The 2018-2019 Farmer’s Market season is almost here! Most markets open the first week of November, right in the middle of fall season and right on time to welcome the wave of winter tourists, or snowbirds, who flock here from the United States and Canada.
The markets are locally known as “tianguis” and they set up all along the coastal villages from Nuevo Vallarta to Chacala. Both locals and visitors have the chance to browse a wonderful variety of organic fruits and vegetables from family orchards, organic coffee, and homemade food and handicrafts, not to mention an opportunity to meet with local artists and artisans as well. Some markets even have live music and cooking demos.
Below is a list of the Riviera Nayarit markets we recommend:
Tianguis Lo de Marcos
The fifth season of the Tianguis Lo de Marcos begins on Saturday, November 3rd; this market is sponsored and coordinated by Galván Real Estate in its entirety. The tianguis is held in a lovely patio and is a comfortable open-air experience with a good group of unique sellers and a lot of fun. As if that weren’t enough, this season will also welcome a holistic healing segment.
Opening day: November 3. Day: Saturday | Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: #9 Luis Echeverría street, half a block from the Lo de Marcos plaza.
Monday Market/Forever Spring/Bucerías Art Walk
There are three tianguis in Bucerías and all are on Lázaro Cárdenas street: on Mondays, it’s the appropriately named Monday Market, on Wednesdays it’s Forever Spring, both are on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Thursday afternoons at the Bucerías Art Walk. The first two offer Mexican specialties prepared by locals: gourmet food, handicrafts, leather, home goods, carpets, etc. In the third, several art galleries open their doors from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. About 17 galleries participate each week; some artists even prop up their work on the sidewalk.
Opening day: October 31, November 7 and 8. Day: Wednesday | Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: #50 Lázaro Cárdenos street, Bucerías
La Cruz Market
The Mercado La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, or La Cruz Market, will open on Sunday, November 4th, offering a variety of regional artisanal products. Held at the Marina Riviera Nayarit to one side of the Mercado del Mar, this market—also known as “Tianguis Huanacaxtle”—is a great place for a visit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a fun stroll through the many booths selling all kinds of handmade products, as well as organic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, cold cuts, traditional clothing, and much more. Open from November through April.
Opening day: November 4. Days: Sunday | Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Marina Riviera Nayarit, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit.
Sayulita Town Market
This tianguis was founded with the noble purpose of promoting sustainable farming and nutrition within the local community, giving small family farmers and homemade foods. It only opens during the Winter Season and offers a variety of organic products, yoghurt, cheese, bread, coffee, baked goods, pesto sauce, soup, natural pet food, soap, lotion, and more.
Opening day: November 2. Day: Friday | Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Revolution Avenue, Sayulita, Nayarit
San Pancho Artisanal Market
The market opens every winter season every Tuesday offering a selection of fruit and vegetables, artisanal foodstuff, art-objects, and other products created by the residents themselves. The 2018-2019 season begins on Tuesday, November 6; the market is held in the charming Plaza del Sol, which was built during the 60s as part of the “Third World Towns” project started by Mexico’s ex-president, Luis Echeverría Álvarez.
Opening day: November 6. Day: Tuesday | Hours: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Plaza del Sol, San Pancho
Riviera Farmer’s Market
This colorful market that appears every winter season in the Nuevo Vallarta Business Center is opening its doors on November 6th. Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. visitors can peruse a delightful selection of artisanal baked goods, fresh coconuts, fresh handmade tlacoyos made from blue corn, exotic cultivated flowers, vegetables, and fresh dry gourmet pasta. There’s also live music and a fun family ambiance—all with the spectacular Marina Nuevo Vallarta in the background.
Opening day: November 6. Day: Tuesday | Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: #55 Paseo de los Cocoteros, Business Center, Nuevo Vallarta.
Guayabitos Market
The Guayabitos Tianguis happens every Monday near the Plaza Principal from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from November through March (it’s closed during the summer). This market is slightly smaller than the tianguis in La Peñita, though visitors will find a good variety of personalized silver jewelry, ceramics, bedding, Talavera dishes and sinks, glassware, Huichol art, Oaxaca rugs, and just about anything you might be looking for.
Opening Day: Monday | Hours: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Main Plaza, Rincón de Guayabitos, Nayarit.
La Peñita Market
The open-air tianguis in la Peñita de Jaltemba opens up every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Plaza Principal and surroundings. This is an ideal place to buy silver jewelry, linens for your dining table or bedroom, glassware, Talavera dishes, Huichol art, and rugs from Oaxaca. They also have fresh fruits and vegetables for sale, homemade bread, and locally produced honey and coffee. This is one of the biggest and best-known markets in the area.
Opening Day: Thursday | Hours: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Main Plaza, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit.
Chacala Cultural Market
The Chacala Cultural Market opens at the end of November and continues every Saturday through March from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can start the day off with a visit to the marketplace that’s held at the town plaza, where they can buy food, art, handicrafts, traditional candy, organic produce, and fresh vegetables. A noon visit to this quiet town is always a good idea: you can enjoy the beach, walk to the cove, or head out on the water to kayak, paddle board, surf, or sport fishing.
Opening Day: Saturday | Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Season: Winter – from November through April | Location: Main Plaza, Chacala, Nayarit.
The 2018-2019 Farmer’s Market season is almost here! Most markets open the first week of November, right in the middle of fall season . . .
