Shopping
Cancun Malls

Cancuns malls are clean, air-conditioned, and sell clothing, sunglasses, jewelry, music and other useful goods. Should you get hungry, most also offer traditional food-court fare. They cater well to visitors, with restaurants, clubs and cultural entertainment packed into one commercial center. You will find typically American stores, most staying open from 10am-10pm daily, closing later in high season. Though often less costly than their U.S. counterparts, prices are higher in the shopping malls and plazas than in stores and markets downtown (but there are exceptions).

  • Plaza las Americas (downtown)
    Av Tulum, Sm 4 and 9
    phone: 887-3863
    The largest shopping center in downtown Cancun, Plaza Las Americas is popular with locals. In addition to the more than 50 stores, you can entertain yourself at the malls restaurants, multiplex movie theater, video arcade and fast food franchises.
  • Flamingo Plaza
    Av Kukulcan, Km 11.5, opposite Hotel Flamingo
    phone: 883-2945
    The home of Planet Hollywood, this mall has as a currency exchange booth, beachwear shops and a Casa de Habano which carries Cuban cigars.
  • La Isla
    Av Kukulcan, Km 12.5, opposite the Sheraton
    phone: 883-5025
    This most recent addition to the shopping circuit houses the likes of ZARA, Benetton, Guess, Nine West and the first Warner Brothers store in Mexico. Highlights of this trendy mall are La Madonna restaurant, MaaxOs bar and a fresh-roasted coffee shop a novelty for Cancun with outdoor plaza seating. A movie theatre, marina, aquarium and river walk along the Nichupta Lagoon are all housed in this Venetian-style center, where small canals and bridges weave their way through the plaza.
  • Forum by the Sea
    Av Kukulcan, Km 9.5
    phone: 883-4425
    A three-level shopping plaza known for nightly live entertainment, the Forum has multiple movie screens and brand name stores (Harley Davidson, Levis, Diesel). Prime beachfront real estate also makes Zandunga restaurant and bar worth the trip, though the mall is best known for famous spots like the Hard Rock Cafa, Coco Bongo, and the Rainforest Cafa. This partly openair shopping center caters to passersby from 10ammidnight, with bars open later.
  • Kukulcan Plaza
    Av Kukulcan, Km 13
    phone: 885-2200
    Popular for its bowling alley and video arcade, the plaza is packed with boutiques and shops selling local crafts and leather goods. Restaurants include OK Maguey and the U.S. franchise Ruths Chris Steakhouse. Theres also a small cinema, liquor store, Serfin bank, an internet kiosk, and specialty shops.
  • Maya Fair Plaza
    Av Kukulcan, Km 8.5
    phone: 883-2801
    Cancuns oldest mall has open-air restaurants and shops that sell leather and crafts. Theres a shopping center next door modeled after a rainforest, with replicas of Mayan artifacts.
  • Plaza Caracol
    Blvd Kukulcan, Km 8.5
    phone: 883-2961
    Located just north of the Convention Center, this veteran mall houses boutiques, art galleries, and jewelry shops, as well as a pharmacy and currency exchange kiosk. Among its many upper-echelon stores are Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Cartier, Waterford Crystal, and the prices here are lower than those found at their U.S. branches.
 
Cancun Markets

For local crafts and an opportunity to bargain, leave the malls and head for the mercados, particularly those downtown. Though prices are reasonable at the markets, it is worth noting that crafts in Cancun are expensive: the work is usually done in other parts of Mexico. If you plan to visit other towns in the Yucatan, it is advisable to make your purchases in those towns.

  • Coral Negro
    Blvd Kukulcan, Km 9.5
    phone: 883-0758
    Coral Negro is the Hotel Zones only open-air market, situated right next to the Convention Center. Vendors sell crafts and woven tapestries from more than 50 stalls , morning till night. This is the most expensive of the mercados, but it is a great place to take a hand at haggling.
  • Ki Huic (downtown)
    Av Tulum 17, at Coba
    phone: 884-3347
    This is the oldest and largest craft market in Cancun. Roughly 100 vendors converge on this downtown plot, open 9am-10pm.
  • Mercado Veintiocho (downtown)
    Market 28, just off of Av Yaxchilan and Sunyaxchan
    A great bet for a taste of downtown, and souvenir items at half the cost of those found in the Hotel Zone. Take the R-2 or R-15 bus, and ask the driver to advise you when to get off.
 
Cancun Grocery Stores

If youre looking to stock up on the basics or buy cooking ingredients without breaking the bank, its worth taking the bus downtown to one of the groceries:

  • Comercial Mexicana (downtown): Av Tulum and Uxmal, opposite the bus station Av Kabah at Av Yaxchilan, Sm 21, phone: 880-9164
  • Costco (downtown): Av Kabah at Av Yaxchilan, Sm 21, phone: 881-0250
  • Sams Club (downtown): Av Coba, Sm 21, Lote 2, phone: 884-1383
  • Chedraui (downtown): Av Tulum, Sm 22 opposite Ki Huic market Plaza las Americas, Av Tulum, Sm 4 and 9, phone: 887-2111 A Mexican supermarket chain known for bulk items.
  • San Francisco de Asís (downtown): Av Tulum 18, phone: 884-1155 Mercado 28 at Av Yaxchilan and Sunyachan
  • Wal-Mart (downtown): Av Sayil and Coba (take R-2 or R-15 bus) The usual great deals, plus a grocery store.
  • OXXO (hotel zone and downtown): Blvd Kukulcan, Km 9, on the lagoon side of Plaza DadyO Av Nader by Rincón Tango & Pasta restaurant A chain of 7-Eleven-type mini marts throughout Cancun.