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Food Shopping in Bogotá

This is a brief rundown for new residents in Bogotá:

If you are looking for a similar experience to the supermarkets in the US and other first world countries, then there are a number of possibilities available in Bogotá.

Alkosto —Similar to a CostPlus or Walmart in the US
Carrefor —Similar to a KMart or Walmart in the US
Colsubsidio —Similar to a Ralphs, Safeway, or Ukrops in the US
Carulla —Similar to a Ralphs, Safeway, or Ukrops in the US
Exito —Similar to a Ralphs, Safeway, or Ukrops in the US
Ley —Similar to a Ralphs, Safeway, or Ukrops in the US

There are others, but I have not visited them due to a lack of easy transportation, or my ignorance of the bus system for the areas in which they are located.

If you are looking for a more Colombian experience, there are two great markets plus a plethora of smaller neighborhood markets to choose from. The largest market I´ve ever seen anywhere, is Corabastos, in the South of the city. Not only is it massive, (it appears to be several hundred acres in size) but it is also the wholesale market for foods coming into the city from the countryside. There are huge sheds that are devoted to specific kinds of produce, for example, the pineapple shed, or the potato shed. Each shed is approxamately a long city block , and perhaps half as wide, and filled to the narrow isles with massive containers of the offered produce.

Additionally, there is a true, smaller, farmer´s market, where the farmers load their offerings onto their trucks and haul it into the area asigned to them. If you shop this, market, I recomend the actual farmer´s market, because it is less overwhelming, and more personal. Beyond these offerings, there are fish, poultry, dariy, and meat markets assigned to their own areas. Sanitation is not bad for these products.

Further, there are large sheds or warehouse type buildings on this site that house small tiendas that offer basics like dried beans, rice, and other household goods like cleaning products, toothpaste etc.. There is a massive indoor market here, that I actually haven´t gone into because it is so large, I was unsure if I´d ever find my way out.

I´m not kidding.

A lot of Colombians shop this market, because there is so much competition for the pesos of the shoppers, that it can be substantially cheaper. It is not my favorite market, simply because it is so overwhelming, and if you are lugging your purchases around, it can get heavy very quickly. I´ve shopped there once, but went with a Colombian friend who has a car to carry the load away.

My favorite market of all so far, is Paloquemao. Located near the central part of the city on Aveneda 19 at calles24 through 27, it is a classic farmer´s market style with every type of food offering you could hope for. Here also, it is somewhat divided up into types of food being sold, but the areas are not strict in their assigned borders. We do our weekly shopping here and usually find everything we need including dogfood for Priscilla, the basset hound. Prices are good and a week´s supply of food for two adults and one gordita basset, averages about $15. USD. We´ve been shopping here for almost a year now and have never had a problem with any of the foods we have eaten regarding sanitation. Of course, we wash everything well before consumption.

Paloquemao can also be a bit confusing, but it is not so large that you won´t find your way out to some street from which to orient yourself. The other big plus of Paloquemao is the flower market. It starts early and is closing down by 11.30 and gone by noon, but if cut flowers are on your agenda, this is the place. Every type of flower including the real tropical exotics plus the normal roses, daisys, carnations etc. are available. Last time I bought a bunch (more than 2 dozen ) minerature roses as a house gift and the cost was $1,000 prsos or about 37¢ USD at the time.

The neighborhood markets can be quite economical, but sometimes are a little less fresh for some items depending on your needs. Produce is often bedraggled for example, but if you know what you are buying these markets can be just fine. I buy my milk, eggs, and sandwich bread from a small co-op market near where we live, because they always have the freshest of those products, and are near by when I need them. Some of the packaged goods they sell however are often covered with dust they´ve been on the shelves so long. I´ve found that if you can make the staff in a neighborhood market aware that you are going to be a regular customer, they will not give you the oldest thing on the shelf for which you are looking. If you are just a casual buyer in one, expect to be given what is oldest. I take this as a form of Papaya. You can always examin the product and refuse it, and probably gain some respect from the vendador.

A few words about packaging. Colombians buy most of their packaged products in the cheapest packaging possible. Why pay for a pretty package when it is going to be thrown away? For instance, the dairy products I buy are always sold in plastic bags. Some of the thickest heavy cream I´ve ever seen, is sold in clear plastic bags tied off by the seller.

You can buy imported products like cerials in their expensive packaging complete with the cartoon charactors or sports figures, but they don´t move here like the simple bags of cerials do, and therefore may not be as fresh. They are also more expensive since they are imported. Are Colombians smarter about this? I think so. Also, I see a lot of reuse of packaging here that in the US would be prohibited. For example, plastic bottles with screwtops, are often reused to sell liquid products. Juices, Chicha, and even boiled water, in reused Coke, Pepsi, or other soda bottles. Also, I´ve never seen so many different sizes of plastic bags. If you buy a cookie at a panaderia, they usually have a single cookie sized bag for your purchase. I of course keep all my plastic bags to use again for trash and garbage collection and Ms Priscilla´s contributions to the environment. Everything is reusable here, as it should be elswhere.
LaloG

By LaloG on Jan 17, 2005, 08:09 in Friendly Talkzone.

fill says on Jan 17, 2005, 08:19:

interesting info

fill

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juanalejo says on Jan 17, 2005, 10:13:

Codabas Lalo, have you ever been to Codabas? It the farmer´s market in north Bogota. Calle 180 Cra 7.

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william_andrew_channell says on Jan 17, 2005, 10:23:

I agree I would agree with LaloG on this stuff. If you want to save money, hit the markets. For you guys in the north, here's another good market where I shop. It's called El Gran Trigal in the Prado Veraniego Neighborhood (Cll 131 and K 38 more or less, I'm not sure). As far as prices go it sure as heck doesn't beat Corabastos or Paloquemao, but sometimes you just don't want to go that far or for some of you newcomers to the city, might not want to. Anyway, you can get everything you need in this place. Fruver, grains, meats, dairy products, a few packaged goods, and the other stuff you need to eat. Also, around the market there are alot of other really good shops like butchers, poultry, dairy, fish, eggs, potato deposits. You can also find good cheap stuff in the San Cristobal neighborhood. And if you still don't feel like leaving your supermarket, at least go to the cheap ones. Merquefacil, Surtimax, etc... just go to some stratus 2 and 3 neighborhoods and look for one. To find poor neighborhoods, please see my post with the stratus map.

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LaloG says on Jan 17, 2005, 10:49:

Sorry I haven´t. Bascally, it´s too far to schlep groceries. I´ve certainly heard of it, and a good friend does her shopping there, but also has a preference for Paloquemao, but likewise finds it too far to schlep.
LaloG

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william_andrew_channell says on Jan 17, 2005, 15:01:

Codabas Thanks for the advice, Juanalejo, I had never been there before. Went this afternoon and picked up some things, and it's a lot more convenient for me than Prado V.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 19, 2005, 08:16:

A great article, and I'm sure it will help many people for years to come :) Can we hve more articles like this?

Poor but snappy

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Byron Farrow says on Feb 15, 2005, 07:42:

Pomona Of course, if your not being economical and need some imported goods then Pomona is the most upmarket chain. The store opposite the new Carrefour on the 9 (with around the 108) is the best. For specialist curry / chinese ingredients then try International Food Services (IFS) on the 15 with 98.

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rrivas says on Nov 3, 2006, 13:26:

Carulla It is a good transition option because it is like an american supermarket but smaller, and you don't have to carry your bags. It has imported products but also fresh produce. Going to corabastos would be too much of a shock.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 17, 2007, 23:52:

Pssstttt......a_posso...your dont need to post the same shit in EVERY thread....try the Advertising section...called Renting, Selling, Searching section...or just start your own thread....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, DragonSlayer...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Cerealkiller says on Apr 18, 2007, 06:17:

My personal favorites are Carrefour Santa Ana, because it never gets very crowded, great variety of things, and the best bread.
Pomona is also a great place to go food shopping, they sell imported stuff you wont find anywhere else and it is open til midnight.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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jonas says on Jun 7, 2007, 12:35:

Cheese Most foreigners complain it is hard to find good cheese in Colombia. I am starting a new business, importing quesos maduros y semi maduros. My question to you is: WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR CHEESE? Supermarkets are not interesting to me at this moment, I am looking for the Delikatessen or similar where you buy your cheese. Any input greatly appreciated.

Jonas

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

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