Outdoor Markets Open for the Season
Tara A. Spears
A pleasant way to spend a morning is to visit one of Jaltemba Bay’s outdoor markets. From art to original jewelry to authentic Mexican handmade blankets or clothing, the various tianguis (outdoor markets) run the gamut from unique to practical depending which day you choose. Not only do the products support the local economy but the items make wonderful souvenirs of your trip or lovely gifts. Generally, the outdoor markets are open November until Easter, from 8:30 am until 1:00 pm. The following list of the area outdoor market options give a brief overview of the type of wares you can expect to find.
Guayabitos Town Square Artists Saturday Market: Excellent location with easy to navigate surface. Quality original art is enhanced by the tropical landscaping, bathroom, and taxis that make shopping a pleasure. No practical items. Live music from the gazebo.
Guayabitos Monday Craft Market: Wonderful variety of Mexican folkart in the Guayabitos plaza. The scent of Yolanda’s baked goods and fresh handmade candy floats on the air as you peruse the tin décor, jewelry, folkloric clothing, wood carvings, ceramics, and many other crafts. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the Mexican historical arts. Live entertainment varies weekly.
Lo de Marco Saturday Market: Just an easy 10 minute drive south of Jaltemba Bay is the attractive village of Lo de Marco. Not only does the town boast of a pristine beach and good restaurants but also an outdoor market that offers specialty items such as gluten-free baked goods, organic yogurt, and Mexican maps.
La Penita Thursday Market: The largest outdoor market in the area is sure to have something for everyone! You can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, hardware stuff, used clothing, shoes, new clothing, jewelry, handmade ceramics, glassware, household supplies, and more. Just to wander the isles checking out all the goodies takes hours. The downside is that the streets are uneven cobblestone with potholes making it difficult to walk and shop at the same time. 
For those that don’t mind traveling, the larger towns south of Jaltemba Bay also have outdoor markets on the weekend. To the north, Las Varas holds its tianguis on Friday. While there are several artisans of each type, for example ceramics or glassware, if you look closely you can notice the difference in subject matter or technique. Most of the folk art is created by a family so often you can special order items. I had a local glassware artist create stemware in the bride’s favorite color for a wedding gift.
At one time, bargaining with the vendor was normal but it seems that in the last few years the custom has died. Now the vendors do not want to budge on price- but check out another location and sometimes the pricing varies.
Even if you aren’t a recreational shopper, do take the time to visit one of the area outdoor markets to enjoy the culture.