Tasting Tour of Tropical and Exotic Fruits in Panama’s Markets

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Forget the fruits you know. In Panama, the markets hide flavors so rare that even seasoned travelers have never seen them.

Guided by a local host, you’ll walk through colorful stalls where each tasting comes with a story, learning why certain fruits are used for energy, others for comfort, and how local communities have relied on them for centuries.

What begins as a tasting quickly becomes a window into Panama’s biodiversity and cultural roots.

This experience feels less like a tour and more like discovering the country through the people who live it. Every stop brings a new surprise, and every fruit becomes a memory you’ll want to share.

Groups are intentionally small and many fruits depend on the season, meaning no two tours are ever the same.

And by the end, you’ll carry with you the genuine memory of having lived Panama the way locals do - walking their markets, tasting what they eat, and connecting with traditions most visitors never get to see.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

You’ll meet your local host and walk together through Panama’s vibrant markets, stopping at stalls that sell fruits rarely found outside Central America. You’ll discover seasonal varieties, understand where they grow, and hear the stories behind their local importance. By the end, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of Panama’s biodiversity, new knowledge about fruits you’ve likely never encountered, and the kind of cultural insight you can share long after the trip is over.

Sample Menu

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Cashew Apple

Juicy, fleshy, with a salty twist - unlike any fruit you've tasted.

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Dragon Fruit (Pitahaya)

Lush, creamy pulp speckled with crunchy seeds - vibrant, juicy, and almost too pretty to eat.

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Caimito (Star Apple)

Silky, jelly-like texture with earthy vanilla notes. Melts in your mouth like nature’s dessert.

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Soursop (Guanábana)

Tart like lime, smooth like condensed milk. A tropical explosion of flavor and texture.

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Papaya

Smooth, rich, and naturally sweet - like breakfast in paradise.

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Passion Fruit (Maracuyá)

A juicy punch of tang and perfume. Crackling seeds, bold aroma, it’s wild, and it knows it.

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Guava

Aromatic and creamy, with a rich tropical sweetness that lingers on your lips. Bold, floral, and irresistibly smooth.

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Rambutan

Firm, juicy, and exotic - think: dragon-dressed grape with attitude.

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Starfruit (Carambola)

Glossy, crunchy, lightly citrusy. A fresh, zesty kiss in every bite.

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Naranjilla

Electric and floral - somewhere between pineapple, orange, and a hint of green tea. Like a fruit cocktail with personality.

What‘s Included

all the fruits you will eat are included

Any other fruit, food or drink you would like to buy for your own.

Feel free to wander the market and pick up extra treats on your own—there’s plenty more to discover.

Options

Shared Group Fruit Tasting

Shared Tasting + Market Tour

1h Supermarket tour: We'll explore Panamanian food items that are worth trying and bringing back as gifts... all at a lively local market.
Duration: 3 hours: 1hr Market tour + 2hr fruit tasting (around 3 and a half hours)

Reviews

5.00

5 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Tasting Review with Tanya
Sharon O,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was such an amazing experience! Tanya was wonderful she greeted us, gave us a tour of the market before the tasting, and made sure we had a great time. The fruits we tried were incredible, top quality for sure. I definitely recommend the tasting! 😊✨
What a great culinary orientation!
kobetravelerr,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Chef Tanya created the perfect welcome for our family’s first Panamanian experience. We toured Merca Panama with her explaining how unfamiliar fruits and vegetables are used. And purchased a bunch of things — some we’d never seen before (piñuelas, pixbaes, and lulú) to tuck into at a side table. Our bellies full, we departed with so many ideas for foods we should prepare or keep an eye out for. A truly wonderful start to our trip!
Fun at the market
edwardfU1755EO,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a wonderful experience visiting the fruit and vegetable market with Tanya. Her knowledge and enthusiasm won us over and we enjoyed the breadth of our fruit tasting. We would highly recommend this tour with Tanya!
Fantastic Fruit and Food Tour with Tanya.
GenericAccount,,Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had so much fun eating fruit. Tanya is incredibly knowledgeable. As she walked us around the fruit market collecting the fruits we would be eating, she told us the history and nutritional values of everything we looked at which was more than just fruit. Then she took us to a grocery store. We were able to compare pricing store vs market and she showed us her recommended food brands of non-fruit items. It was a great way to spend a morning. If you are moving to Panama you should definitely take a tour with Tanya.
Flavor Fiesta
SVETLANA G,,Aug 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We have a good time, very informative, tasting different kind of fruit and vegetables have fun. Learn about local food, surrounding area. Thank you, Tatiana!