Bolivia: Sucre – Mercado Central

Mercado Central in Sucre, is the beating heart of the city and is located right in the historic center – a sprawling, two-story covered market that has been operating in its current building since the 1950s. It’s bright, colorful, and chaotic with dozens of aisles, hundreds of fixed stalls, and a constant flow of locals. There is the fresh produce section with amazing variety of Bolivian fruits and vegetables: chirimoya, tumbo, pacay, dozens of potato varieties, quinoa, giant kernels of choclo (Andean corn), fresh herbs, and more. Then there are the meat, chicken, and fish stalls with whole animals, heads, feet, etc. Finally, not to be missed are the famous juice ladies (señoritas de los jugos) – rows of women with blenders making fresh fruit juices and on the spot. You point at whatever fruits you want (or 3-5 different ones) and they are peels and mixed right in front of you!