If you want to experience the real Cancun, head to Mercado 23. This bustling market is the heart of the city, offering a sensory overload of vibrant colors, fresh produce, and traditional Mexican goods. Unlike the more touristy Mercado 28, Mercado 23 is where locals shop, giving you an authentic taste of everyday life in Cancun. Here, you can find everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade crafts and delicious street food. Mercado 23 of Cancun is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the local culture and see a side of Cancun that most tourists miss.
Mercado 23, Cancun, Mexico: Ditch the Resort and Dive into the Real Riviera Maya
Cancun’s all about those picture-perfect beaches, sure. But what if you want to ditch the tourist traps and experience the real Cancun? Look no further than Mercado 23, a buzzing marketplace that’s the city’s beating heart. This isn’t your fancy resort gift shop. Mercado 23 is a full-on assault on the senses in the best way possible. Imagine mountains of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs piled high, overflowing with colors you probably didn’t even know existed. It’s not that big and touristy like its cousin Mercado 28, but it’s very interesting to walk through (speaking of which) the aisles anyway. It is the place where locals usually do their shopping.
Why is it Called Mercado 23?
To begin with, let’s explain why it’s called Mercado 23. The naming is straightforward, each neighborhood in Cancun is assigned a number, going up into the hundreds. Mercado 23 is simply the market in the northeastern corner of neighborhood 23, located behind the central bus station. The history of Mercado 23 in Cancun begins in 1978. Its official name is Javier Rojo Gómez. It is the only market in Cancun that retains the essence of traditional Mexican markets. There, you can find beautiful handicrafts and enjoy traditional Mexican snacks.
How to Get to Mercado 23?
Mercado 23 is located in downtown Cancun, just six blocks from the ADO bus terminal. There are at least a couple ways to get there and both of them are relatively easy. If you want to go local, just hop on any R1 bus from the hotel zone. It will take you very close to Mercado 23. You should get off at Tulum Avenue, near Plaza Galerías, and cross the street to the other side. From there, take Cedro Street, which will lead you to this typical market in Cancun. If the street names are too confusing, just use your phone to navigate there. Another option is to get a cab.
They are usually abundant near every major hotel, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Alternatively, you can get an Uber. Yes, it does work in Cancun. But sometimes it can be difficult to order it from the hotel zone, because “reasons” (Actually it is “the drama” here. The local taxi union doesn’t like that Uber takes their business away from them, and they can get violent when they spot Uber drivers. We may write about it in one of our next blogs.) There is an alternative app “DiDi” (Apple Download, Android Download) you can try that too. We have been using both.
What to Expect?
In our opinion, Mercado 23 is one of the best markets in Cancun for local produce. Unlike the vendors at Mercado 28, the sellers here are not as aggressive and don’t seem to mind whether you are a local or a tourist, which is refreshing. If you look at it on Google Maps, you will see that the core of the market has a shape of a triangle. Well, at least to us 🙂
The outside perimeter of that triangle has a bunch of souvenir shops. Here, you will find a wide variety of items, including handicrafts, clothing, accessories, costumes, natural medicine, piñatas, incense sticks, religious attributes, and more.
Once you get inside, you will find shops that sell fresh produce, vegetables, fruits, cheese, meats, and all sorts of regional spices and ingredients. Depending on the season, you can find rambutan, Spanish plum, Yucatecan avocado, pitaya (dragon fruit), different varieties of mangoes, mamey, and black sapote, among other things.
Additionally, there are several restaurants where you can sample authentic cuisine at a fraction of what it would cost in the hotel zone. Furthermore, they are always full of locals, which is a good sign.
Is it Safe to Visit Mercado 23?
Let us put it this way: we live in Cancun and every now and then we visit this market to buy fresh fruits, usually when we are in the mood for something unusual or want something we can’t buy in the supermarket. We have never had any problems, but you never know, right? The only advice we can give is, use common sense, stay alert.
USEFUL TIPS:
- It’s best to visit early in the morning when the foods are freshest and most plentiful.
- Most places have price stickers and signs posted.
- You’ll need to pay cash in many shops, preferably in Mexican pesos, so make sure to have some on hand if you plan to buy anything.
- If you’re looking for unique handmade souvenirs at reasonable prices, we recommend shopping here at Mercado 23, Cancun, Mexico.
By the way, Mercado 23 is just a short walk away from the Mercado 28. If you’re not in a hurry and have time to spare, you can visit both wonderful markets.
