Mexico’s local markets provide shoppers with opportunities to find culturally relevant and artisan-made products to bring back home. The products found at these markets create connections to Mexico’s culture, craftsmanship, and traditions. This shopping environment provides a unique opportunity for the traveler to slow down and think carefully about which products they would like to take back home.
Members are fortunate to have the spring season to shop in Mexico’s local markets at a slower pace, allowing them to interact with the artisans, ask questions about the products, and really take their time looking around the markets.
The reasons why spring is the best time to go shopping in Mexico are: the weather is warm enough to walk around the local markets comfortably but cool enough to prevent heat exhaustion, making walking through the markets a pleasant experience. It is less crowded during the spring than during the summer months when families come to Mexico to vacation during the summer. During the spring there is plenty of time to visit multiple stores and talk to the artisans and owners of the store. As such, members will be able to spend as much time as needed finding the perfect souvenir.
Cabo San Lucas
The town of Cabo San Lucas has a shopping scene that represents the area itself. It is a blend of traditional craftsmen along with modern edge and design. Local markets and boutique areas have hand-crafted leather goods, silver jewelry, woven textiles, and ceramic works of art that are inspired by the natural colors of the Baja Peninsula.
The craftsmen in Cabo are skilled at creating high-quality items. Some examples of items that can be purchased in Cabo include leather handbags and belts that have been hand tooled, silver jewelry that is influenced by the traditional and colonial styles of the indigenous peoples of the area, and ceramic pieces that are glazed with earthy colors that represent the desert surrounding the town.
Many of the stores and markets in Cabo are located within close proximity to the Villa del Palmar Cabo, Villa del Arco, Villa La Estancia Cabo, and Villa La Valencia Cabo properties.
Items to Look For:
- Silver Jewelry (stamped “.925”, “Sterling,” or “Plata Pura”)
- Leather Accessories (tooled)
- Ceramic Works of Art and Decorative Items
These are items that will give the shopper a feeling of timelessness and will be able to be used in everyday life while bringing a sense of place.
Puerto Vallarta
The town of Puerto Vallarta is a town that has a strong emphasis on art and creativity. The town has many different types of art walks, venues including galleries, street artists, and studios that are located throughout the town. When shopping in Puerto Vallarta, the experience is immersive and vibrant, and the shopper is surrounded by the local culture.
When shopping in the local markets in Puerto Vallarta, the shopper will see Talavera pottery, hand-painted tiles, embroidered textiles, beaded jewelry, and folk art that are all reflective of the town’s creative spirit. Additionally, many of the artisans are located near the markets and it is possible for the shopper to meet the person that actually made the item that he/she is interested in purchasing.
Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta members and guests are able to stroll through the various artisan streets and visit numerous shops that each resemble a small gallery. The spring weather allows for comfortable and leisurely walking between shops, providing the members and guests with ample opportunity to browse and discover new things.
Items to Look For:
- Talavera Pottery
- Table Runners and Wall Hangings with Embroidery
- Artisan Jewelry Using Silver, Glass and Natural Stones
Each of these items embodies the movement, color and craftsmanship that is characteristic of Puerto Vallarta’s artistic soul.
Riviera Nayarit
Riviera Nayarit is a quieter and more intimate shopping experience compared to other destinations in Mexico. The shopping experience is based upon tradition and authenticity and is centered in the artisan villages and small markets. These marketplaces feature handmade baskets, woven textiles, beadwork, and pottery that have been created using techniques passed down through generations.
Shopping in the spring in Riviera Nayarit fits perfectly into the relaxed rhythm of the vacation day. After spending a leisurely morning at the resort, members and guests can spend the afternoon browsing the local markets and then return to their room with a unique item to remember their trip.
Items to Look For:
- Handwoven Baskets and Textiles
- Huichol-Inspired Beadwork
- Small-Batch Artisan Decor
These items embody a sense of being personal and rooted in the land and culture of the Riviera Nayarit.
Loreto
Shopping in Loreto, Mexico, is like the destination itself: simple, authentic, and closely tied to its natural surroundings. Instead of the large markets that are typically seen in other Mexican destinations, Loreto has smaller, independent artisan shops that feature handmade wooden decorations, jewelry created from local stones, woven items and artwork inspired by the Sea of Cortez and the surrounding desert.
Typically, the items that Villa del Palmar Loreto members and guests choose are those that are truly unique and personalized items selected not for their flashiness, but because they resonate with the guest.
Items to Look For:
- Natural Stone Jewelry
- Hand-Carved Wooden Decor
- Woven Items in Soft, Natural Tones
These items capture the serene essence of Loreto and serve as great mementos of a trip to a destination that values simplicity and authenticity.
Cancun
Cancun’s shopping experience combines elements of ancient Mayan tradition with the modern elegance of a Caribbean coastal town. The local artisan markets in Cancun feature Mayan craftsmanship, with a wide variety of hand-embroidered huipiles, woven hammocks, natural fiber accessories, carved wood pieces and jewelry that is influenced by pre-Hispanic designs.
The spring season is one of the best times to visit the markets in Cancun, as the comfortable temperatures will allow the shopper to browse the markets without feeling rushed. Villa del Palmar Cancun members and guests typically spend their beach days exploring the local culture and leave with a few unique items that they feel will remind them of their trip.
Items to Look For:
- Hand-Embroidered Huipiles
- Traditional Hammocks
- Carved Wood and Natural Fiber Decorations
Each of these items carries a rich history of Mayan craftsmanship, connecting the visitor to Mexico’s living history.
Local shopping matters to our members because in addition to beautiful items, local markets provide stories. Each time a member purchases an item from a local market, they are supporting the artisans of that community and preserving the cultural traditions of that area. Furthermore, the physical items that members bring back from Mexico create a tangible connection to the destination that they have visited.
As the spring begins in Mexico, local markets invite travelers to explore, to connect, and to discover. Whether it is a piece of pottery from Puerto Vallarta, a woven basket from Riviera Nayarit, a silver bracelet from Cabo or a handcrafted textile from Cancun, these items will serve as reminders of the moments that the traveler has spent in Mexico.
While the traveler may be leaving Mexico, the stories that they bring home can last a lifetime.
