Buying Fresh produce & meat in Tulum

Today was a day like many others when we walk to town to get the food we need. We do live right behind the Super San Francisco but things are much more expensive there. And the shops in town support more of the local economy. We were off to buy our food in Tulum.

We walked and walked and walked. It is a pretty hot day and there is no shade on this walk but at I bribe them to keep walking with the promise of baistos de helado.

In the middle of town there is a little basket ball court, a little center square area and what used to be a tragic little park that was all busted and broken. For anyone that comes to visit - this will probably be something very spectacular by the time you get here. It is to be the new city hall/ town center I think. This is right next to the HSBC.


Anyway. We head over to get our favorite treat. The kids get basitos de helado (little cups of ice cream) for 10 pesos each and I get an agua fresca. I get mine in a bag (bolsa) because it is only 10 pesos and plenty for me. They have so many wonderul falvors of agua fresca. cantaloupe, horchata, jimica, guava, and pineapple, some with milk (leche) some without. My favorite is pineapple.

We then went to our favorite fruiteria. I do not even know the name of it but it is on the main road right across the street from HSBC. There is a huge display of fresh fruit outside ranging from several types of mango, pineapple, coconut just to name a few. They also have great paletas (popsicle)

I have shopped all over at different places and found that this is the best price for fresh items. The fruit is not all as pretty as we are used to in the states but they are natural and have much better flavor. Plus it is just a hit or miss what is going to be good, or they will even have, that day.

Today we got all of this for 80 pesos. At the current exchange rate that is like $5.00 USD. That is really good. I got 3 different types of mangos, 2 avocados, 2 big carrots, tomatoes, tomotillos, red pepper, mandarins, plantains, tortillas!!! WoW! that is a good day at the fruiteria.

We then went across the street to the polleria. This is where we buy our chicken. I usually get 1 kilo of chicken breast and 1 whole chicken. I ask them not to put the feet and head in. I do not use them in any of my cooking. I am usually able to get the chicken and 1 kilo (2 lbs.) for about 150 pesos. That is $10.00. That is really good.


If I wanted to I could go 2 doors down to the carniceria and buy my steaks or my ground beef. Sometimes they have chorizo but not all the time.

In another area of town- there is the pescaderia. There are a few and this is always a great spot to get fresh fish at a great deal. Many of the restaurants will buy their fish from these stores so you want to get there fast! We once got 8 lobster tails for 350 pesos. It should have been at least 1500 but the fisherman wanted to go home. It was the last of the fish they had that day.

Both of these stores close early in the afternoon so we always have to get there early.

When buying food in Tulum, the fresh stuff in not very expensive. But as soon as you go to a store... it is expensive. Lunch meats, bread, snacks or cooking needs, household needs, these are expensive. And the milk!!! OUCH! Buying milk in Mexico is so hard to swallow. The only light brand milk that we buy is 15 pesos per liter. We use about 1 liter a day. That is the hard part. Oh well, we will just have to fill up on veggies, fish, chicken