For a good shopping experience, make sure to visit the downtown area of Tulum Avenue.

The area in downtown Cancun located in Tulum Avenue, between Coba and Uxmal holds many shops and restaurants geared for both visitors and locals with prices that are often cheaper than the stores in the hotel zone malls.

In  order to get there, you can hail a cab and tell the driver to take you downtown, to Tulum Ave. Alternatively, you can also take an R-1 bus (the most common one) and get off right after it turns a corner on its arrival to the city, this is Tulum avenue. All the good shops are located across the street from where the bus leaves you, though. In the side of the street where you will want to take the bus back to the hotel zone.

The large "supermanzana" that stretches from one avenue to the next is several blocks long. In this area are several important shops and boutiques such as Sybelle, Ultrafemme or Fama. You will also find here many places that offer tours for diving, visiting Xcaret or Xelha or taking a dinner cruise, for example. Make it clear that you are not interested in time share if you don't want to be bothered with heavy sales tactics. If you want, you can get your hair braided by any of the many women offering this, for a good price.

The small side streets that stem from Tulum Avenue are filled with very nice restaurants, often offering typical Mexican food such as tacos or fajitas. The prices here are very agreeable and there's a lot to choose from.

Also, one of the main gathering points in Cancun, Parque de las Palapas, is only a walk away. It commonly hosts music concerts and other events, as well as housing the Cristo Rey Church, the first Catholic church in Cancun. Most important to visitiors, though, are the excellent quality restaurants, perfect for a special dinner in a wonderful atmosphere.