White Linens, cheerfully painted skulls, cigars, tequilas, vibrantly painted ceramics, and trinkets of all sorts abound.  Under the pavilions’ steaming hot maze of shops playfully, aggressive hawkers try to offer high prices and attract your attention any way possible.  “Cheaper than Walmart” is continually being heard. Named from its neighborhood district number, Mercado 28 is a good stop for all souvenirs and a great meal in the city.  Competition for business is high and negotiations expected, so have fun with it.

If you really want a more authentic market feel, and less touristy souvenir shops, you may want to stop over a few neighborhoods away at Mercado 23. While visiting Cancun you need to go into explore the city to get a feel for the local vibe to see what living in the Yucatan is all about.  It’s easy to go and stay in the Hotel Zone and miss the entire city, but I challenge you to check out the real Cancun for a few hours!

Don’t forget to stop a second and take a picture in front of the Cancun sign!