Mercado 28

Mercado 28 is a traditional marketplace in central Cancún that stretches across several blocks and brings together hundreds of stalls selling handmade goods, textiles, pottery, jewelry, and regional food products. The walkways run partly under cover and partly in the open air, with small restaurants tucked between the vendor tables preparing dishes from the Yucatán Peninsula.

The market began in the 1970s when Cancún was being developed from a fishing village into a tourist destination and traders from the region set up stalls to serve travelers and locals. Over the years the site expanded, new halls were added, and the range of goods grew alongside the rising number of visitors looking for regional products.

The name comes from Distrito 28, the original administrative district in downtown Cancún that has long since been reorganized. Vendors often speak both Spanish and English, switching between the two depending on the customer, and they bargain with a mix of patience and humor that turns shopping into a lively exchange.

Most stalls open daily around nine in the morning and close around seven in the evening, though exact hours can vary slightly from one vendor to the next. Prices are usually open to negotiation, and sellers expect you to make a counteroffer before agreeing on an amount.

Some potters shape figures and vessels on the spot, demonstrating techniques that have changed little since pre-Columbian times. Certain ceramic pieces carry patterns inspired by Maya symbols that remain recognized in the region today.