Saturday Market in Pavas, Costa Rica
Written by Claire
Throughout Costa Rica, you can find a wealth of weekend farmers’ markets or “ferias del agricultor”. One of the most popular is the Saturday market in Pavas, San Jose, about 300 meters west of the U.S. Embassy.
Costa Rica Traditions — Saturday Market in Pavas
Every Saturday, farmers haul in their goods to display at stands beneath colorful tarps that provide a bit of shade and create a beautiful mosaic lining each side of the street. While many visitors would claim the market goes on for miles, it is actually five city blocks, between Carretera Pavas and Avenida 2.
Vendors sell a wealth of goods such as strawberries, watermelons, blackberries, potatoes, lettuce, herbs, avocados, tomatoes, bunches of onions, pupusas, tamales, cheeses, seafood, cucumbers, red peppers, bananas, plantains, fresh tropical flowers, as well as other varieties of typical Costa Rica food.
The prices can be as low as 60 percent off supermarket prices. For example, I bought 10 big limes for 200 colones, or about 40 cents. Two ripe avocados were 350 colones, or 70 cents. Three large cucumbers were 300 colones, or 60 cents. Tall bundles of beautiful bright flowers were being sold for 1,000 colones, or $2. A lunch of two pupusas with a cabbage salad and two glasses of tamarindo juice came to 2,200 colones, or $4.40. All in all, pretty cheap!
I do recommend getting to the market early before the sun gets too hot and the best produce has been sold off. I got there around noon, and the market was still going strong when I left around 1pm. Maybe plan to do your purchasing, and then take a break at one of the tiny sodas or food stands, or head a block in any direction on the Careterra Pavas and you will find several quality Chinese restaurants.
Also, if you plan to do some serious shopping, the bags used by the vendors are generally weak and without handles, so you should consider bringing a backpack or even some sort of storage on wheels like the elderly Ticas have so cleverly figured out. I ended up with a full backpack and potatoes, strawberries and half a watermelon in my hands.
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Filed under: Tico on October 30th, 2007
Great article Claire!
We are flying into SJO and flying out of Pavas 4 hours later. Any suggestions of where we could eat in Pavas, once we have checked in our bags? (not Chinese though)!
Thanks
Let’s see.. if you want to stick to places near the airport, you could head to Plaza Rohrmoser which has a Longhorn steakhouse, Pan e vino (italian), and a nice food court. Up the street is a bar Pollo cervecero you can get quality bar food and a drink. Further up the road is Antojitos a Mexican place, or Cafe Mediteraneo (i think thats the name) with italian food. Plaza Mayor which is also near the pavas airport, has the tico chain Azafran and a food court. And near the plaza you can find ichiban (japanese food and sushi), Sash (lebanese food with pretty decore), and a Tea bar.
Hello,
Any idea - where to buy avocados (aguacates) in Costa Rica?
I don’t mean supermarkets or farmers markets.
I mean - any reliable avocados (aguacates) producing companies.
Nothing in Yellow pages, nothing in Procomer…
Your advise will be highly appreciated.
Stan.