There is no shortage of shopping opportunities in Mexico, from fashionable clothing
boutiques to bustling
market places selling traditional indigenous crafts. Taxco is renowned for its fine jewelry, and silverware - Oaxaca for its gold. The best woodworkers are in Guadalajara, but furniture from the region is on sale in Mexico City, as are crafts from all other parts of the country. For large items, overseas shipping can be arranged at reasonable rates.
In the markets, good buys include
ceramics and
pottery - particularly black clay dishes from the
Oaxaca region. Woven wool
blankets (
sarapes), brightly colored scarves in wool or silk (
rebozos) and richly embroidered
charro hats make great presents.
In
Mexico City, head to the
artisan’s markets in La Ciudedala and Plaza del Buen Tono for the best bargains. Hammocks, rugs, baskets, carved wood and embossed leather can be found almost everywhere, but are overpriced close to beach resorts. Skip the stalls in Cancún’s Hotel Zone and head downtown instead, to the
Ki Huic Open Air Market.
For women’s clothing, try on some
huipiles (white Mayan dresses embroidered with colorful flowers); for men, look for a
guayabera (a fine pleated shirt in cotton voile) or
huaraches (traditional sandals).
In
Acapulco, the Mercado de Artesanías is a good bet, but haggle.
Guadalajara’s sprawling Mercado Libertad is one of the biggest in the country, a bustling metropolis of commerce, selling everything from bananas to monkeys.
Malls are very popular in all the beach resorts, and range from pricey palaces full of designer boutiques, such as Plaza Caracol in Cancún to more modest affairs such as Acapulco’s Marbella Mall. Most have a mixture of local shops and international chain stores.
Shopping hours Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200 (big towns and cities); Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600 (rest of the country). Check locally for details.
Currency Information:CurrencyMexican Peso (MXN; symbol M$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of M$1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of M$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centavos.
Note: The M$1,000 note is difficult to change and often not accepted. The M$100 and M$50 coins are rarely seen.
Currency ExchangeCurrency exchange houses give a preferable rate of exchange to hotels and a much quicker service than banks. The exchange rate of the Mexican peso has been relatively stable recently.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMsCredit cards are not as widely accepted as in Europe or the USA. MasterCard and Visa are the two most widely accepted cards. American Express and Diners Club are accepted on a smaller scale. Some companies make an extra charge of around 5% on such transactions. There are ATMs in cities and most major tourist destinations nationwide, although not all debit cards are accepted, so check before leaving.
Traveller's ChequesATMs and credit cards mean traveller’s cheques are less necessary as a means of carrying money. However, traveller’s cheques issued by well-known brands can be cashed in exchange houses, which again give a better rate than hotels and a quicker service than banks. Traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling and Euros are now as readily accepted as those in US Dollars.
Banking HoursMon-Fri 0900-1600; some banks are open longer hours and others are open on Saturday afternoon.
Exchange Rate Indicators| Date | Apr 07 |
| £1.00= | M$21.74 |
| $1.00= | M$11.00 |
| €1.00= | M$14.71 |
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