Hola, and welcome to the latest edition of OnVallartaTime! This post is all about Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town Farmers Market – Tianguis Cultural (its official name), which is every Saturday at the Lazaro Cardenas Park, a quick walk from our apartment. I did a post on this market last year, but the market has grown, with some new booths, so I thought I’d show it to you again.
Last week we had three straight days of rain, not terrible, since it was in the low 70’s. It didn’t stop us from getting out of the house, in fact it was a blast, water was running in the streets like a river! After the rain, the temperatures and most importantly the humidity began to drop. It now cools off in the evening, so we can finally sit on our terrace and enjoy it. The downside of the change in the weather has been that we both got colds, but we are recovering, and the weather is finally getting beautiful, with highs in the mid- to high 80’s and lows in the high 60’s.
Back to the Old Town Farmers Market. To participate in the market, vendors must produce the items themselves and live within 75 km. of Puerto Vallarta. Despite the name, there are really very few farmers at the market; it’s mostly crafts, baked goods, art, and handmade clothing, plus some great food booths. The market is aimed at visitors and full- and part-time residents, mostly American and Canadian. Most Mexicans don’t shop here, it’s too expensive, and there are lots of little stores and the Municipal Market for everyday foodstuffs. But for specialty items, it can’t be beat. We try to go every week to buy whole grain bread, which is hard to find in Puerto Vallarta, and this year there are bagels!
So sit back and enjoy a visual tour of the market!
There are baskets…
Jewelry of all kinds…
Handmade brooms…
Some vegetables…
Coffee…
Clothing…
And more clothing…
A booth where you can order cakes (I love the sign, “Making Your Most Dreaming Cake!)…
Musical instruments…
Our amigo Roberto (whom we met on the beach) and his family, who make the best bead bracelets…
Flowers…
Cheeses…
And even a chiropractor!
Now for some of the food booths:
This is a taco booth, showing all the toppings…
With the same grill setup as the street taco stands.
A tamales and empanadas booth. We got some good pork tamales with red sauce here.
Thai food…
And traditional green pozole.
These are some traditional aguas (flavored water).
He’s making nueces dulces, also known as Mexican candy, sugar-coated pecans with cinnamon. They’re highly addictive!
All accompanied by live music.
Well, that was the tour of last Saturday’s Old Town Farmers Market, and the end of OnVallartaTime for this week. To close out this post, here’s a link to a short video of last week’s rain on our terrace. Of course you’ve all seen rain before, but this is what it’s like in Puerto Vallarta. Click on the link below to see the video. Until next time!
I should have had one of those amazing brooms for my Halloween witch costume.
Your Market there sure beats the one in LC!
Hi Linda! I could fly up there to deliver one, but then I’d have to buy a plane ticket for the return trip…
Love your photos. Isn’t it funny how so many farmers markets have few fresh vegetables. Portlands markets have always been super, but some of the smaller out of town ones have a lot of crafts. Loved seeing Roberto, I’ve heard so much about him.
Have fun!
Thanks for liking the pics, Dian! I agree about the outlying farmers markets in the states. I think the organizers of the one here limit the vendors by only allowing a small number in each category. I’m going to talk to them about it if I have a chance. But the reality is they probably can’t compete with the Municipal Market, and all the little fruterías on every street. The availability of a huge variety of fresh, cheap produce is amazing. It’s quite unlike in US cities where farmers markets fill a real niche in providing fresh choices.
You continue to wet our appetites for our January visit…this place looks like fun!!
It is fun, John! It will be great to share it with you.
Great pics, Greg. It brings back memories of all the wonderful tamales, artwork and jewelry. Can’t wait to visit it after the PURR adoptions across the street on Saturdays. Also looking forward to your guided tour of where we can actually buy veggies! Soon!
Yes Eve, very soon now! The municipal market is the best place, but for everyday there’s a little frutería a couple of blocks from us. The Amapas grocery is about a half block from where you will be staying. They have lots of good stuff.
Hace muuuchos años viví una pequeña temporada en PV, cerca del Rio Cuale.
Y ese rio crece tánto en tiempo de lluvias – es cuando viví ahí- que el ruido se olle a varias cuadras de distancia.
Saludos
Hola Carmen, tienes razón, el fin de semana pasado fuimos a un lugar favorito, El Río BBQ, ubicado al lado del Cuale, arriba al pasar de Paso Ancho. El río de veras era muy alto, y por primera vez no quise nadar, me pareció peligroso. Por donde vivías tú?