10 Best Markets in Riviera Maya

Mercado 28 is a popular local market where you'll find plenty of goods and fresh food among its buildings and stalls that are splashed with vibrant color. The market area is painted with bright pastel colors, so if you see a rainbow array of buildings, you'll know you're in the right place.

The shops here offer all sorts of items, and there are hundreds of different shops to visit. Make sure you take some time to view a good portion of them before you decide on purchasing anything. You can see it all for yourself on the east side of Cancun.

Cozumel Mercado Municipal is a modest market where you can buy delicious food directly from local growers and producers who are happy to talk about their products. Fruits and vegetables dominate the stalls here, but you'll also find fresh tortillas and dough you can use as well.

Don't forget to check out the local meat and fish here. Cozumel has some of the best meat and fish in the riviera, so you'll easily find fresh and delicious ingredients. See it all for yourself right in the Centro district across the water from Playa del Carmen.

Mercado Maya Tulum is an iconic market where local Mayan communities come together to sell a wide variety of items you won't find anywhere else. Among the selection here, you'll find textiles, handicrafts, and organic vegetables grown directly in the area, ensuring freshness every time.

When you visit this market, you can immerse yourself in the local Mayan tradition with products showcasing gastronomic excellence and skilled craftsmanship. Just remember that the market is only held once a month. You'll find it right in central Tulum.

Flea Market Coral Negro is a market where you can find just about anything imaginable, and you can take home what you want provided your bargaining skills are sharp enough. The selection here ranges from pottery to clothing and jewelry, and you'll even find tattoos and piercings if that's the kind of souvenir you're looking for.

No price is set in stone here, as people are willing to negotiate with you to come to an agreement. If you're skilled enough at haggling, you could find yourself coming home with a massive selection of items for a notably affordable price. Try it all out in eastern Cancun past Nichupte.

Benito Juarez Municipal Market, the central market in Merida, offers up a variety of items in a massive building with impressive arches. Inside this market, you can shop for all sorts of different items, though apparel tends to dominate most of the local vendors.

You'll know you've found the right building when you see a brick-red building with a line of arches supported by white columns. You can see it all for yourself near the center of the city of Merida, which is a few miles west of Cancun.

Callejon del Arte is the place to go when you're looking for art, whether you want works by local artists or custom creations made on the spot. This marketplace lets you meet all sorts of artists who are happy to show off their work and let you take some home if you're looking to spruce up your place.

Several artists at this market are willing to do some quick commissions for you during your visit to the market. That kind of customized work makes the experience stand out, and this is the best place in the Riviera to find it. You can explore it all in Playa del Carmen.

Quinta Avenida is the main street of Playa del Carmen and offers a variety of shops you can explore that mostly offer trinkets, handicrafts, and souvenirs. A lot of the shops have become staples of the area, with a trip to Riviera Maya being functionally incomplete without a stop inside.

You'll find proper brick-and-mortar stores here, but don't forget to check out the street vendors as well. They typically make it difficult to ignore them anyway, but you'll find some incredible items among their offerings, including local handicrafts. See it all for yourself in Playa del Carmen.

Plaza Mexico Flea Market is located on the coast and offers find a wide variety of items at some serious discounts, making this a great budget-friendly destination. Among the selection here, you'll find all sorts of apparel and accessories alongside handicrafts created by local artisans.

When you visit this market, it's common to see some extensive sales being held, especially when you visit during the low season, so be sure to take advantage. You can find this market by heading southwest from San Miguel de Cozumel across the water from Playa del Carmen.

Mercado Eco Verde Tulum is an eco-friendly organic produce market where you'll find fresh products from local growers along with a few works of art, too. Among the selection, you'll find plenty of fruits and vegetables as you might expect, but local vendors also have cheeses, chocolate, and bread on offer.

Aside from the food, you'll find a few other items here, like soap, but some impressive artwork is available too. These include handicrafts, sketches, paintings, and more. See it all for yourself near the center of Tulum.

Puerto Morelos Artisan & Craft Market is one of the best destinations to find artwork crafted by local artists in a wide variety of forms. Decorative pieces are the most popular here, including handicrafts and traditional paintings and sketches you can take home.

Some of the art here is functional rather than merely decorative, with items like custom baskets, clothing, blankets, and hammocks available. In fact, it's about as easy to find clothing as it is wood carvings or ceramic decorations. You can check it out about halfway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun on the coast.