It´s hard to believe it but Cancun´s Downtown is far beyond of being interesting. This is understandable if you consider that the city is only 35 years old and has been destroyed twice by huracanes Gilberto (1988) and Wilma (2005).
The estimated population is around 677,926 people and most of them are related in one way or another with tourism.A high percentage of the people came from other parts of the country to establish here.
The first section of the city, the oldest one, consists of roundabouts called “Manzanas” while the newer part was built in a more traditional way. Perhaps the most famous square in the whole city is “El Mercado 28” (Market 28). Despite of the name this is not how a typical mexican market looks, however, it has his charm.
Here you can find a great variety of mexican handcrafts from all parts of the country. We should mention that compared with other states Quintana Roo is not renowned for its food or for its handcraft production. Among other things you´ll find in Market 28: local restaurants, shoes and drug stores, jewelry, coffee shops, etc.
HINT: IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT CHICHEN ITZA, TULUM, COBA WAIT TO BE THERE TO DO ALL YOUR HANDCRAFT SHOPPING; IT´S MUCH MORE CHEAPER AND BUYING THERE HELPS SUPPORT NATIVE PEOPLE.
A couple of blocks away Market 28 you can find another important spot of the city: the Yaxchilan Avenue. This street hosts a wide variety of Mexican food restaurants and bars. Some of them are very colorful and picturesque specially when the mariachi is around playing their tunes. Definitively a nice portrait of our culture.
If you are looking for modern shopping we have two major malls: Malecon Americas and La Gran Plaza. They both have cinemas, foodcourts, department stores, supermarkets such as Walmart and Chedraui, handicapped facilities, underneath parking lots, etc.
If you are a bullfighting fan we have a bullring just in-front of plaza Las Americas. Click here for more information. The city also has professional Baseball, Basketball and Soccer teams.
Transportation downtown is not a problem. It´s safe and cheap. The bus fee in the city is around $5.50 pesos per trip. However you might get lost with all the routes the city has. We highly recommend you to take a taxi instead. They are easy to identify. They have fees between $20 to $25 pesos per trip. Some are air conditioned and accept credit/debit cards.
Another important site in the city is the ADO Bus station on Tulum Avenue. Here you can take a transport to Playa del Carmen, Merida, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Chichen-Itza, Tulum, etc. The station is sorrounded by small hotels, hostals and local restaurants. This is a small review of Cancun's Downtown highlights. If you are looking for further information let us know.
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