Mercado Puerto

Located in a time-worn building at the heart of Valparaíso's Old Town is the city market. Here you'll find a smattering of produce; vendors sell basic fruits and vegetables alongside some more exotic selections—such as papaya and sweet cucumber. Don't come to this market expecting the sensory overload characteristic of many marketplaces, however. The building that houses the mercado is scheduled for renovation in April of 2009, and many of the vendors no longer hawk their wares here.

On the second floor of the market, you'll find a concentrated bunch of "marisquerías" (seafood restaurants) whose wait staff will quite literally fight for your business. Smoking is not permitted in any of the marisquerías.

Location:
On the corner of calles Cochrane and San Martin
Parte Antigua, Valparaíso , Chile

Market Types:
Food market

Getting There
From Plaza Sotomayor, follow calle Cochrane five blocks away from the center of town. The large hexagonal building will be on your right.

Travel Tips: The old section of Valparaíso is perhaps the most culturally rich and interesting part of the city, but it is also dangerous for the unaware tourist. Visit this part of town with a friend and stay aware of your surroundings while in this part of the city.

Relative price: Very cheap

Travel Skills: None

Just up calle La Matriz, you'll find the Iglesia La Matriz, the oldest church in the city. Walking away from the port up calle Cochrane, you can take the Artilleria elevator up to the naval museum and a great overlook of the city. The market is also close to the ever-active harbor, Muelle Prat.

By Lauren Yero

I am a recent liberal arts graduate who travels as a compulsion. I have lived in several regions of the US as well as briefly abroad in England and...

Created: 31 Jul 2008

Updated: 31 Jul 2008

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