Historical or contextual introduction
Chontaduro is sold on the corner of Calle 15 and Carrera 15, right in the center of Cali, and costs between $2,000 and $3,000 COP per unit. It's served with honey, salt or lemon, and anyone who hasn't tried it is missing out on one of the city's most authentic culinary rituals. But chontaduro isn't the only treasure you'll find in Cali's neighborhood markets: borojó, badea and guanábana are also available at prices that supermarkets double or triple.
And here's the first thing to clear up: many people search for "Galería Alameda" and can't find it, because the correct name is Plaza de Mercado Alameda. This happens among tourists and even among caleños who grew up shopping at other markets. In this Malokal guide you'll find reference prices for October 2026; on the interactive cards for each place at malokal.com you can check the safe neighborhood map (Locals vs. Foreigners), live holiday hours and book directly via WhatsApp.
📌 Transparency
This article contains sponsored/affiliate links. We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spanish Bootcamp Online
Plaza de Mercado Alameda is one of the most traditional public markets in Cali. It's not a shopping mall or a gourmet market: it's a working space where dozens of families sell fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and prepared food from early in the morning. Its value for visitors lies in buying directly from the vendor, with no middlemen, and in learning to tell fresh fruit from fruit that's already on its way out.
And no, there are no "secret tunnels" or "official chontaduro routes": that's pure social media myth with no backing. What there is, is a real market, with specific aisles, vendors with first and last names, and prices that change with the season. That's what this guide is about.
What to do
Walk the exotic fruit aisles
Plaza de Mercado Alameda works like an organized maze: the fruit aisles are in the central and peripheral areas, and the chontaduro, borojó, badea and guanábana stalls aren't all together. Chontaduro is usually sold cooked, ready to eat, at stalls that also offer cane honey, salt and lemon. Borojó is found fresh or as pulp, and badea —a large fruit with green skin and pink flesh— appears at the tropical fruit stalls alongside guanábana.
The full walk takes between 45 minutes and an hour if you go at a relaxed pace, asking prices and comparing. There's no "official map" of the aisles, so the strategy is simple: enter through the main door, walk to the back and come back along the opposite side. The best-stocked fruit stalls tend to be at the ends, not at the entrance.
Try the cooked chontaduro at the stall
Chontaduro is eaten cooked, with salt or honey. At the Alameda many vendors have it ready for immediate consumption. It's a dense fruit, with a potato-like texture and a flavor somewhere between chestnut and avocado. If you've never tried it, ask for one unit before buying a dozen. Vendors often offer the first one "as a sample" if you ask politely.
Compare prices between stalls
Prices at Plaza de Mercado Alameda aren't fixed. The same product can cost different amounts at two stalls ten meters apart. Comparing is part of the experience and offends no one: vendors know people compare. The practical rule is to ask at least three stalls before deciding.
Learn to identify fresh fruit
Fresh badea has firm skin, uniform green color and feels heavy in the hand. If it's soft or has large brown spots, it's past its prime. Fresh borojó is firm, dark brown and free of cracks. Guanábana should have soft spines and yield slightly when pressed with the thumb, but not be soft. Fresh chontaduro, once cooked, is recognizable because the flesh is firm and doesn't fall apart.
Where to eat or drink
Prepared food stalls inside the market
Inside Plaza de Mercado Alameda there are prepared food stalls serving breakfasts and set lunches. They don't have brand names or social media, but they operate from early in the morning. You'll find soups, arepas, eggs, grilled meat and natural juices made with the same fruit sold in the aisles. It's the most economical option for eating after shopping.
Natural juices in the fruit aisles
Several fruit stalls offer juices made on the spot with borojó, guanábana or badea. The price is low and the portion generous. It's a practical way to try the fruit before buying it whole. Ask for the juice without added sugar if you want to taste the real flavor of the fruit.
Eating outside the market: the Alameda surroundings
Around Plaza de Mercado Alameda there are bakeries, empanada shops and everyday food restaurants serving the market crowd. They're simple options, with no tourist pretense, at neighborhood prices. Check the hours before you go, because many close after midday.
How to get there and transportation
Plaza de Mercado Alameda is located in the Alameda area, in the center-east of Cali. You can get there by taxi, ride-hailing app or city bus. Several bus routes pass through the area, but names and routes change frequently, so it's best to ask at your hotel or check an updated map app before heading out.
If you go by private car, there are informal parking lots near the market, but space is limited and traffic in the area is heavy in the morning. The practical recommendation is to arrive by taxi or app and walk the last few blocks.
The market's schedule is in the morning: activity starts early and slows down after midday. For fresh fruit and a good selection, the ideal is to arrive between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. Check the hours before you go, especially on holidays.
Local tips
The art of Cali-style haggling
Haggling at Plaza de Mercado Alameda is normal, but it has limits. You don't haggle at the cooked chontaduro stall that's already ready to eat, or at prepared food stalls. You haggle on fruit by volume: if you buy a dozen chontaduros or three badeas, you can ask for a price adjustment. The useful phrase is direct: "And if I take three, how much will you let me have them for?" or "Can you give me a price for the dozen?"
The realistic discount margin is 10% to 15% on volume purchases. Asking for half the price offends the vendor and doesn't work. The rule is simple: if the price is fair, pay it; if you're buying a lot, ask for a reasonable adjustment.
What to bring
Bring cash in small bills. Many stalls don't accept cards or transfers, and $50,000 or $100,000 bills are hard to break early in the day. A cloth bag or backpack helps carry the fruit without tearing the market's plastic bags. If you're going to buy badea or guanábana, bring a rigid container: they're heavy fruits and bruise easily.
How to pack so the fruit survives the trip
Cooked chontaduro lasts several hours without refrigeration, but it should be eaten the same day. Fresh borojó lasts two to three days at room temperature and up to a week in the fridge. Badea and guanábana are more delicate: they bruise easily and ripen quickly. If you're traveling, ask for fruit that's "pintona" (half-ripe) and wrap it in newspaper, not closed plastic.
What time to go
Between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. you'll find the best selection and the market is active but not overcrowded. After 11:00 a.m. the good fruit is already sold and the heat starts affecting quality. On Sundays the market is busier and prices may rise slightly due to demand.
Reference prices (October 2026)
Prices vary by season and by stall, but so you don't arrive blind: cooked chontaduro goes for between $2,000 and $3,000 COP per unit, and by the dozen the per-unit price drops to a range of $20,000 to $28,000 COP. Fresh borojó is sold per unit between $5,000 and $8,000 COP, and a bag of pulp between $10,000 and $15,000 COP, with prices rising in low season. Badea and guanábana are sold per unit or per pound, with prices depending on size and usually ranging between $6,000 and $12,000 COP per unit. These are reference prices: always confirm at the stall before paying.
What to avoid so you don't get a bad deal
Don't buy fruit that's already peeled or exposed to the sun: it loses freshness quickly and you don't know how long it's been there. Don't pay in advance without seeing the product; ask them to show you the fruit and try it if it's chontaduro. And don't haggle aggressively or at prepared food stalls: haggling works by volume and with respect, not like an auction. If something doesn't feel right, keep walking; in the next aisle you'll surely find better.
Safety in the area
The Alameda is a working area and, as in any popular market, it's best to keep your eyes open. Carry only the cash you're going to use, put your phone away after paying and don't leave it in view on the counter. Avoid showing wads of bills when paying and don't accept help from strangers who offer to "break" your large bill. If you carry a backpack, wear it in front and closed. Check the safe neighborhood map at malokal.com before heading out and, if you go at night, do so by taxi or app, never walking alone through empty streets.
Frequently asked questions
Does "Galería Alameda" exist in Cali?
Not under that name. The real market is called Plaza de Mercado Alameda. "Galería Alameda" is a common confusion on social media and in tourist searches. If you ask a caleño about "Galería Alameda", they'll likely correct you and point you to Plaza de Mercado Alameda.
Can you haggle at Plaza de Mercado Alameda?
Yes, but with judgment. Haggling works on volume fruit purchases: dozens of chontaduro, several badeas or guanábanas. You don't haggle on prepared food or at stalls that already have the price fixed on a sign. A 10% to 15% discount on large purchases is reasonable; asking for half the price doesn't work and can make the vendor uncomfortable.
