Playa del Carmen The Riviera Maya is a land of fine white sand beaches, turquoise and crystalline waters, the Caribbean Sea, warm weather, coconut palms, cenotes, jungle and Mayan ruins, history, and unforgettable sensations and experiences; and it is also a living region with a vibrant present, and one of the best ways to experience this present is in its markets, in its streets, and in its shopping malls; while you are there, of course, you can take a little piece of the Riviera Maya in your suitcase.

We will take you shopping in the traditional and modern markets, where the local's shop and where the locals offer the most authentic of their land.

Cancun Shopping Day

Cancun is a world-famous tourist destination for its perfect beaches, such as Playa Delfines, Playa Chac Mool, Playa Tortugas, Playa Langosta or Playa Linda, for its all-inclusive hotels and resorts, for its water and theme parks, such as Xoximilco, and for its strategic location in the heart of the Riviera Maya, which puts it just a stone's throw away from Isla Mujeres, Holbox, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. However, if you want to take the pulse of the city and, at the same time, have the chance to take one or two (or three, or four) souvenirs from your trip to the Riviera Maya, come with us to Mercado 28.

Mercado 28, located on Xel-Há Avenue, is a typical old Mexican market where stalls and stalls line up side by side, with their vendors behind them and their wares on top. It gets its name from the 28 stalls that initially made up the market, although there are many more today.

Being an open market, prices are relatively low and, in some cases, can be negotiated.

What can you find in Cancun's Market 28? Above all, handicrafts, souvenirs, costume jewelry (silver, jade, and obsidian), t-shirts, magnets, figurines, traditional Mayan huipiles, hammocks, leather shoes, etc.

In fact, at Mercado 28, you will find a little bit of everything. A fundamental part of the experience is just that: to look, to look around, to talk to the vendors, to see what you can find. And, in addition to shopping, don't miss the opportunity to try the typical food at some of the stalls and local restaurants in the area.

On the other hand, if you are looking to take advantage of the city's low prices for a more classic shopping trip, take advantage of a visit to Shopping Plaza La Isla, an open-air mall located at a kilometer 12.5 of Kukulcan Boulevard.

Here you will find an endless number of national and international brand stores, restaurants, an aquarium, a movie theater, and a gondola ride along the canals of the Nichupte Lagoon, on which the mall is located.

Shopping Day in Playa del Carmen

If Cancun is the heart of the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen is the region's soul.

From here, you can visit some of the best beaches in the world, such as Punta Esmeralda, Punta Maroma, Xcalacoco, and Xpu-Há; eco-tourism parks and reserves, such as Xcaret and Río Secreto; incredible cenotes, such as Cenote Chaak Tun and Cenote Cristalino; and, in turn, experience the cosmopolitan rhythm of a city where nature and the beauty of the region blend with the day-to-day life of its inhabitants.

Nowhere in the city will you experience this better than on Fifth Avenue, one of the city's main streets. In its 5-kilometer extension, which runs along the coast from Los Fundadores Park, you will find absolutely everything: stores of the leading national and international brands and shopping centers such as Paseo del Carmen, Calle Corazón, and Quinta Alegría, as well as art galleries, stalls and souvenir, and handicraft stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, and chocolate stores.


It is the perfect place to stroll, shop, and sample the best local cuisine: seafood, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, guacamole, carnitas, sopes, chilaquiles, and, to wash it all down, an ice-cold chela and a shot of tequila.

A day of shopping is a perfect way to close your trip to the Riviera Maya, to take the pulse of life in its cities, to experience its handicrafts, to chat with its vendors, to taste its food, and to take, of course, a little piece of your trip with you in your suitcase.