Cancún Shopping: The Smaller Malls

Plaza Las Americas



Opening times: Mon-Sat: 9am - 9pm; Sun 11am - 7pm

Avenida Tulum SM 4 and 9
Cancún, ROO 77500

Plaza Las Americas has 234 stores and two ,movie theaters, with 18 screens showing films in both English and Spanish. There is also a video arcade. Its vast complex also includes the Amerimed Hospital, which specialises in healthcare for tourists. It is American owned and all of the staff are bilingual. It is open 24 hours a day and takes care of all medical emergencies from the Hotel Zone.

Grocery shopping can be done in Plaza Las Americas. It has a large Chedraui, which is Mexico's answer to Wal-Mart. There is also a Sears for electrical goods, hardware, household items, apparel etc.; and a Liverpool store for clothes, accessories, furniture and linen; and a Radio Shack for 'phones, mp3 players and the ilk. This is the mall for practical shopping, though there are a few stores dotted around for souvenirs. There is a section of the mall dedicated to the higher end retail market. Amongst the more luxury stores is Zara, for all of your clothing needs, and Ultrafemme, the leading Mexican perfumery.

There are three restaurants: Tumbaburros, Mama Roma, Sanborns Café; and a food court with outposts of McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, 100% Natural, Steak House, Gorditas doña Tota and many more.

For those arriving by car, there are both indoor and outdoor parking lots.


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Forum-by-the-Sea



Opening times: Every day 10am - 12am

Avenida Kukulcan km 9.0
Cancun, ROO 77500

While all shopping malls in Cancún include entertainment, Forum-by-the-Sea takes that to a whole new level. Here entertainment is the focus with the shops almost being by-products. It is a three-level plaza built within a dome. The circular aisles overlook each other, so it's easy to spot where your party is, should you become separated. This is a mall dedicated more to Mexican handicrafts and items, rather than international produce. It has several ATMs and a money exchange.

Places to eat or drink include: Hardrock Cafe, The Coco Bongo Night Club, Cambalache, Carlos’N Charlie’s and the Rainforest Café. The bars stay open after midnight.


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Plaza Mayafair

Blvd. Kukulcán km 8.5, Hotel Zone.
Cancun, ROO 77500

Plaza Mayafair was the first mall to be built in the Hotel Zone. It's smaller than some of the later ones and has a truly Mayan theme to it. There are nightly Mayan dances performed there, alongside music shows. The mall is open-air.

Plaza Terramar

Blvd. Kukulcán Km.13, Hotel Zone.
Cancun, ROO 77500

This one of the smallest shopping malls in Cancún, however it does contain a variety of stores. There are boutiques for beachwear; internationally known restaurant chains.

There is a hotel in its center, Terramar Plaza Suite, though it is a rather downbeat establishment without the lagoon views and beaches that are a hallmark elsewhere. It can offer very cheap accommodation with basic facilities though.

Plaza Cancun 2000

Avenida Tulúm, 42
Crucero, Av. Tulum & López-Portillo
Downtown Cancún

This is the mall where the locals shop, so it provides a chance to mix with people other than tourists. There are no huge international name stores here. The wares tend towards inexpensive footwear and clothing; suntan lotion; snacks; camping supplies; beachwear; bottled water; smaller appliances etc. This is the place to pick up real Mexican music, instead of the stuff peddled to tourists. It is also one of the cheapest places in Cancún to pick up your alcohol and cigarettes.


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There are plenty more places to shop in Cancún, but I hope that you've enjoyed this week's run through of some of the bigger or more popular ones.