Quintana Roo is Mexico's easternmost state, stretching along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and encompassing world-famous beach resorts, ancient Maya ruins, and the second-largest coral reef system on Earth. From the glittering hotel zone of Cancun to the bohemian clifftop ruins of Tulum and the tranquil island of Isla Holbox, the state offers an extraordinary range of experiences. Beneath the jungle floor, thousands of cenotes—natural freshwater sinkholes—create one of the world's most spectacular cave-diving and snorkeling environments.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Maya Huipil (embroidered blouse)
Traditional Maya hand-embroidered blouse with intricate floral and geometric patterns. Made by artisan cooperatives in the Yucatan region, each design represents specific community traditions.
Price: $20-80
Where: Artisan markets in Playa del Carmen, Cancun Mercado 23, Chetumal market
Hand-painted talavera ceramics
Brightly painted ceramic tiles, plates, and decorative pieces featuring Maya motifs, tropical animals, and geometric patterns. Look for hand-painted vs machine-printed quality.
Price: $10-60
Where: Mercado 28 Cancun, artisan shops on 5th Avenue Playa del Carmen
Artisanal mezcal and tequila
Single-origin, small-batch mezcal from Oaxacan producers sold in Quintana Roo shops, often in hand-painted clay bottles. Far superior to mass-market bottles sold at airports.
Price: $20-60
Where: El Curandero (Tulum), La Mezcalería (Playa del Carmen), specialty liquor shops
Cacao and chocolate products
Mexican cacao from Tabasco and Chiapas is sold throughout Quintana Roo as raw cacao powder, ceremonial chocolate tablets, artisan truffles, and spiced drinking chocolate.
Price: $5-25
Where: Ah Cacao shops (multiple locations), artisan markets, airport
Larimar and black coral jewelry
Larimar (blue Caribbean stone from Dominican Republic) and black coral jewelry are popular on Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. Note: purchasing black coral from unlicensed vendors is illegal—buy only from certified shops.
Price: $15-150
Where: Certified jewelers on Cozumel waterfront, Isla Mujeres boutiques
Carved Maya jade figurines
Handcarved figurines of Maya deities, calendar symbols, and jungle animals in jade, obsidian, and local stone. Authentic handmade pieces are more expensive but carry cultural significance.
Price: $10-100
Where: Archaeological site gift shops, Cancun Mercado 28, artisan galleries
Copal resin and incense
Sacred copal resin used in Maya ceremonies is sold in markets and wellness shops in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, along with ceremonial items, sage bundles, and palo santo.
Price: $5-20
Where: Tulum pueblo artisan market, wellness shops throughout the Riviera Maya
Yucatecan hand-woven hammocks
Handmade cotton and nylon hammocks from Yucatan artisans are sold throughout Quintana Roo. Double hammocks are best for sleeping. Look for tight weave and even knotting for quality.
Price: $15-50
Where: Mercado 28 Cancun, artisan market Playa del Carmen, roadside stalls
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercado 28
Cancun's most famous market—a sprawling covered bazaar with hundreds of stalls selling Maya handicrafts, embroidered clothing, silver jewelry, hammocks, ceramics, and spices. Bargaining is expected.
Where: Avenida Sunyaxchen, Ciudad Cancun
Hours: 8AM-8PM daily
Mercado 23
Cancun's most authentic local market with fresh produce, herbs, local crafts, and a section of antojito food stalls. Far less touristy than Mercado 28.
Where: Avenida Tulum near Cedro, Ciudad Cancun
Hours: 7AM-6PM daily
Artisan Market, Playa del Carmen
Open-air artisan market along 5th Avenue with clothing, jewelry, woven bags, and handcrafts from across Mexico. Bargaining is accepted.
Where: 5th Avenue between Calle 8 and 10, Playa del Carmen
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Tulum Pueblo Artisan Market
A growing artisan night market in Tulum town with local craftspeople selling hand-painted tiles, natural cosmetics, ceremonial items, and unique wearable art.
Where: Avenida Tulum, Tulum Pueblo
Hours: Evenings from 6PM, daily
Cozumel Waterfront Market
Cruise ship-oriented market along Cozumel's waterfront with jewelry, clothing, art, and Mexican products. More touristy but convenient for cruise day visitors.
Where: Avenida Melgar, San Miguel de Cozumel
Hours: 9AM-7PM daily
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida), Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen's famous pedestrian street stretching over 4 km, lined with boutique clothing stores, artisan shops, jewelry stores, pharmacies, cafes, and restaurants. The best shopping street in Quintana Roo.
Best for: Boutique clothing, jewelry, artisan crafts, specialty foods
Cancun Hotel Zone
Multiple shopping centers and boutiques along Kukulcan Boulevard, including La Isla Shopping Village (outdoor mall with canal boats), Forum by the Sea, and Plaza Caracol. Expensive but convenient.
Best for: International brands, luxury goods, resort wear
Cozumel Waterfront, San Miguel
Avenida Melgar and the surrounding blocks of Cozumel's main town are lined with jewelry shops (silver, larimar, black coral), art galleries, and souvenir stores.
Best for: Caribbean jewelry, silver, local art
Tulum Pueblo
Avenida Tulum has evolved into a shopping destination for unique sustainable fashion, handmade ceramics, crystal healing products, yoga wear, and natural cosmetics.
Best for: Sustainable fashion, wellness products, unique ceramics
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
La Isla Shopping Village
Cancun's most beautiful mall—an open-air waterfront shopping center on the lagoon side of the Hotel Zone with an aquarium, restaurants, and international and Mexican brands.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Plaza Las Américas
Large covered mall in Cancun downtown with Sears, Liverpool, Cinépolis cinema, Superama, and dozens of Mexican and international stores.
Hours: 10AM-9PM daily
Forum by the Sea
Hotel Zone entertainment and shopping complex with Hard Rock Cafe, Señor Frog's, and a beachfront location perfect for sunset shopping and dining.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Paseo del Carmen
Open-air shopping plaza in Playa del Carmen near the ferry pier with a mix of international brands, restaurants, and entertainment.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at Mercado 28 and artisan markets—start at 50-60% of the asking price and work up from there
Never bargain aggressively or dismissively—keep negotiations friendly and smile throughout
Walking away politely often results in the vendor calling you back with a better price
At fixed-price boutiques on 5th Avenue or in malls, bargaining is not appropriate
Bundle purchases: buying multiple items from the same vendor gives more negotiating power
Cash is king for bargaining—vendors prefer cash and will sometimes reduce price for a cash sale
Learn numbers in Spanish before shopping in markets—it speeds up negotiations and earns goodwill
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Cannot export antique pre-Columbian artifacts from Mexico without INAH authorization—doing so is a federal crime. Purchasing items that appear to be genuine artifacts is illegal.
Tax Refund: Mexico VAT (IVA) refund available for purchases over $1,200 MXN at DIVA-certified stores—ask for a tax receipt and claim at the airport before departure.
Duty Free: Returning travelers can bring back personal purchases worth up to $800 USD duty-free to the US. EU travelers have €430 limit. Check your home country's customs regulations.
Shipping: Most large stores and galleries in Cancun and Playa del Carmen offer international shipping—particularly useful for hammocks, large ceramics, and artwork.