Cancun People & Culture

Local Buses The cheapest way to get around Cancun (both in the hotel zone and downtown) is to take the local bus. It's also a great way to get some exposure to the local people and culture. The fare one way is 6.5 pesos (less than one US dollar). Bus stops are clearly marked throughout the hotel zone and downtown. The concierge at your hotel will be happy to tell you which bus to take to get where you want to go. From the hotel zone to get to Av. Tulum downtown take the R1. To get to Wal Mart and Market 28 downtown take R2.

Parque Las Palapas

This is the closest we got to really experiencing Mexican culture while in Cancun. Parque Las Palapas is located near La Habichuela. It's a traditional plaza where locals gather to play music, relax, eat and converse. There is a small ferris wheel and carousel for children to ride. Local vendors sell churros and fried bananas. And the best thing is there's rarely a tourist in sight. To get away from it all even if just for a moment take the time to visit this little gem in the heart of downtown Cancun. Website: Downtown Cancun, Near Margaritas 25

Harmless Chatter

As a woman, be prepared for men to catcall and talk to you on the street. They're completely harmless. It's just a cultural difference. Smile and walk away if you feel uncomfortable. Also everyone wants to sell something to you so people will approach you constantly trying to show you their wares, give you a ride in their taxi, get you into their nightclub, etc. If you're not interested just politely respond "no gracias". No harm no foul.

Downtown Shopping

Name of Shop: Market 28

Market 28 is the huge open air flea market located in downtown Cancun. It's a maze of stalls and vendors selling everything from silver jewelry to sombreros, postcards to leather. Any Mexican tchotchke you're looking for you'll find here. Each stall features something different, although the more time you spend here you'll find that doesn't necessarily mean unique. Take the time to shop around. Chances are if you find what you're looking for in one stall you'll find something similar 5 shops down. Market 28 also houses several restaurants and cantinas if you're in the mood for something to eat or a cold cervesa. It's by far the largest of the marketplaces in Cancun so if you can't find that souvenir here, you probably won't find it elsewhere. It's the one stop tourist shopping mecca in Cancun. The advantage to shopping at Market 28 is that you get into the heart of downtown Cancun and get to experience a little more of the culture than you would shopping in the Hotel Zone markets.

What To Buy: Leather, silver, pottery, postcards, hair braids, frames, magnets, glassware, art work, handicrafts, etc. Don't expect to find anything "out of the ordinary" or terribly unique though, all the marketplaces in Cancun sell all the same types of things.

What To Pay: Shop around and bargaining is the key to getting good prices here. We talked a vendor down from 900 pesos to 300 pesos. Talk about a markup!

Address: Avenida Yaxchilán and Sunyaxchen

Directions: From the Hotel Zone take the R2 bus downtown. Exit the bus right before the WalMart make a right at the corner and follow the signs to Market 28 (aprox 3 block walk from the bus stop). Website: http://www.cancun.bz/shopping_tips.htm

La Fisheria: Mall Dining

La Fisheria seems like any other restaurant in the hotel zone from the outside - but it's actually in a mall. It's definitely a step above food court dining, but you lose the ambience we expected. They specialize in, you guessed it, seafood. The menu changes often but they feature a few house specialties that are always available. The service was fine, if not a little slow. The drinks were good but not very potent. They had a live singer with a guitar playing popular (if not old) American music and who we mistook for a karaoke singer at one point when a table downstairs decide to join in the song. At various times throughout the evening the waiters come through and place flags from your home country on your table. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about. I think I'd try something else before returning to La Fisheria.

Favorite Dish: I tried the tikin xik, the house specialty. It's fish baked in a Mayan achiote sauce. Very different, pretty good.

Prices: US$11-20

Phone: 998/883-1395

Address: Km 8.5 Paseo Kukulkán

Directions: Located in Plaza Caracol Website: http://www.cancun.com/content/dining/fisheria/

Crazy Atmosphere... No Cover...       

Nightlife Spot: Carlos n Charlie's

Our first night out in Cancun we were just looking for a place to have a drink and dance for a little while. All of the large clubs had very expensive covers so we went into Carlos and Charlie's to have one quick drink and figure out where to go next. The "one quick drink" turned into an entire night of FUN. Yes, it's a tourist trap, but if you're looking for a place to drink and dance WITHOUT paying a cover this is the place to go. The waiters are a fun, friendly, energetic and they come around often with free shots. The music is great and you can dance just about anywhere - especially up on the bar. They also serve food in the dining room adjacent to the bar / dance area if you're hungry.

Address: Av. Kukulkan Km 9 Directions: Next to the Hard Rock Cafe... Across the street from Daddy O's.

Alternative to the Big Discos

Nightlife Spot: Baja Beach Club

We were in search of a fun bar with good music and no cover to have a drink after dinner and stumbled upon the Baja Beach Club. We were lured in with the promise of 2 for 1 drinks and the sounds of music we could dance to... Sadly, we barely finished our first drink before hightailing it out of there. We didn't care that the bar was empty... it was a Monday night in the low season, with that said you would think that with all the free time on their hands they could clean the place up a little. The music was great, the service was good and the drinks were flowing, unfortunately Janelle's trip to the bathroom had us running for the door. No one had cleaned up the mess from the night before and it wasn't pretty. There's just no excuse for that! With all the bars and clubs in Cancun to choose from I don't know that we would return here.

Phone: 998-883-1156 Address: Cancun, ROO 77500

Tequila's: Perfect for People Watching     

After the dud Baja Beach Club we headed across the street toward the open air flea market. Kerry and I had seen a little raised bar overlooking the market the evening before and were intrigued. There's really no space for dancing, although you can make the room if you so desire. They play great music and the waitstaff is pleasant. This is a great little place to have a drink, feel the Caribbean breezes blow and people watch. If you want a little break from the club scene here's the place to go.

Address: Blvd Kukulkan Km 9 Directions: "Above" the El Localo Flea Market.

Parque Las Palapas

This is the closest we got to really experiencing Mexican culture while in Cancun. Parque Las Palapas is located near La Habichuela. It's a traditional plaza where locals gather to play music, relax, eat and converse. There is a small ferris wheel and carousel for children to ride. Local vendors sell churros and fried bananas. And the best thing is there's rarely a tourist in sight. To get away from it all even if just for a moment take the time to visit this little gem in the heart of downtown Cancun. Website: Downtown Cancun, Near Margaritas 25