Cozumel shopping is mostly concentrated the area around San Miguel’s zócalo (Plaza del Sol) and extends for about 8 blocks along the waterfront and for several blocks back into the town. As well as the Royal Village shopping area by the Puerta Maya cruise ship pier.
Good buys can be found on Yucatecean hammocks, leather goods, embroidered and lace clothing and table linens, silver jewelry, ceramics and decorative metalwork and carved wood. You will also find high-quality handicrafts from all over Mexico–but because of the cost of importation to the island, you may find slightly better buys on these on the Mainland.
If you like to shop–you could spend several days working your way through the combination of upscale and funky shops in the downtown tourist district.
Downtown
Downtown Cozumel has everything from high-toned waterfront jewelry stores to little holes in the wall crammed with hand-painted batik hangings, carved wood crafts and paper-mache animals.
But, although San Miguel’s downtown waterfront is lovely, you will generally not get the best prices if you shop here. You’ll have a far more rewarding shopping experience both in terms of prices and ambience if you avoid what the locals call “the sidewalk shuffle” and head off on your own.
Venture up the backstreets of downtown where you’ll find more one-of-a-kind items. And people are actually ready and willing to bargain. For tips on this, check out The Art of Bargaining.
We just think these are fairly-priced, fun places to shop. They don’t have the bucks to advertise and promote themselves. So we’re doing it for them as a way of giving something back to the community we love. But it’s also a service to you. Because these really are excellent little places. Just because a shop doesn’t appear on this list, doesn’t mean its not good. This is just a sampling of some of the better places you’ll find if you venture off the waterfront as little as ten steps to up to about 8 blocks.
Note that where appropriate we’ve made suggestions for nearby restaurants and cafes that are clean and well run and which will offer welcome respite to Tired Tootsies.
Shops North of the Downtown Plaza
Cinco Soles
Waterfront north of the plaza on the corner of Melgar & Calle 8.
Large, rambling waterfront store with crafts from all over Mexico, reliable
jewelry, nice boutique section in the rear. There’s a lovely courtyard restaurant
in this store, Panchos Backyard and a tequila bar for sampling a wide
assortment before you buy. This is a fun place to shop. Not the cheapest prices
in town but probably the best and widest selection and the buyers have really
good taste.
Muebles de la Santa Cruz
Avenida 15 between Calle 2 and Juarez. This is an interesting store crammed full of furniture and accessories in the wrought iron and carved wood rustico style that’s so popular on the island. Although it would be impractical to take one of Jaddy’sornately carved wooden bed frames home, there are plenty of small things from which to choose including talavera, wood and wrought iron lamps, picture frames, etc. Reasonably priced and just a fun place to browse.
El Museo
On the Waterfront 3 blocks north of the ferry pier. This little gem of a museum is a must-see. There’s a pretty restaurant upstairs on a gallery overlooking the Yucatan Channel that’s open for breakfast, lunch and drinks. And the small gift shop has some nice items that aren’t rip off prices.. There are often sales in the lobby that can include anything from salsa CD’s and books to original art work by Cozumeleño artists.
No Name Hammock Shop
Avenida 5 one block north of the pedestrian-only plaza across the street from Zermatt’s Bakery. There are plenty of hammocks and hammock swings for sale on the island. If you speak a bit of Spanish you can try to buy from the elderly gent who makes them on the front porch of his house. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you can bring a pad of paper to write down prices. See our article on How to Buy a Hammock also.
If you’ve found a store you would like to see added to this page, Please Email Us about it.
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