy. Antigua does it well.
As you start moving through the designer jeans you notice that a few stalls have fruit and vegetables. The closer you get to the main hall the more the fruit and vegetables take over.
Located near the equator but 1500m above sea level, the diverse range of foods on offer is awesome.
From great varieties of potatoes, tomatoes and avocados to papaya, pineapple and even the best strawberries and blackberries I’ve seen. For a foodie this is paradise.
A lovely stand loaded with fresh fruit and Vegetables, Antigua Market, Guatemala
Meat and Fish is Covered Too
Walking further afield brings you toward the meat and fish area. Fish is a bit light, being up and away from the oceans and 50kms away from Lake Atitlan (to boost tourism they introduced black bass to the lake which wiped out two-thirds of the local population and caused the Atitlan Grebe’s extinction) you expect that.
Despite not being on the coast the fish and prawns on offer looked fresh and tasty.
Beef and chicken are in plentiful supply and any part of the animals you need you can get, including fresh tripe.
Meat is hung up in the traditional ways of the butcher and was all excellent quality.
I quite happily wander around this part for a while but convincing my wife and the boys isn’t easy. Best I do this part on my own, working in kitchens I’m used to all those smells.
Antigua market didn’t have much of a smell at all.
Tasty-looking prawns, peeled or unpeeled, take your pick
Making You Hungry?
They have hot meals covered too at Antigua Market, with a large food court.
This caters mainly for locals but that didn’t stop us from having lunch there, nor the vendors from trying to persuade us to eat at their stalls.
Our limited Spanish didn’t help us escape the vendors nor choose our lunch.
We settled on fried chicken and rice and a bean soup with tortillas. All of it was delicious although I guess I shouldn’t have eaten so much of the salad.
Cholera is apparently a risk here and isn’t on my to-do list for the near future. No worries 2 days later and I appear unscathed.
The meat section was full of great cuts of meat all hung up for sale.
Antigua Market is Cheap
We haven’t really found Central America any cheaper than the US in terms of accommodation but when it comes to food it is both cheaper and much better quality.
Processed foods are gone, replaced by fresh food that hasn’t been altered in any way shape or form.
For a mere $5 US you can fill your backpack with almost everything. I should know, I did, then had to walk the mile back to our rented apartment carrying it all.
The big issue for me is making sure that I don’t buy everything and struggle to use it before it goes off. With two growing boys, we haven’t had that issue yet.
What is your favourite market around the world, and more importantly, why?
Chef is James Long, a professional chef, world traveler and endurance athlete. He has spent almost a decade traveling and working internationaly.
8 thoughts on “Antigua Market, Guatemala”
In answer to your question, my favourite market is near the Rialto Bridge in Venice. I love the local fruit and vegies and all the wonderful fish available.
My favourite market is Boqueria in Barcelona. Everything is laid out so beautifully. You can always tell a country that eats well and loves food by the markets I think. We have a big market here in Birmingham, yet the fish and meat hall always smells, and the vegetables are in plastic bowls. People in the UK somehow don’t love their ingredients as much as Europeans. I also think the Queen Vic Market (loved the market trolleys) and Prahran markets in Melbourne are pretty good too. We were amazed by the quality of the meat and sea food and the wine merchant who was very generous with the tasting. Perhaps these markets are so good because of the European influence on the city?
Thanks for the tip on the Boqueria market in Barcelona. We are there in May so will have to keep that in mind. The Europeans certainly do take more time and care with all of their food and life in general. Not sure if that was the case in Melbourne but the markets there are great. Sydney also has some great markets worth visiting. I know what you mean about the smells, it always worries me if it smells. Fresh food doesn’t smell!
Thanks for reading Martin, Yes love the European markets. The Christmas ones are fantastic as are the food ones. Will be checking them out come May this year.
In answer to your question, my favourite market is near the Rialto Bridge in Venice. I love the local fruit and vegies and all the wonderful fish available.
Good choice, I must visit that one when we are over there.
My favourite market is Boqueria in Barcelona. Everything is laid out so beautifully. You can always tell a country that eats well and loves food by the markets I think. We have a big market here in Birmingham, yet the fish and meat hall always smells, and the vegetables are in plastic bowls. People in the UK somehow don’t love their ingredients as much as Europeans. I also think the Queen Vic Market (loved the market trolleys) and Prahran markets in Melbourne are pretty good too. We were amazed by the quality of the meat and sea food and the wine merchant who was very generous with the tasting. Perhaps these markets are so good because of the European influence on the city?
Thanks for the tip on the Boqueria market in Barcelona. We are there in May so will have to keep that in mind. The Europeans certainly do take more time and care with all of their food and life in general. Not sure if that was the case in Melbourne but the markets there are great. Sydney also has some great markets worth visiting. I know what you mean about the smells, it always worries me if it smells. Fresh food doesn’t smell!
Good post James. I always head for the markets when we travel. Enjoyed a really good one in St Petersburg but my faves are in Paris.
Thanks for reading Martin, Yes love the European markets. The Christmas ones are fantastic as are the food ones. Will be checking them out come May this year.
These markets look and sound awesome! Definitely adding many places to my own bucket list from reading about your travels.
Hi Charlie,
Thanks for reading. There are soooo many places to see. Better get started soon 🙂
Cheers James