What’s on your top 10 list for your trip to Puerto Morelos? Shopping at markets in Puerto Morelos for souvenirs is most likely high on the itinerary! We love to pick up meaningful, handmade local crafts on our journeys too – it’s a great way to support local entrepreneurs and artists as well as making sure money goes back into the local economy. It’s a win-win-win!
In a new place, it can be a bit daunting to learn when and where all the markets are and the variety of items you’ll find at each one. In this blog, I’ll do my best to show you around town and let you know when and where to be to experience the local flavor of Puerto Morelos and scope out the perfect item to remember your trip by!
Pro-tip: Remember that Puerto Morelos is divided in half by the highway, so I’ll refer to everything between the highway and east towards the beach as “portside”. In event flyers or Facebook groups you may hear the park on portside interchangeably called “Parque del Casco Antiguo” or “Parque Fundadores” – don’t let that confuse you. They’re both talking about the park near the iconic Puerto Morelos leaning lighthouse.
Likewise, everything from the highway west towards the jungle is known as “la colonia”. There are many parks on the colonia side of town, but when there are events, there are a couple main options. Most likely they mean the main park “Parque la Colonia” at the corner of Zetina and Caoba (the street that takes you into the colonia from the 7-11 at the highway). This is where the holiday events are typically held for Independence Day (9/15), Dia de Muertos (beginning of November), Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (12/12), etc. The other likely location would be the outdoor sports area called “Deportivo Isaac Hamui” at the corner of Zetina and Delfín. A third, less likely, option would be the “Domo Deportivo Colonia Zetina Gasca” off Calle 52 and Chaca (behind the library on Zetina).
Portside
Farmer’s Market: Wednesday morning from 8am-1pm there is a farmer’s market just off the park next to the church on the portside of town. Here you’ll find artisan bread, gourmet coffee, fresh fruits and veggies, and other local favorites.
New Market started August 2024 – Pabellón El Faro: Every Wednesday and Thursday from 4-10pm at the park portside (here on the map referred to as the Jardín Principal). From the article by the municipality of Puerto Morelos linked above, “Among the products that can be offered in this little market are jewelry, traditional dresses made locally, leatherwork, flower pots, leather bags with exclusive designs, macramé, visual arts, ice creams and popsicles, hand-painted pictures, women’s clothing, swimsuits, tapioca, and desserts.”
Artisan Market: Friday – Sunday evenings from 5-10pm at the park portside (here on the map referred to as Jardín Principal). During this market you’ll find everything from local food vendors, artists, jewelry, natural personal care products, items for your home and more. Many times, live entertainment events happen near the bleachers in the park during the market on Saturday nights as well, so you may also have the opportunity to catch a cultural show as well – concerts, folkloric dance, and even a local circus with clowns and acrobatic performers! Stay tuned to the municipality Facebook page and look for Saturday events called “Pabellon Artesanal” – those will be the dates most likely to have live entertainment.
Flyers like this one can be found on the Ayuntamiento de Puerto Morelos Facebook page so you can locate the next event with live performances, but the market itself is held every weekend, weather permitting.
La Colonia
Women’s Market: Friday nights from 5-10pm at the park in la colonia. This is a great way to support local female entrepreneurs! Women from the community gather to sell a variety of products from accessories, clothes, beauty products, food, and more. This tends to be a gathering place for families and friends on the weekends, so it’s a great way to experience what life in Puerto Morelos is really like.
Flyers like this one can be found on the Ayuntamiento de Puerto Morelos Facebook page so you can look for them there, but I spoke with the organizers and confirmed that it is scheduled for every Friday, weather permitting.
El Tianguis: Sundays from 10am-2pm near the intersection of Timón and Caoba in la colonia. A Tianguis is an informal street market similar to a flea market in the US, but with Mexican flair! You’ll find a wide range of both new and used products available at this market – anything from clothes and shoes, household goods, accessories, plants, sewing kits (I literally searched so many stores, but only finally found one when I tried the tianguis!), and more all at great prices. Feeling intimidated to venture there on your own with limited Spanish language skills? Tianguis Sisters Tours do walking tours of the Tianguis for $200 pesos and can help you with your purchases.
We hope that helps you find your way around to enjoy the markets and events in Puerto Morelos that you’d like to see while you’re here. We’d love to know – what was your favorite purchase at one of the markets in Puerto Morelos?
