Not sure why the reviews are all so high. I would never step in this place again. When we were on a family vacation in Cancun, we all decided to stop in to look at souvenirs to take home. My parents love bringing interesting items back as decorations. My mom also wanted to get something for my niece and nephew.
This place is a little too crazy for me and anxiety ridden. If you have anxiety, not the place for you. We had shopkeepers/locals yelling at us. They pulled on us, tried dragging us in their mini shop, followed us, harassed us, and would not leave us alone. We all felt extremely uncomfortable and overwhelmed.
Contrary to what people suggest down there, the prices are NOT fair. They constantly sit there and try to change them to make them higher, even when you already see the price in front of your eyes. We were warned about coming here from the front desk of our hotel, which is why we exchanged American cash for pesos. We did not exchange very much, but all shop keepers kept saying "No no no! American cash! American cash!"
Quite a few tried ripping my mom off. I'd see the amount in pesos, and calculate it based on the conversion at the time. For example if it ended up being $3 in U.S dollars, they would exclaim it was $10 a piece. They would then say "no no come back come back, deal deal! Okay $30 for 3 shirts! No? Ok $25??" It was insane. My uncle's son is married to a latin woman. She speaks many languages. She started speaking to one of them, telling them how upset she was with the way they wanted to scam us. He claimed he was not and started talking with her, offering her a cheaper price because she was "one of us." (P.S. this is the quote he said). I thought that was ridiculously racist. You look at us. See we are American tourists and try to overcharge us, and then talk with her and offer her the very same price listed under the item.
I would constantly sit there and say how much in pesos and they would tell me the U.S. dollar amount every time, overcharging it. I understand these locals want to make some money, but this is not the way to do it.
One shop keeper grabbed my 9 year old brother's arm at the time, and tried pulling him in his store. He tried to get him to buy something. Asked him how much money he had, to which he replied none. He kept saying "get your mom." I told him to let go of my brother, and pulled him away.
My sisters and I got namecalled and harassed a few times. Some of the people selling items would yell something in Spanish I believe, and the lady with us told us what it meant. They whistled even, and kept saying "oh no come back sexy ladies." I was so disgusted. I do not appreciate being harassed and lied to on prices. Won't ever stop into this market ever again.
I did end up buying items on a little island we were dropped off into. It was far poorer and the people were so
welcoming and kind. They were fair and gentle. They did not push or harass. They left me alone, which is how I like it. Only one man tried to, and his father stepped in and apologized. Just because someone is a tourist, does not mean you can take advantage of them. read more