Market 28 in Cancun

While in Cancun, you are bombarded by souvenir shops, street vendors and even locals on the beach trying to sell you everything from T-shirts and cigars to silver jewelry. No doubt, you will want to bring back memorabilia from your trip to the beautiful place of Cancun, but where do you go when you want to purchase authentic items that will benefit both the locals and yourself? The answer is Market 28.

 Located in the Centro (or downtown) area of Cancun, Market (Mercado) 28 offers a mix of vendors with jewelry, clothing, food and decorations, as well as a taste for a traditional Mexican market.

To get to the Market 28 from the Hotel Zone, you will need to take the bus towards the Party Center (the bus will say Downtown/ Centro or Wal-Mart). If you ask the bus driver to drop you off there when you get on, they will usually take you to right out front and the bus costs only 8.5 pesos, which is about 75 cents USD.

There is an abundance of silver jewelry in Mexico and it is generally offered at a better price than in the states. There is also a lot of tradition associated with it. Silver jewelry gained popularity in the 1930s and has been an abundant export of Mexico's ever since.

From earrings to necklaces to rings with giant stones in them, those who seek fine hand-crafted silver jewelry will find it in the many shops of this market.

The stones, hallmarks (etchings in the surface) and symbols all mean different things, so be sure and ask the vendors what you are buying. They will be happy to tell you what means what. For example, a butterfly represents the souls of dead warriors.

The market is busiest on the weekends. If you visit on a Tuesday, like we did, you can expect a much quieter scene, making it easier to haggle with the locals or even catch one taking a siesta.

You can also get a good glimpse of the locals making some of the handcrafted items. Maybe you can ask to have one made personally for you or some one special back at home.

These hand painted Day of the Dead skulls are beautiful and make great candle holders with an authentic Mexican feel. You will see many wall decorations and shelves full of knick-knacks and decor, all handmade.

 These ivory pieces are stunning and represent the true Mayan spirit still thriving in the Quintana Roo state.

Hand embroidered clothing and bags are also a great thing to take back to the states with you. We loved the dresses and handbags that were so beautifully decorated and displayed.

The best part about Market 28 is that the prices are significantly less expensive than anything you may find in a hotel gift shop and you can support the locals who both sell and make these items. We recommend that anyone visiting the Cancun area pay a visit to this market and the downtown area to experience a true taste of Mexican spirit.

For more information on booking a trip to Cancun to see Market 28, please call 1-800- 648-4849 or visit www.ststravel.com.