Playa del Carmen is known for its beaches, nightlife, and restaurant scene, amongst other things. But did you know it’s also great for shopping? From locally-produced souvenirs to high-end designer clothing, this favorite destination offers visitors a surprising number of shopping options. Here are some of the best places to shop in the popular city of Playa del Carmen.
Quinta Alegria Shopping Mall
Quinta Alegria is an attractive mall located in the heart of Fifth Avenue. It has a great variety of stores, many of which will be familiar names to US visitors. American Eagle, Forever 21, and Oakley make up some of the clothing options. Starbucks and Haagen Daazs make up the refreshment element.
Not only is it a great place to shop, but the mall is also a pleasant spot to take a walk around. It has multiple art installations adding interest, alongside plants that offer a nice natural element. These design touches are perfect for creating social content, as proven by its well-used hashtag #QuintaAlegria.
Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida)
By far the most famous of Playa del Carmen’s shopping options is the 3-mile long Fifth Avenue, or Quinta Avenida in Spanish. The busiest section is the 1.2-mile pedestrianized stretch from the beginning of ‘La Quinta’ all the way up to Calle 42.
Along this well-trodden street, you can find all kinds of shopping. Items range from tacky souvenirs to designer clothing, and from handmade jewelry to local liquors like the Yucatan-produced honey-aniseed-rum concoction Xtabentún. There are also a couple of popular malls dotted along the avenue.
Of course, while you’re visiting Fifth Avenue, you’ll work up a thirst, so you may want to stop in at some of the area’s best restaurants. Choose one of the 102 vegan restaurants or Zapote, a bar recently named one of the best bars in North America.
Calle Corazon Shopping Plaza
Part-way along Fifth Avenue, you’ll see a curved mall with more than its fair share of international clothing stores – this is Calle Corazon. An open-air mall, this fashion-centric shopping spot is home to everyday favorites like H&M and Bath and Body Works, as well as slightly more expensive Lacoste and Sephora stores.
Beyond shopping, you can also find Aldo’s, Starbucks, and a Sushi Roll, plus there’s a fun 2-level slide to keep little ones entertained.
The mall is open from 11 am to 11 pm with restaurants and bars open until 2 am.
Paseo del Carmen
Paseo del Carmen will be the first shopping mall you see when leaving the Cozumel ferry pier. Located at the bottom end of Fifth Avenue, this is particularly convenient for people who are short on shopping time.
There’s a well-stocked favorite, Old Navy, occupying a prime spot, as well as Bershka, Guess, Pull & Bear, Rip Curl, and Zara amongst others. You can easily lose a couple of hours checking out the clothing options here. And consider breaking up your time with stops in the attractive central courtyard enjoying a Krispy Kreme donut or a frappe from Starbucks.
Plaza Las Americas Mall
Around 3 miles or so from the Playa del Carmen beachfront area you’ll find Plaza Las Americas. Due to its location, it’s more popular with locals than visitors, so if you want to spend a little time away from the tourist center, this is a great option.
The mall is home to a huge Sears department store, as well as a range of smaller, less well-known shopping options. There’s a Chedraui supermarket, plus a cinema if you’re looking for some non-shopping entertainment. In addition, there’s a large food court to check out when hunger calls. With its combination of stores, entertainment, and dining, this mall is certainly somewhere to consider spending an hour or two if those tropical rains roll in.
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