What to buy at the Mercado Coral Negro in Cancun

What could be better than spending a golden vacation on the pristine Caribbean beaches of Cancun? Absolutely nothing. So, congrats for your choice!  There’s a good reason why Cancun is one of the most popular vacation destinations around the world. This beautiful vacation resort offers wonderful, wide, white-sanded beaches watered by the warm, turquoise Caribbean Sea; plenty of natural attractions and adventurous tours; and a great tourism infrastructure that includes an array of lodging, dining and shopping options to cater to all tastes and budgets.

Another wise choice is booking your hotel room in the bustling Hotel Zone, which is the most complete area in Cancun. Here you can find everything from luxurious all-inclusive hotels, fine dining venues, bohemian bars and wild discos; to a great variety of shopping options that includes huge shopping malls boasting exclusive international stores and quaint open-air flea markets offering unique handmade pieces, the best tequila and even piercings. Now, if what you want to get is a great Mexican souvenir, make sure to check the picturesque Mercado Coral Negro.

• Location:

The popular Mercado Coral Negro Flea Market is located in Kukulcan Boulevard Km 9 in the well-known “Party Center” area, near the best bars and discos. It stands right in the heart of the Hotel Zone close to the best hotels in Cancun; opposite Plaza Forum by The Sea Shopping Mall and at short steps from the Cancun Conventions Center. It is easily accessible on foot from any of the hotels in the area, or by bus or taxi if you’re staying in downtown Cancun.

• What to buy at the Mercado Coral Negro in Cancun:

This lively flea market features 50 stores and stands offering a huge variety of arts and crafts from several different regions of Mexico. In it, you can purchase traditional charro sombreros and suits; hand-made Mexican toys; huipiles (traditional Mexican dresses with embroidered colorful Mayan designs); sarapes (colorful woven shawls); guayaberas (traditional Mexican white or pastel colored shirts); handmade hammocks and baskets; and huaraches (local sandals), among several other Mexican items.

If you’re interested in purchasing original Mexican silver, you’ll find a “jewelry quarter” in the market enclosed by glass sliding doors, where you can get original and exotic silver pieces and gems. Before paying for your piece, check that it displays the .925 hallmark to make sure it is genuine.
There are also typical tourist-stalls offering T-shirts and caps with stamps bearing the name of Cancun and beach designs. Many tourists visit the Mercado to get their temporary henna tattoo, a body piercing, or the famous hair braids that Bo Derek popularized. You can also take a seat at “Slices”- a popular bar; or at “Xtabentun”- a small and inexpensive restaurant where you can taste exquisite Mexican dishes.

• Some tips:

It is very common in Cancun’s markets to bargain the prices; it is kind of a game and vendors expect tourists to do it. So, make sure to respectfully ask for a discount before taking your wallet out of your pocket or purse. Mercado Coral Negro Flea Market is open every day from 9 am to 9 pm.
Take the chance! Find your perfect souvenir at a great price in Mercado Coral Negro during your vacation in Cancun.

Cecilia Vittori
Image: Flickr (author: jerowee)

Fishing, the Most Famous Sport in Puerto Vallarta

Fishing in Puerto Vallarta has turned into one of the most famous sports in the area due to the quantity and quality of fish you can find in its waters. The climate and blue waters in here make Bay of Flags one of the best places to practice this sport. The diversity one can find is huge, and some of its species include the dorado, marlin, tuna and ghaho peto.

• Fishing in Vallarta

Fishing in Puerto Vallarta is a well kept secret in the generous waters of the Bay. As in any other coastal destination alongside the Mexican Riviera, fishing in Vallarta is famous worldwide among professionals as well as amateurs. From November to May fishing in the area takes place because of the abundant sailfish found in the area. Minor fishing occurs during the whole year, and different species are caught by fishermen, some of whom choose to free the animals after catching them. This catch and release technique is turning into the tendency for the sake of conserving the fauna of the place.

• The Boats

Embarkations in Puerto Vallarta are fully equipped with everything a fisherman can need regardless of their status – beginners, intermediate or experimented ones.  The crew has access to GPS locators, DVDs, TVs, microwave ovens, fridges and kitchenettes – the boats have everything you can imagine in order to make you live a once in a lifetime experience. If you are staying in any of the so many hotels in Vallarta and are eager to be part of this adventure, don’t even doubt at it and rent a ship. Different enterprises offer tourists their ships, and this is the case of Mike’s Fishing Charter, founded in 1997. From there on, the company is known for its fishing and sailing tours in the bay.

• Catch and Release 

The catch and release technique is proving quite efficient among the waters of the whole world; putting into practice good techniques to do so will provide you with a first class fishing experience as well as help you grow awareness of the valuable fishing resources for future generations. When handled properly, fishing in salad waters turns into an excellent activity which does not involve harming the environment.

Every November a fishing tournament takes place in Vallarta in the open sea; this is a perfect opportunity for fishermen from all over the world to come and live this amazing experience in the best waters of the whole world. In any case, the event is an interesting activity to be done or to be attended by visitors of Vallarta who want to live a truly Mexican adventure, where the main aim is not to destroy nature but to protect the fauna of the ecosystem. Come to Vallarta and do not miss the chance of being part of this activity!

Agostina Giacomino

Picture: Flickr (brettanicus)