The largest vegetable, fruit, cereals, and grain supply market in Colombia, and the largest we have visited in the world. 420,000 square meters with 57 warehouses and 6,500 vendors. A daily movement of 12.400 tonnes of produce. Visiting Corabastos makes you ask how there could possibly be a hungry person in this world. There is SO MUCH FOOD!
If you can, the best time to go is about 7:00am. Corabastos is not tourist-friendly, so never go alone. Also, keep in mind to dress down so as not to attract attention from the occasional pick more pocket; keep your wallet in a safe place and hide your camera when not shooting.
If you actually intend on buying food, remember this is a wholesale market. The smallest amounts sold are individual crates or boxes. You can hire a porter for a few thousand pesos to walk with you and bring your boxes along for the journey.
Header photo © Victoria Holguin
If you are a serious market-eer, then it is well worth the trip. The sheer scale and smell is something we have seen nowhere else. Try imagining 30m x 50m of nothing but carrots 3m high! Corabastos is on the edges of Bogota, about a one hour plus drive from central areas.
Corabastos Produce Market
(57) 1 453 7188 Av. Carrera 80 No. 2 – 51, Bogota, Colombia
www.corabastos.com.co
OPEN HOURS: 4:00 – 13:00 Daily
