The orchard country along Highway 200 north of Puerto Vallarta offers a feast of tropical fruits. Roadside stands at Guayabitos, La Peñita, and especially at Las Varas, half an hour north, offer mounds of papayas, mangos, melons, and pineapples in season. Watch out also for more exotic species, such as the guanábana, which looks like a spiny mango, but whose pulpy interior looks and smells much like its Asian cousin, the jackfruit.

A number of Guayabitos mini-supers supply a little bit of everything. Try Mini-super La Marketa (Retorno Ceibas across from Trailer Park Villanueva, tel. 327/274-0399, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Sat., 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Sun.) for vegetables, a small deli, and general groceries. Competing next door is Mini-Super Fiesta Tlaqupaque Fiesta (tel. 327/274-0434, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Sat.). On the north end of Avenida del Sol Nuevo, Mini-super Juan de Dios and Supermercado Popin (both 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily) opposite the church and Hotel Peñamar, respectively, stock more, including fresh baked goods.

For larger, fresher selections of everything, go to one of the big main-street fruterías or supermarkets in La Peñita, such as Supermercado Lorena on main street E. Zapata, in the middle of town (tel. 327/274-0255, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily).