Mexico Guide
Oaxaca
Mercado Benito Juárez
The old Mercado Benito Juárez is the site for village handicrafts such as rebozas (shawls), rag dolls and green china; plenty of fresh produce and flowers; and the infamous chapulines. While many of the goods here can be much cheaper than in the smaller markets, be warned that it's very touristy – you're harassed far more by the vendors and you may have to bargain fiercely to get your price. Always check the quality of the goods before you buy; sarapes, in particular, are often machine-made from chemically dyed artificial fibres. You can tell real wool by plucking out a thread – artificial fibres are long, thin and shiny, woollen threads short, rough and curly (and if you hold a match to it, a woollen thread will singe and smell awful; an artificial one will melt and burn your fingers). There are numerous shops around the zócalo and on Alcalá that will give you a good idea of the potential quality of items you can buy in the market, or try the Regional Association of Craftswomen of Oaxaca at 5 de Mayo 204 (daily 9am–8pm).