Bazurto Market

Cartagena

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DESTINATIONS colombia cartagena Shopping Bazurto Market

Bazurto Market

While seasoned travellers may venture into Cartagena's gritty Bazurto Market on their own, those not yet toughened by locals-only markets of the region may prefer to explore as part of a guided tour. This sprawling market, where trade starts before the crack of dawn, features incredibly fresh produce and seafood from Cartagena and beyond; much of it makes its way to the tables of local fine dining establishments within the space of the same day. There is plenty to look at and taste, including local street food and multiple succulent varieties of tropical fruit you're unlikely to have encountered before.

Shopping

Must-buys range from food stuffs to hand-crafted accessories and interior decor items. Coffee tops the list of the former, given that Colombian beans are among the world's most revered. Beans from all corners of the country may be purchased in Cartagena, but if you're looking for as local as it gets, look for beans from the Quindio region (Café San Alberto is the primary distributor). Other edibles (and drinkables) include Colombian chocolate, made with regionally harvested cocoa beans, and drinks like Aguardient, the Colombian national drink with a potent tone of anis, and rum. Fruit will likely prove difficult to transport, but it's definitely worth purchasing and sampling some of the local favourites like mango, soursop and granadilla. Hammocks, mochila bags and leather goods are some of the other best things to buy in Cartagena (and Colombia in general), and if you're looking for that extra something special, emeralds may be a great item to purchase — Colombia is the world's largest producer, and great deals are to be had.