10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Riviera Maya

Quinta Alegria Shopping Mall is a newer, upscale shopping mall offering a wide range of luxury name brand items in a casual but elegant surrounding. Here you'll find a lot of big names from back home like Victoria's Secret, Ultrafemme, Oakley, Nike, and Forever 21. You'll also find Mexican brands like Cuadra and Abito. Here you'll get everything from women's fashions to body lotion, handmade soaps, wines and spirits, sunglasses, leather goods, and so much more. You can even grab a Starbucks while you're here.

The shops in this mall are spread over 3 floors, and there are dozens of them to explore. It's as popular with locals as visitors, and it's just 27 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Mercado 28 is one of the more popular flea markets in downtown Cancún offering a maze of vendors eager to wheel and deal for new and used wares. You'll find dozens upon dozens of stalls, all selling everything from clothes to artwork to crafts and jewelry, pottery to t-shirts, handbags, leatherworking, and so much more. You'll find a food court with restaurants serving up authentic local food at the center of the market. This is the place to find the ideal gifts and souvenirs of your trip, all authentic and at great prices.

Speaking of prices, this is the place to practice your haggling skills. It's not only allowed but encouraged. It's about an hour from central Riviera Maya.

Quinta Avenida, or 5th Avenue, is a broad pedestrian avenue in Playa del Carmen running parallel to the beach and offering great views and a variety of shops and services. Here you can spend the morning laying out on the sand and surf, then hit the shops in the afternoon. You'll find everything from international luxury names to small independent souvenir and boutique shops. You can hit up a sports bar for some drinks or head for a bakery for sweets. Some of the highlight shops include the arts and craft stores like Sin Pecado and Sol Jaguar.

To avoid the mid-day heat, hit the shops early or just before dusk. It's about 25 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Marina Puerto Cancun is a sleek, elegant outdoor mall in a town known for its golf course, luxury homes, and marinas offering international brands and an upscale food court. Here you'll find such brand names as Sephora and Zara. An onsite Cinépolis multiplex theater offers the latest blockbuster hits with a VIP section featuring recliners and table service. The mall hosts live entertainment on weekends, from local bands to acrobats. It's easy to come here and enjoy a full day's worth of entertainment.

All of this comes with a gorgeous marina view. It's about an hour and 21 minutes north of Riviera Maya.

Cozumel Mercado Municipal, or the Cozumel Municipal Market, is a local farmers, arts and crafts market in the heart of the island offering fresh produce and local culture. This one is a small market, very much a local staple frequented by local folks, and it's a great place to secure authentic ingredients for your Mexican eats, from fruits and veggies to tortillas, meat, fish, and other fresh food. You can also get some delicious, prepared foods here. You can even find some Asian food stands here.

It's best to hit this market up early, as many vendors close up shop by lunch. It's about an hour and a half away from Riviera Maya, but worth the trip.

Paseo del Carmen is an upscale, open-air colonial mall that's a favorite among locals and offers a quaint cobblestone shopping experience with big-name U.S. brands. This is a wonderful place to come and relax in elegant, classy surroundings. As you walk the pedestrian avenue that winds through the mall, you'll see such brands as Ultrafemme, Diesel, American Apparel, and other big-name boutiques. You'll find Starbucks and a few takeaway eateries directly at the center. It's a good place to take a break from the excitement and crowds and window shop.

Paseo del Carmen is a destination for visitors and locals, so you can also catch some local culture here. It's 22 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Puerto Morelos Market is a flea market in the small beach town of Puerto Morelos just south of Cancun, offering a wide variety of goods, including regional arts and crafts. If you're looking to find the perfect gift or souvenir of your trip while helping to support local businesses in the region, this is a target destination. It's also located at a beach club, meaning you can enjoy the surf and sand all day after visiting the market. Here you'll find fresh foods, wall art, jewelry, handmade clothing, and other wares.

The vendors here are down-to-earth, friendly, and less pushy than at some other local markets. It's just about an hour north of central Riviera Maya.

La Isla Shopping Village is among Cancun's best-known malls in the Hotel Zone, an outdoor spot offering fountains, ice cream parlors, canals, a restaurant row, and prominent brand name stores. Because of the many water features, it stays cool, so it's a good place to beat the heat. It's also known for its luxury goods and includes a duty-free designer shop called Liverpool as well as a Mayan artisan center and enjoy tons of great restaurants while you're here. Don't forget to bring a camera because the interior lagoon makes for great Instagram photos.

This is a mall that has just about everything for a day out. It's about an hour and 20 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Plaza Las Americas is a family-friendly mall with a food court, tons of Mexican department stores, duty-free shopping, boutiques, clothiers, and entertainment options. Liverpool's duty-free store is the place to go for brand-name designer fashions without any tariffs or international taxes. Sanborns is another famed Mexican department store that's worth a look. If you need to grab some fresh food while you're here, an onsite supermarket can make that happen. The food court offers all manner of fast-food eats. Finally, the multiplex theater features 19 screens showing all the latest big movies.

Grab some tax-free gifts and souvenirs, catch a flick, and grab a bite all in one spot. It's only 26 minutes north of central Riviera Maya.

Mercado Maya Tulum is a monthly market offering representatives of local Mayan communities who sell their textiles, fruits, vegetables, arts, and crafts in downtown Tulum. If you happen to be here on a weekend when this market is happening, it's a fantastic place to immerse yourself in local culture. You can discover the roots, traditions, history, gastronomy, and culture of the Mayan people that live in this region. You can also get organically-farmed produce and herbs and spices right from the locals' backyard gardens.

More importantly, many locals make their living at this market, so you're truly supporting the local economy. It's about an hour south of central Riviera Maya.