Shopping · Cancún · Mexico
Shopping in Cancún
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Xe3osc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Cancún splits between air-conditioned malls in the Hotel Zone, with international brands, and downtown markets for crafts and souvenirs at lower prices. Best souvenirs: Yucatán hammocks, Embroidered textiles and Xtabentún liqueur.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Yucatán hammocks
Where to shop
La Isla Cancún
An open-air shopping village on the lagoon around km 12.5, with shops, restaurants and canals.
Kukulcán Plaza
A Hotel Zone mall with fashion, luxury brands and restaurants.
Avenida Tulum
Downtown's main street of everyday shops, banks and pharmacies.
Markets
Mercado 28
Downtown's main souvenir and crafts market, with fondas serving lunch.
Mercado 23
A smaller, more local market for produce, piñatas and everyday goods, with fewer tourists.
What to buy
Yucatán hammocks
Hand-woven cotton or nylon hammocks, sold in markets and specialist shops.
Embroidered textiles
Huipiles and blouses with colourful Maya-style embroidery.
Xtabentún liqueur
The Yucatán's anise-and-honey liqueur, sold in markets and supermarkets.
Mexican vanilla
Pure vanilla extract; check the label says pure, as some cheap versions contain coumarin.
Guayabera shirts
The pleated, lightweight shirts worn across the Yucatán for formal and casual occasions.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Downtown Cancún
Mercado 28
Downtown's best-known market is a horseshoe of stalls selling hammocks, silver, embroidered blouses, ceramics and souvenirs at lower prices than in the Hotel Zone, with small fondas in the central courtyard serving Yucatecan lunches.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Marquesitas, Agua de chaya and Xtabentún. Carts in Parque de las Palapas and other downtown squares in the evening. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Hotel Zone | $$$$ | Big all-inclusives on wide open-Caribbean beaches |
| Downtown Cancún | $ | Local markets, taquerías and Parque de las Palapas on the mainland |
| Costa Mujeres | $$$$ | New large resorts on quiet beaches north of the city |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in MXN. Tip about 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included, MXN 20–50 per bag for porters, and small daily tips for all-inclusive bar staff and housekeeping, ideally in pesos.
- Greet people with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before asking a question in shops and restaurants.
- Pay in pesos and withdraw cash from bank ATMs inside banks or malls rather than using airport exchange counters.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are February–March and December.
- October: Day of the Dead festivities begin, including Xcaret's Festival de Vida y Muerte (usually late October to early November)
- December: Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations at resorts and in Punta Cancún
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Cancún?
Yucatán hammocks, Embroidered textiles, Xtabentún liqueur and Mexican vanilla.
+Where is the best shopping in Cancún?
La Isla Cancún: An open-air shopping village on the lagoon around km 12.5, with shops, restaurants and canals.
+What are the best markets in Cancún?
Mercado 28 and Mercado 23.