Feria Fluvial

The Río Valdivia captures pieces of the dawn. Already stands have gone up. Carts of today's catch gutted and neatly lined up. Mussels and clams clack as they are poured into tubs. Crabs claw at the morning air. Down on the leggings of this Feria Fluvial, the sea lions with their short, gold-hued manes are awaiting cast-offs. Dancing in the air, looking for a chance to snatch away some morsel, are gulls, cormorants and other sea birds. Fishmongers yell out the specials.

Fresh fruits of the sea aren't the only products being hawked here. On the other side, pigeons try to steal corn from a bin. Bundles of cochuyo and strings of dried shell fish hang from crossbeams. Sacks of herbs and spices, mounds of fresh-picked produce and buckets of flowers decorate the stands beneath these tarps strung from pavilion to pavilion.

By 3 p.m. This market will disappear, the trash at the curb being picked over by caracaras and gulls.

Location:
Avenida Arturo Prat s/n, across from the Mercado Municipal.
Valdivia, Chile

Market Types:
Seafood market, Flower market

Price Description: Free.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Daily 6 a.m.

Open Hours to:Daily 3 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

Visit the history, anthropology, arts and science museums; catch a concert or movie; spend an afternoon strolling through the Jardín Botánico and Parque Saval on Isla Teja; take a boat tour to the Spanish fortresses or to Punucapa village; sample the beer at Cervecería Kunstmann; explore the beaches and fortalezas of Niebla, Corral and Isla Mancera; visit Parque Oncol and other nature reserves. Further afield, go kayaking or fishing in the Seven Lakes Region.

Currencies accepted
Chilean Peso

By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began traipsing throughout...

Created: 09 Jun 2009

Updated: 09 Jun 2009

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