Cancun Shopping

In la Zona Hotelera there are big malls where you can buy almost anything from toys, crafts, clothing, water sport equipment, etc. If you choose to buy here, be forewarned that you will pay top dollar. The same items can be purchased for much less if you buy in downtown Cancun.

Kukulkan Plaza at Cancun Hotel Zone, Mexico

La Avenida Tulum has many bargain filled shops. Try not to buy silver from people selling on the streets or by the beaches, since the quality is unreliable. Some merchants sell something that looks like silver, but is really a mixture of silver and some very cheap material that blackens very easily.

While making purchases, you can haggle with many merchants and salespeople, especially those that sell silver jewelry and handicrafts. Most items do not have price tags on them, so salespeople in these stores are free to mark up items on the fly. Because salespeople work on commission, inflating prices increases their commissions. But those commissions cut both ways, since they don't get paid if you don't buy. So, feel free to ask for less. You'll most likely get it. When shopping for clothing, produce in the markets, or perfumes, generally, the price is set and will probably not be lowered. It's mostly jewelry and handicrafts where the greatest leeway will be found.

In la Zona Hotelera there are several malls. The biggest one is Plaza Kukulkan at Boulevard Kukulkan Km 13. As with every one of the malls on Cancun Island, it houses several stores that sell jewelry, handicrafts, books, candy and offers film developing. The mall also houses a bowling alley, a movie theater, a number of expensive restaurants, and a cheaper food court. The other malls on the island are Plaza Caracol, Plaza Flamingo, Forum Mall, Plaza La Fiesta and Plaza la Isla. These smaller malls have similar stores but don't have bowling allies or movie theaters. There is a flea market by Plaza Caracol where you can buy souvenirs at lower prices than elsewhere on the island, but at still higher prices than you'll find in El Centro most any day.

Bargains can be found in El Centro at the market on el Mercado Municipal Ki-Huic on Avenida Tulum near Avenida Coba. Here you can get good prices on decent quality silver jewelry, handicrafts and t-shirts. Various merchants also sell a variety of low quality leather goods, faux Rolexes and other things that are not worth your money. The markets in Cancun are numbered, and el Mercado 28 (Market 28) is very well know by the locals and highly recommended to tourists. There you will find handicrafts, shoes, and clothing almost exclusively. Along the Avenida Tulum you can also find many stores that sell handicrafts, perfums, all kinds of souvenirs, and jewelry. You can even find people who will print your name on a grain of rice. Film is also sold almost everywhere.

For those who want to buy groceries, there are two large retailers on Avenida Tulum, Chedraui and San Francisco de Asis, where you can buy everything from dinner to a stove to cook it in.

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