A colorful produce market spills out from the covered Mercado Mayorista, east along the railway tracks. In the meat section, you can buy Andean delicacies such as frogs, guinea pigs and chickens; an incredible variety of unpronounceable fruits and vegetables also beckon. Don’t miss trying the tokuc (rotten potato drink). Many stalls open by 4am and stay open until midnight.
Stallholders are friendly and let you try before you buy. Wandering through the different sections, the smells of different products rise up to hit you: it’s like a sensory crash course in the ingredients of classic Peruvian dishes. It’s one of Peru’s most interesting city markets, without doubt. The most important day is Sunday, coinciding with Huancayo’s weekly craft market.
