After spending several longer stays in Puerto Vallarta, I’ve learned that grocery planning can make or break a workcation. When we have a simple food routine, workdays feel smoother, meals stay fresh, and we have more energy to enjoy Amapas after closing the laptop.
Amapas is my favorite place to rent for a longer stay because it gives us a quiet hillside base while keeping markets, cafés, restaurants, and the beach nearby. The hills are real, so planning each grocery trip matters.
Here is the routine that works best for couples and digital nomads staying in Amapas for several weeks.
Start with a three-part grocery plan
I divide our shopping into three simple categories:
- A weekly stock-up for staples and household items
- Two smaller fresh-food trips
- Quick stops for anything we forgot
This system prevents us from carrying heavy bags up the hill every day. It also keeps the refrigerator from becoming crowded with food we cannot finish.
For the weekly stock-up, we plan five or six simple breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. We leave one or two meals open for restaurants, takeout, or a spontaneous market find.
Before leaving the condo, I check the refrigerator, freezer, pantry, and kitchen equipment. I look for basics such as cooking oil, coffee, salt, tortillas, rice, beans, eggs, and drinking water.
That five-minute check saves us from buying duplicates.
Use nearby markets for fresh items
For everyday shopping, Mercado Ollin in Emiliano Zapata is one of the most useful options near Amapas. It carries fresh products along with Mexican, Asian, and Italian ingredients, so it works well when we want more than basic snacks.
The market is on Lázaro Cárdenas, near the central Emiliano Zapata area. From Amapas, I usually walk downhill when we have a light list and take a taxi or rideshare back if we have heavier bags.
We also use the local market area for fruit, vegetables, herbs, and simple prepared foods. I like buying only what we plan to eat within the next few days:
- Bananas, papaya, mango, or pineapple
- Tomatoes, onions, avocados, and limes
- Cilantro, greens, and fresh peppers
- Eggs, tortillas, beans, and fresh cheese
- Yogurt, coffee, and something small for a work break
Saturday is especially useful because the Olas Altas Farmers Market around Lázaro Cárdenas Park usually has fresh produce, baked goods, prepared food, and local products. We go earlier rather than making it a rushed stop between calls.
Market schedules can change, so I check current hours before walking down from Amapas.
Save big supermarket trips for weekly supplies
For a longer workcation, small neighborhood shops are convenient but not always enough for a complete stock-up. I prefer making one larger trip every seven to ten days.
La Comer and Costco in the Fluvial area can be combined into one outing when we need pantry staples, cleaning supplies, coffee, paper products, or larger quantities. Walmart, Soriana, and Ley are other practical options depending on what we need.
Because we stay in Amapas, I avoid trying to carry a full shop home on foot. We use a taxi or rideshare and bring sturdy reusable bags. I also separate cold items from dry goods so everything arrives in better shape.
A good weekly list includes:
- Rice, pasta, oats, beans, and tortillas
- Eggs, chicken, tuna, or another easy protein
- Yogurt, cheese, and milk
- Coffee, tea, sparkling water, and juice
- Salad greens and vegetables that can handle several days
- Frozen vegetables for fast workday meals
- Dish soap, laundry detergent, sponges, and trash bags
- Food containers, paper towels, and reusable bags
I avoid buying too many delicate fruits or leafy greens during the large trip. Those are better purchased during a smaller market run when we know exactly what we will eat.
Plan meals around workdays
When we work remotely, complicated cooking usually does not happen at lunchtime. We need food that is quick, filling, and easy to clean up.
My favorite condo meals are simple:
- Eggs with avocado, tomatoes, and tortillas
- Rice and beans with sautéed vegetables
- Chicken or tuna bowls with greens and salsa
- Quesadillas with fruit on the side
- Pasta with tomatoes, garlic, and a little cheese
- Yogurt with bananas, oats, and mango
- Toast or tortillas with scrambled eggs and fresh salsa
For a couple, I usually cook a larger batch of rice, beans, roasted vegetables, or chicken in the evening. The next day, we turn the leftovers into bowls, tacos, or a quick lunch between meetings.
This gives us variety without starting from zero every time.
Create a small breakfast station
Breakfast is easier when everything has a regular place.
I keep coffee, tea, oats, fruit, bread, tortillas, and breakfast dishes together so we can prepare food without searching through every cabinet. This is especially helpful when one person starts work earlier than the other.
For digital nomads, I recommend setting up breakfast before the first call. We fill the coffee maker, wash fruit, and place anything needed for the morning where it is easy to reach.
A small breakfast station also helps couples share the kitchen without getting in each other’s way. One person can make coffee while the other prepares food or starts a meeting.
Store food for the climate
Puerto Vallarta’s warm weather makes food storage important. I wash and dry produce before putting it away, but I do not cut everything at once. Whole fruit and vegetables usually keep better, while cut items need to be stored in sealed containers and eaten sooner.
I use clear containers for leftovers so we can see what needs to be eaten first. We label cooked food with the day it was prepared and keep the oldest items at the front of the refrigerator.
Our basic storage routine is:
- Cool cooked food before sealing it.
- Store rice, beans, and proteins in shallow containers.
- Keep herbs wrapped in a slightly damp cloth or paper towel.
- Store tortillas in a sealed bag so they do not dry out.
- Keep ripe fruit visible so it does not get forgotten.
- Clean one refrigerator shelf before every large grocery trip.
I also leave some room in the refrigerator for drinking water and leftovers. A packed refrigerator makes it harder for air to circulate and easier to lose track of what we already have.
Match grocery trips to your work calendar
The best grocery day is not always the day with the most free time. I choose a morning or afternoon with no important meetings afterward.
If we have a heavy workday, we shop the day before and prepare one meal in advance. If Saturday is open, we combine the farmers market with a walk through the nearby streets.
I also avoid shopping immediately before a video call. Carrying bags uphill, unpacking food, and trying to cool down before a meeting is not a good combination.
For a couple, one person can manage the list while the other checks the refrigerator and pantry. We use a shared phone note with three sections:
- Buy this week
- Buy if fresh
- Check at home first
That division keeps grocery shopping short and avoids disagreements in the middle of a busy store.
Keep a backup meal ready
Even with a good plan, some workdays run long. I always keep one emergency meal available.
Rice, canned beans, eggs, tortillas, salsa, frozen vegetables, and tuna can become dinner in less than 20 minutes. We also keep fruit, yogurt, nuts, or crackers available for a quick break between calls.
This is one of the reasons I prefer a condo with a usable kitchen. A well-equipped kitchen lets us eat comfortably at home when we want to, but it does not stop us from enjoying the restaurants and cafés around Amapas.
If you are comparing places for a longer stay, look for a full-size refrigerator, reliable cooking equipment, useful counter space, storage containers, and a comfortable table. A bright kitchen with colorful tile details can make everyday routines feel much more enjoyable.
Make grocery shopping part of the experience
Grocery planning does not have to feel like a chore. I enjoy choosing local fruit, trying a new salsa, and bringing back ingredients we would not normally find at home.
A Saturday market trip can become a relaxed outing. We walk downhill, shop for a few fresh items, stop for coffee, and return to the condo before the bags become too heavy.
For more ideas about settling into the neighborhood, read our guide to working and living in Amapas. If you enjoy colorful interiors and want your kitchen to feel connected to the destination, our guide to Mexican condo design is also worth a look.
My final recommendation
Amapas is highly recommended for couples and digital nomads planning a longer workcation. With one weekly supermarket trip, two smaller market visits, a few simple meals, and a clear storage routine, we spend less time worrying about food and more time enjoying Puerto Vallarta.
Best of all, Amapas gives us the right balance: a peaceful condo kitchen for focused workdays, colorful local markets nearby, and easy access to the restaurants and energy of Zona Romantica.
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Related resources : Gold Standard
- Property option: puerto vallarta condo house rentals
- Property option: condo rentals puerto vallarta mexico
- Helpful guide: our guide to working and living in Amapas
- Helpful guide: our guide to Mexican condo design
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