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.