Mercado Central

As the name suggests, Mercado Central is located quite centrally in Lima. It is close to Plaza Bolivar and provides a convenient pit stop for most tourists. The focal point of Mercado Central is a large building. This building is primarily a food market. Inside, dozens of sellers sell Peruvian fruits, fresh vegetables, grains, fresh seafood, and even poultry. It tends to get quite crowded on weekdays, so it can get hard navigating the labyrinthine byways inside the building. However, this is the best place to find local produce—we suggest stocking up on Peruvian fruits and vegetables such as lucuma, maracuja, and avocados here. The main building is surrounded by a plethora of small stalls selling everything from clothes and accessories to electronics and furnishings. There is literally nothing you will not find here. This cramped market provides a truly authentic shopping experience and we highly recommend it. However, do beware that it can get hard to purchase things without a basic knowledge of Spanish. Most vendors at Mercado Central cannot speak or understand even a smattering of English. So we suggest carrying a Spanish guidebook or downloading a translating app on your phone before you venture to Mercado Central in Lima.