Cancún, Mexico
Best places to shop in Cancún
4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Cancún — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Mercado 28
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · source
The downtown craft market away from the hotel zone — hammocks, silver, ceramics, vanilla and souvenirs, at a fraction of zona hotelera prices.
Where: MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 09:00–19:00Cost: BudgetWatch out Opening prices run three to four times the settling price and sellers follow you down the aisle. Silver must be stamped .925 — much of what is offered is alpaca or nickel silver.
2. La Isla and Luxury Avenue, Zona Hotelera
Photo: Mylo Kaye · Pexels License · source
The lagoon-side open-air mall and the luxury wing beside it — international brands, duty-free and restaurants.
Where: LuxuryMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 10:00–22:00Cost: Luxury
3. Mercado 23
Photo: Paricutina · CC BY 4.0 · source
The local market the tourists miss — produce, spices, herbs, kitchenware and cheap comida corrida stalls.
Where: MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 07:00–17:00Cost: Budget
4. Plaza Las Américas
Photo: Eduardo P · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The mall the city's residents use, downtown — Mexican chains, a supermarket and a cinema at normal Mexican prices.
Where: MallMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 11:00–21:00Cost: Mid-rangeTip: Real vanilla from Papantla and Yucatecan honey are the regional buys. Vanilla 'extract' sold cheap on the street is usually synthetic vanillin with coumarin.
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