We went down to Mercado 28 a couple of times on our recent trip to Cancun. It is definitely cheaper to shop there for most things but you really have to be aggressive about bargaining and be prepared to walk away if you don't get the price that you want.

The vendors will all hound you to come into their stores. Just keep on walking and say "No thank you" and they will back off. Do not for an instant act weak. If they grab you and try to pull you in firmly say no and keep walking. - This does not happen very often.

The vendors will try to overcharge you for everything so never pay what they ask first. Always bargain with them for much lower prices and walk away if they don't give you the price you want.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS PAY IN CASH!!!! NEVER USE YOUR CREDIT CARD WHEN DEALING WITH STREET VENDORS.

Know what the exchange rates are and don't let them fool you with their calculator math. If you are a good bargainer then this is a great place to go to haggle for the best prices in Cancun.

This is also a great place to eat at any of the restaurants that are in the center of the plaza. The food is excellent and the prices are cheap. Take the bus there never take a cab. Its a bit of a ride but it is worth it.

We stayed at the Sun Palace so took the #2 bus to Market 28. If your goal is to find some good Mexican merchandise such as tequila glasses, souvenirs, hammocks, etc and enjoy haggling for prices; then this is the place to go. Getting around can be a bit confusing as everything looks the same. My wife and I got lost once or twice but everyone points you toward the Walmart at which you get back on the bus.

Sellers are pretty aggressive. They will get up when you walk by and open the doors to their stores for you. They almost all take dollars and pesos but I would recommend paying in pesos so you can get the best exchange rate (currently 13.5 pesos = $1) from one of the money changers elsewhere. Be willing to haggle like crazy. If you just say no to their price, they'll deduct 20-30% off right away and then ask you to make an offer. If you stand your ground, you can expect to get 30-50% off pretty easily.

I found the market to be a great source of souvenirs like hammocks, necklaces, cheap t-shirts, and knock-off items like sunglasses.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a fleamarket and don't mind aggressive sales folks or haggling, you won't find much better in Cancun.

Where to start.......first, it is a pretty long haul to get out there. Once you do get there you are hounded by shady looking guys who are all over you like white on rice as soon as you step out of the taxi wanting to power sell you and promising prices "lower than Wal-Mart", yes that is a direct quote from more than one of them. When they see tourists showing up their reaction is similar to a Discovery Channel special on raw meat being fed to sharks. Maybe if I'd gone undercover and worn a sombrero not bathed for a few weeks it would have helped. The entire market is old dilapidated buildings that are pretty nasty. Just a dirty place and certainly gives insight as to what life is really like in Cancun for those not lucky enough to be there on vacation. To use the restroom (we were only able to find one), it cost my wife $3 and she was handed a couple squares of toilet paper. In the sinks of the bathroom were cooking utensils, obviously from one of the neighboring kitchens. No, we did not eat there....we chose life. The stuff being sold there is no different than what you find right on the strip in any of the shopping areas. Having said all of this, there is really only one reason to go and that is to see aforementioned dismal reality of life in Cancun. Do not waste your vacation time going here.

Went to the Market 28 today and was just as anticipated. If you like mall shopping, prices posted and laid back sales people, this place probably isn’t for you. Took a cab from Excellence Resort in Playa De Mujeres which ran 15. US each way. Typical local shopping and haggling with everything from jewelry to hand crafted items with several hundred sellers. Safe and typical “hut” shopping with a chance to buy just about anything. Certainly be prepared to have more aggressive sales people work you. A few tips: Silver can be purchased for between 1.50-2.00 per gram although they start around 5.00 US. Be courteous and just say no thanks and they usually will go lower before you even think of walking out. I would not suggest not using a credit card and only pay cash. Look around before you purchase to get your bearings on prices and value. Always stay in populated areas and be on guard as you would in any large city. Our very friendly driver was Fernando running his own new cab and he gave us his cell phone 99-82-57-02-13 to be picked up for the return trip. He picked us up within 15 minutes of our call and was extremely helpful with other advice around Cancun.