Beautiful Arts and Crafts to Shop for in Playa del Carmen
It’s no secret that the Riviera Maya is full of dazzling public and private artworks, from the murals of Quinta Avenida to the stone sculptures of MUSA, the world’s largest underwater museum — but many people don’t realize just how much art is available to take home as souvenirs. Indeed, visitors are often surprised to find paintings, photographs, jewelry, handicrafts, and so much more for sale throughout the region’s markets, galleries, and boutiques. Check out our guide to venues where you can find such wares within Playa del Carmen.
Mahekal Beach Resort
That’s right — at Mahekal you’ll find our very own craft center, known as the Artisan Palapa. The colorful destination is led by our very own resident artisan, Juliana. Shop for thoughtfully sculpted and painted pieces of pottery, or sign up for a class in which you can paint, glaze, and fire your own unique work of art.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosalia/246396579044595
Riviera Art Gallery
Riviera Art Gallery prides itself on making modern Mexican art available and accessible to the public, so here you’ll find pieces such as landscape-inspired paintings by the celebrated artist Ricardo Campero and oil portraits by Gloria Riojas. The artworks are sold at a variety of price points, so this is a great stop for any budget.
Siete Detalles
For pottery in the Talavera Poblana and Talavera Moderna style, it’s hard to beat the downtown boutique Siete Detalles. The family-owned shop sells only the finest local earthenware dishes, bowls, and mugs, along with pewter plates and blown glass. All the creations are made by owner Alicia Zamorano herself or families that she knows personally.
Caminarte
One of the top local arts attractions is Wednesday’s Caminarte, held on Quinta Avenida (its name is a play on the Spanish translation for “art walk”). Twenty blocks of the famed shopping street become filled with photographs, paintings, blown glass, and more, as artists schmooze with attendees and musicians drift through the crowd.
https://www.facebook.com/caminarte-214933245196367/
Mexican Folk Art Museum at Xcaret Shop
The Mexican Folk Art Museum shop sells replicas of colorful animal sculptures and figurines, along with wooden instruments, jewelry boxes, notebooks, and other trinkets in the traditional Mexican style. It also happens to be on the grounds of Xcaret Eco-Park, so it’s an easy stop after taking in one of the shows or floating down the lazy river.
https://www.xcaret.com/en/attractions/mexican-folk-art-museum/
Plan Your Visit
Explore all these cultural gems and more on your next visit to Playa del Carmen. If you need any more inspiration, just check out the exclusive offers at Mahekal Beach Resort.