Discover the authentic flavors of Colombia through this private fruit and drinks tour at Paloquemao Market. This iconic market is one of Bogotá's most vibrant spots, renowned for its rich diversity of produce and local culture.
On this tour, you'll taste a variety of local foods and drinks while immersing yourself in the cultural context of Colombian cuisine. Designed with the concept of gastronomy of reconciliation, the tour combines the expertise of chefs and nutritionists to delight your senses and nourish your soul.
Either Maria Jose or another trained expert and colleague will guide you through a select tasting of more than 12 varieties of local fruits, accompanied by exquisite regional appetizers. You'll also delve into the fascinating world of sustainability and conscious eating. Experience unique opening and tasting techniques for each fruit, revealing its distinct aromas, flavors, and textures in an unforgettable way.
Your tour of the market and the menu can be customized to your interests and tastes. Just tell Maria Jose if there are certain fruits you would like to try, or if you have a craving for salty over sweet. The market tour is scheduled to begin at 10am, but you can start anytime between 8am-12pm. If you would prefer to start at a different time, feel free to ask when you make your booking.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
BuñueloTaste a wide variety of Colombian fruits: Lulo, granadilla, mangostino, gulupa, guanabanaEmpanadasCoffee or hot cocoa, or teaLocal juicesAvena friaAlmojabanaWhile Maria Jose was traveling the world, the seed of a powerful idea was planted in her mind: to find a way to introduce her fellow travelers to modern Colombia through the country’s culinary richness. Driven by the desire to shake off Colombia’s reputation as a troubled nation and replace it with a new respect for the country’s breathtaking biodiversity, she offers tours of the Paloquemao Market in Bogota to educate guests about local produce and ingredients.
Join a fruit expert for a deep-dive into the exotic world of Colombian fruits and vegetables. Maria Jose is a passionate advocate for her country’s gastronomy and hopes that through her work she can increase travelers’ understanding of Colombia’s past, present and future. Her goal is to help create local jobs, support good agricultural practices, and help make her country a better place in this new age of peace building.
"This tour was incredible! Sara was very knowledgeable and her English was excellent. I’m so glad my husband and I did a private tour so we were able to do exactly what we wanted. We tried soooo many fruits and other goodies at the market. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable navigating the market by myself."
"Fabulous, informative, and delicious visit to the market. My husband and I toured the Paloquemao Market with Maria and completely loved it and her. Maria was very knowledgeable about the various fruits that we sampled, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. This was our first tour with Traveling Spoon, and it definitely won't be our last. We can only hope all of our future guides are as fun to hang out with as Maria was. Thanks!"
"My fruit market tour with Maria Jose Caro was one-of-a-kind, and filled me up both body and soul. More than just a chance to taste more than a dozen fruits, she's worked with chefs to determine the best order to taste them in, as well as developing relationships with the sellers in the market to be responsible in how tours interact with them. It made a huge difference. she's clearly beloved by the people working in the market, and has a variety of pro-social practices built into her business that make you feel good about spending your money with her. (i.e. launching english lessons for the people in the market) The tour came with a strong dose of history and explanation of the culture of Colombia, issues related to the cultivation and consumption of fruit, and even history. Incredibly thorough, informative, and just plain fun to dig into fruit all morning. The highlight of my time in bogota."
