Mercado 28

Mercado 28 is a covered market in downtown Cancun, on Avenida Xel-Ha in Supermanzana 28 in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is one of the city's oldest shopping areas and offers a more local, lower-priced alternative to the souvenir shops of the Hotel Zone. Stalls and small shops sell handicrafts, hammocks, embroidered textiles, leather goods, silver jewelry, spices, dried chiles, vanilla, and the typical souvenirs of the Yucatan Peninsula, along with clothing and T-shirts. Prices are generally lower than in tourist areas, and bargaining is normal; visitors are expected to negotiate politely and may reach a final price well below the first quote. Small food stalls and open-air restaurants inside and around the market serve inexpensive Mexican lunches, including tacos, tortas, cochinita pibil, and fresh juices, so the market can double as a meal stop. The layout is a maze of narrow passages under roof, and the atmosphere is busy and noisy, with vendors calling out to passersby. A typical visit lasts one to two hours, enough to walk the main aisles, compare prices, and have lunch. The market is open daily from about 8AM to 9PM, and late morning is the best time to visit, when it is cooler than in the afternoon and less crowded than when tour groups and cruise passengers arrive. Early visits also give vendors more willingness to bargain, since the first sale of the day is considered lucky. For photographs, the colorful hammocks, textiles, and piles of spices make good subjects, though visitors should ask before photographing individual vendors. Cash in Mexican pesos is the most useful form of payment, and small bills make bargaining easier. The market is about a five-minute walk from Parque de las Palapas, so the two are easy to combine. A taxi from the Hotel Zone costs roughly MXN 150 to 200, while the R-1 and R-2 buses cost about MXN 14. Visitors should keep bags closed and valuables secure in crowded passages.