Free walking tour of Mercado de la Merced and Mercado de San Juan
Tour description
This free walking tour consists of a tour of two of CDMX's most iconic markets.
The Mercado de la Merced in the heart of CDMX, is the market that for decades has been selling and distributing the raw material for restaurants and markets throughout the city of vital importance for the movement of the city center, the smells and colors of this market is a particular way of seeing many products including fruit and vegetables, accompanied by the daily life of those who have their own lifestyle and rich in folklore.
On the other hand, the Mercado de San Juan, located in the western area of the historic center, will introduce us to a highly elitist gastronomic culture , since all kinds of food products are found here, from pre-Hispanic gastronomy to species meats and decent cheeses cuisine gourmet. Both markets reflect the taste for good gastronomy and folklore of the inhabitants of CDMX. On this tour we will walk through the aisles of both markets explaining the meaning, names and history of both spaces.
The tour starts in the historic center exactly on Calle 20 de Noviembre at the corner of Venustiano Carranza in front of the Church located in that corner.
What will we do and what will be the path?
1.- We will walk about 15 minutes to go directly to the Mercado de la Merced.
2.- Once we enter the market , we will go through the corridors of the different areas that the market contains, passing through the flowers, fruits and vegetables.
3.- We will continue to visit the meat and dairy area.
4.- Finally, to leave the Merced market, we will go through the prepared food area where we will be able to see the variety of stews and foods preferred by the inhabitants of CDMX.
5.- Once we leave the market we will go to the San Juan market with a walk of about 30 minutes passing through the central district of La Merced and the Plaza de la Aguilita, or failing that, if you don't want to walk so much Over time we will be able to travel by subway with a route of 3 subway stations that in 10 minutes take us directly to the Mercado San Juan.
6.- Once we enter the market , we will go through the corridors where we will see the variety of food products sold, this market is very easily accessible and much smaller than La Merced, so within 30 minutes we can appreciate the daily movement inside the market and its culinary options.
7.- Once the market tour is finished, we will go to the starting point in the Plaza Mayor, the Zócalo .
More information about the tour:
- The duration of the tour is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Times are approximate to a minimum which allows to provide a complete and satisfactory experience for the participant. There is tolerance and flexible time to avoid a stressful experience.
- If possible, it is recommended to arrive at the meeting point 5 minutes before the tour time, to start at the indicated time.
- To guarantee the departure of the tour, a minimum of 2 participants and a maximum of 4 are required to create a good experience.
Learn more about the markets we will be visiting:
- The Market:
One of the largest and oldest in Latin America. In it, popular life is observed, and the morning movement gives us an idea of the incessant life of the city.
It is also worth noting the work of private producers and products grown and harvested by real producers from different regions of the country.
- San Juan Market:
It offers a variety of cheeses, wines and cured meats for Gourmet palates. Inside the market there are small restaurants that offer culinary delights at relatively cheap prices, here you can eat from game to grasshoppers which are a real experience for international travellers.
Without a doubt, this experience is filled with the unique colors and flavors of CDMX.