Jamaica Market (Mercado Jamaica)

The Basics

At this bustling wholesale flower market, families shop for low-cost flower arrangements for all occasions, from baptisms to funerals, and lovers purchase bags of rose petals, which are available by the pound or kilo. It's sensory overload, as the stalls are a rainbow of colors and the air is fragrant. The market’s maze of stalls can be difficult to navigate independently, and it’s worth booking a guided tour to get an insider’s perspective.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Jamaica Market is Mexico City’s go-to spot for fresh-cut flowers.

• Guided walking tours make navigating the market’s maze of stalls a breeze.

• The market is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and is free to enter.

• It’s best to wear closed-toed shoes, as the market floor can be covered in puddles.

How to Get There

There are several ways to reach the market, located a few miles south of the Zocalo in Mexico City. Most visitors arrive as part of a guided tour or by public transport—the closest metro station is Jamaica (Line 9), and there’s a taxi stand behind the flower market.

When to Get There

The Jamaica Market is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is relatively safe at all hours, provided you take regular precautions. Many of the trucks arrive at around 8pm, when it’s possible to find deals that beat the normal rock-bottom prices.

Culinary Delights

More than just a flower market, the Jamaica Market is the perfect spot to sample traditional Mexican street food fare. In addition to more that 1,500 flower stalls, visitors find a dizzying array of local-approved street food sellers slinging tacos, tamales, huaraches—oblong corn tortillas piled high with refried beans and other ingredients—and much more.