Playa del Carmen Shopping

Grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, malls, and clothing.


Playa del Carmen has just about anything you need, and almost all of it is within walking distance.

• Clothing Shops "Hello, Honeymooners"
  There are several boutique clothing stores on 5th Avenue. You can find designer clothing, swimsuits, shoes and sandals, dresses, shorts, t-shirts, tank tops and fashion accessories.
  
  
• Specialty Shops "Practically Free"
  There are a lot of nice specialty shops selling handbags, jewelry, art, handmade Mayan crafts, Mexican tiles, hammocks, gourd lamps, beach bags, and artwork.
  
  
• Souvenier Shops "The best junk in town"
  There are more than enough souvenir shops to browse sarongs, blankets and sombreros. Leave extra room in your suitcase as you'll surely want to stock up on shotglasses, ashtrays, and perhaps a plastic snow-globe or two.
  
  
• Cigars
  If you see a Cohiba sitting in a jar next to a cash register it is a fake. Most cigars labeled as Cubans, even in cigar and tobacco shops, are counterfeits. If you are looking for genuine Cuban cigars in Playa del Carmen, La Casa del Habano on 5th Avenue between Calles 26 and 28 is the place to go. It is illegal for US citizens to bring Cuban cigars into the US or even to purchase them in Mexico.
  
  
• Convenience Shops
  It is very easy to find small "mini-marts" where you can pick up items such as soft drinks, snacks, 6-packs and single servings of beer, suntan lotions, and other small sundries.
  
  
• Pharmacies
  They are everywhere. Just about every block has a pharmacy. You can buy certain medications, such as Retin-A over the counter, without a prescription. However, please note that if you purchase medication that would require a prescription in the US, you are supposed to have a prescription to present to customs if bringing these items home with you.
  
  For other countries, please check with your customs/immigrations departments.
  
  Narcotics and other drugs, such as Valium, do require a prescription, even in Mexico.
  
  
• Liquor Stores
  You will find plenty of those around town. Please note, liquor stores are closed on Sunday, and you cannot purchase any off-sale liquor there, or at the groceries or any other stores on Sunday.
  
  
• Film and Camera Supplies
  You can find film and camera supplies around the various convenience stores, but please make sure to check the date on the film. I found some that were a few years old. There is a Kodak Store on 5th Avenue, I believe another on Juarez--up a few blocks from 5th Avenue and there is a Fuji Film store right off of Juarez between 10th and 30th Avenues. I am sorry, I cannot remember the exact location. The Kodak and Fuji stores offer 1-hour film developing.
  
  
• Sam's Club
  There is a Sam's Club located on Highway 307 and Juarez, near Chedruai Supermarket.
  
  
• Walmart
  Playa del Carmen now has a Walmart in town which opened December 8, 2005. Walmart is located on 30th Avenue and Calle 8.
  
  
• Grocery Stores
  Playa del Carmen has modern stores that are typical of what you would expect in a US grocery store.
  
  
  • SUPER SAN FRANCISCO
    A large grocery located on 30th Avenue and Calle 12. This is a very nice store and even sells some clothing and other useful items such as towels and washcloths.
    
    
  • CHEDRAUI
    A huge supermarket located on the corner of Juarez and Highway 307.
    
    
  • SMALL GROCER
    There is a smaller, but nice grocery store located on Juarez between 20th and 30th Avenue.
    
    
• Shopping Malls
  Playa has a couple of smaller-sized shopping malls.
  
  
  • PLAZA PELICANO
    Shopping plaza located on 10th Avenue between Calles 6 and 8 which also has a movie theater.
    
    
  • PASEO DEL CARMEN
    Shopping mall located over by the ferry pier with several new shops and restaurants.
    
    
    
    

Tip!

Don't forget to check out the stores between 10th and 30th Avenues. You can find better deals.

There stores all along Juarez Avenue. They are much cheaper than the 5th Avenue shops, although not as fancy. If you have teenagers, there are lots of stores with cute little tops and they are very inexpensive.

Not everybody at the shops off of 5th Avenue speak English. Print out the Spanish Shopping Phrases guide to take with you!