As others indicate, if you are a tourist go with a guide and also keep valuables in your money belt (or at home). Fine to use a smartphone but be discreet. I loved the experience with all the sounds and sights and smells. Nothing like what I see back home in the US. Which is why I love markets like this around the world :). Make sure to see the fish area in front and the slaughter/meat area behind it in the covered market. Go all the way through the market to the large road behind it and head south to see more chaos, crowds, and street vendors and malls (a step up from Mercado Bazurto in terms of niceness and safety, but still “rough”). Great way to see how the true locals shop. Oh, and the guide suggested we avoid the local food there to be safe and not have gastrointestinal “issues” later!

I have visited plenty of markets in different countries and this is definitely the most disgusting market I have ever visited. However, I ate the most authentic and delicious food I have tried in Colombia. I only decided to visit this market because I got tired of the fancy overpriced restaurants in the center. None of them were even near to taste as good as the traditional dishes I tried here. I love seafood, so this market was a must and almost decided not to come but on my very last day I made up my mind and went for it. No regrets despite the bitter experience of being overcharged at a smelly and hideous market. Make sure to ask how much you will pay before eating, otherwise they will rip you off, just like they did with me. Still, fabulous experience. I am happy and highly recommend it. Be prepared, this is a rough market.

This is a typical market of the area. Generally safe if you dress down and take normal precautions a person should be good. For food if the food is fried or cooked, should be fine. The back right corner might be less safe. Ask multiple vendors for the local price.

Unique experience. You can feel in a more real and genuine Cartagena walking through these passages as very tasty and authentic looking food is all over the place. This place is a huge opportunity for the city to renovate and make it even more attractive. The people was very nice and warm and everyone is trying to get you to buy food. Very hard to pick where to eat but my advice is go with the person that approaches you with the best service attitude. Wish this place gets upgraded at some point in the future.

This is a cool, authentic street market that’s crazy busy, but it may not be right for everyone. Parts are very, very dirty and there was fetid standing water when we were there. Some areas necessitate holding your breath from the strong rotting or sewage odors. OTOH, the ppl are very friendly and most of the food looks appetizing. It was very, very hot when we went, so take or buy water.

Bogota had replicas were better and higher end, but for Cartagena, this market is very vast. Also surprisingly safe for foreigners. We took a tour with a guide first, but came back to shop more later in the afternoon, never felt unsafe. They also have a lot of local goods here. However, sanitization and fire hazards are not up to any standards. So try the foods/fruit at your own risk. One of us got sick the next day and the other was fine. So depending on your risk tolerance and how strong your stomach is, YMMV. Still a very fun location to visit and shop, vendors are not too aggressive, the tour guides actually said the reason this market has become so popular is because foreigners started visiting. And any sort of petty theft were shunned by the business vendors, therefore they will even protect you. Because any bad stories coming out of the market location will hurt their future foreigner business. Overall we didn’t feel unsafe there at all.

Wear closed shoes. Took a market tour and would recommend the same as it is a maze.

Hard to rate this place. Depends on what type of experience you prefer. The place is rough, and as real as it gets. If you are looking to get a taste of what real, non-touristic, Cartagena looks like, then this is it. Some considerations: -Avoid wearing luxurious accessories, this is not a place to show-off. -Wear light clothes, Sports apparel can be a good option. -Avoid wandering away from where the crowd is. -Always visit during the day.

This is a highly authentic experience, which you will enjoy much more with a local guide. I wouldn't recommend just wondering here on your own. The food and drink were absolutely delicious and the people were amazing. I got the sense they don't get a lot of tourists but it was a great place to visit and experience how the locals live.

Bazurto market is a good place to visit at least once. We throughly enjoy spending about 3 hours with our Airbnb Experience guide. Here are some tips to remember: Keep your wallet and your phone close to you, have lunch at a restaurant visited by Anthony Bourdain, you can negotiate some what on price for goods, you will run into shoulder to shoulder pedestrian traffic, light hat and sun glasses 🕶 a must, fast beat i.e., danceable music will accompany you, and finally just be ready to soak in the sights, smell and taste. Over people are nice and market is safe.

Definetely worth a try!! Get a guide and try this huge market out! They have everything, and it is a very local daytrip you can do in half a day

Market to experience where locals have a meal and buy their fresh produce, meat, etc.

If there is a place you should go to taste real local food is this market. Not a very nice looking place but the food is amazing.

Authentic market that the locals frequent. Bazurto Market supplies all of Cartagena and I was blessed to be able to experience a part of the food as the locals do. The market is as-expected: bustling, noisy, and not for the faint of heart. Full of the freshest ingredients, miscellaneous items, and store owners that are fixtures of the community, just as this market is. I understand some visitors have their reservations about this place and turn up their noses, but if you have ever visited similar markets in Asian countries such as china and Thailand, you’ll see the same thing. I encourage you to go see the market if you want to truly see where the the locals buy their food for home, and taste Cartagena unsullied by tourism. Remember to wear waterproof or closed-toe shoes, and to keep an open mind!

Good food. Everything taste fresh. Not exspensive.

We went to the market by ourselves- it was the worst place we've seen for a while. The smell was terrible, rubbish and animal remains everywhere, I wouldn't dare to eat anything from any of the stalls. Perhaps if you go with a tour they show you 'better' places but overall it's not a nice experience.