Fodor's Expert Review Mercado Principal de Mérida
The best souvenirs to be found in Mérida are the traditional carved wooden sculptures (often depicting saints, Simóon Bolívar, or angels) made in small surrounding mountainside villages such as Tabay. If possible, head straight to the source—driving around Tabay looking for streetside vendors and "artesanías" (crafts) signs pointing toward homes is our favorite way to go—but you can also have a look around the nearly 500 stalls of the Mercado Principal de Mérida, which offer everything from flores (flowers) and frutas (fruits) to crafts and recuerdos (souvenirs). Begin your morning by sampling traditional Andean pasteles (pocketlike pastries) filled with pork, chicken, or beef. You can take home a cuatro (traditional four-string guitar) or a supposedly hand-loomed blanket from any of the dozens of shops that crowd the top two floors. The quality here has taken a nosedive in recent years (though it's still great fun to explore these stalls),... READ MORE
The best souvenirs to be found in Mérida are the traditional carved wooden sculptures (often depicting saints, Simóon Bolívar, or angels) made in small surrounding mountainside villages such as Tabay. If possible, head straight to the source—driving around Tabay looking for streetside vendors and "artesanías" (crafts) signs pointing toward homes is our favorite way to go—but you can also have a look around the nearly 500 stalls of the Mercado Principal de Mérida, which offer everything from flores (flowers) and frutas (fruits) to crafts and recuerdos (souvenirs). Begin your morning by sampling traditional Andean pasteles (pocketlike pastries) filled with pork, chicken, or beef. You can take home a cuatro (traditional four-string guitar) or a supposedly hand-loomed blanket from any of the dozens of shops that crowd the top two floors. The quality here has taken a nosedive in recent years (though it's still great fun to explore these stalls), so consider making your big purchases elsewhere.
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