Mercado 28

Mercado 28 is downtown Cancún's most famous market, and for families it's a welcome change of pace from the all-inclusive resort bubble. Located in the city's commercial center (not the Hotel Zone), this sprawling open-air market is packed with hundreds of stalls selling every kind of Mexican souvenir, handicraft, and gift you can imagine — plus food stalls serving authentic, cheap local cuisine.

The market is organized in a rough grid of narrow aisles, each lined with vendors displaying their goods. You'll find hand-painted pottery, embroidered textiles, silver jewelry, leather goods, hammocks, lucha libre wrestling masks, Day of the Dead skulls, miniature guitars, sombreros, and endless variations of magnets, keychains, and T-shirts. For kids, it's basically a treasure hunt — every stall has something colorful and fascinating.

Haggling is the expected currency here, and that's part of the fun. Vendors will quote an initial price that's typically double or triple what they'll accept. The game is to negotiate down — start at about half the asking price and work toward a price that makes both sides happy.

This is actually a fantastic learning experience for older kids and teens. Give them a budget in pesos and let them practice the art of negotiation. Vendors are generally friendly and enjoy interacting with kids.

The food section in the back of the market is an underrated gem. Several small restaurants and stalls serve tacos, quesadillas, poc chuc (Yucatecan grilled pork), and fresh aguas frescas (fruit waters) at prices that would make the Hotel Zone blush — think $5-$10 per person for a full meal. The food is authentic, flavorful, and a great introduction to Mexican cuisine beyond resort buffets.

Practically speaking, the market can get warm and crowded by midday. Visit in the morning (9-11 AM) when it's cooler and vendors are freshest. Bring cash in pesos — most stalls don't accept cards, and those that do may add a surcharge. Small bills work best, as vendors often can't break large notes. Strollers can technically fit through the aisles but it's tight; a baby carrier is much easier.

Mercado 28 is about a 20-minute taxi ride from the Hotel Zone (approximately $10-$15 USD one way) or a $12 MXN public bus ride. It sits about a 5-minute walk from Parque de las Palapas, downtown Cancún's central park, making it easy to combine both into a morning outing.

Plan for about 1-2 hours at the market. It's not a full-day activity, but it's a memorable one — your kids will talk about the lucha libre mask they haggled for and the weird wooden frog instrument they found for months after the trip.