A New Tourist-Only Market Is Coming To Cancun—Here’s Where It Will Be And What To Expect

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A new, very Cancun-style project is taking shape just north of downtown, and it’s going to change the vibe of Puerto Juárez.

We at The Cancun Sun have been following the plans, and officials have now confirmed that the remodeled market in Puerto Juárez will open as a tourist-only space — not a traditional neighborhood mercado.

The idea, pushed by Benito Juárez municipal trustee Miguel Ángel Zenteno, is to create a spot where visitors heading to or from the Isla Mujeres ferries can eat, shop, and experience local culture without having to detour into the Hotel Zone.

Where it will be

The market is in Puerto Juárez, the busy maritime area where most travelers catch the ferry to Isla Mujeres — the same place we always tell readers to use when they want the cheapest, most frequent crossings instead of paying Hotel Zone prices in Playa Tortugas or Caracol.

If you’re staying downtown or in Costa Mujeres, this will be an easy stop before or after your boat ride, especially now that the municipality has been investing more in tourism infrastructure and sustainability across Cancun.

What it will look like

According to officials, the complex was fully remodeled in 2024 and now includes:

• 18 commercial spaces for food, crafts, and services
• Public bathrooms
• A security booth
• Even a small chapel for the community

So expect something closer to a curated visitor hub than a chaotic local tianguis. The call for vendors is already open, but only for projects that clearly target travelers — think Mayan-Caribbean dishes, regional handicrafts, coffee, tour desks, maybe even experiences that pair naturally with a day on Isla Mujeres. That’s why the city delayed opening: they wanted to make sure the market didn’t slowly turn back into a standard neighborhood market. (That was the worry.)

Why make it tourist-only?

Simple: Puerto Juárez is already a tourist funnel.

Thousands of visitors pass through daily to catch the Ultramar, and the city wants them to spend a little more time — and money — there instead of hopping straight from taxi to ferry. It also lines up with other moves the city is making to better organize tourism, like tightening regulations on vacation rentals so visitors have safer, more predictable experiences.

But… locals are talking

This is the part causing the debate in Cancun.

A market that only targets tourists can feel exclusionary in a city that says all beaches and public spaces will remain for everyone. Some residents point out that if tourism ever slows — remember how quickly things cooled in nearby destinations when occupancy dipped — a market that doesn’t serve locals can struggle.

City officials say that’s why the call for vendors is open to anyone in the municipality, not just people from Puerto Juárez, but the model is still clearly built around the visitor.

What travelers can expect

Here’s the good news for you:

• Easy pre-ferry stop: Grab breakfast or a cold drink before boarding. If you’re catching an early boat, this is way more convenient than trekking into the Hotel Zone. Pair it with our detailed guide to the Puerto Juárez–Isla Mujeres ferry so you know exact 2025 prices and schedules.
• More reasons to stay on the mainland: A tourist-focused market gives travelers something to do if bad weather pauses boat tours out of Puerto Juárez, which has happened before.
• Safer, more organized area: Cancun has been rolling out extra policing and transparency measures in tourist zones, so an officially managed market with a security post fits right in.
• Local flavor without guesswork: If you don’t know where to try cochinita, seafood, or buy crafts before Isla Mujeres — where prices can be higher — this gives you a filter-free option on the mainland. And remember, Isla Mujeres activities are in demand right now thanks to ongoing upgrades on the island.

Bigger picture for Cancun

We’re seeing Cancun create micro-attractions outside the Hotel Zone — eco-initiatives, stricter rental rules, better maritime areas — to spread visitors out and keep the city looking good for 2025–2026.

A tourist-only market in Puerto Juárez fits that strategy: keep tourists moving, give them safe places to spend, and take pressure off the beaches.