Here I am again, getting ready to go on my second Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale--one week with stops in Roatan, Belize City and Cozumel.
I'm not sure what we will do during the Cozumel stop (love to get some ideas here..).
But I will want to have a good lunch and, maybe, do some shopping.

My questions are:

1. Are there any products from pharmacies that are great bargains? I could bring a script from my doctor but won't do that unless some medicines are incredible bargains as compared to US prices.

2. What food products are either much cheaper, or better, than those I can find at home. Example, on my last trip (Michoacan) I bought a huge beg of chia seeds at the market for a fraction of the price of those pre-packaged bags back home. These were sold by weight. Also bought a few large blue enameled spoons for cooking---each one was way less than 1$USD.
Like these:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/9403302...spoons-made-in

I definitely will stock up on Ibarra (or other) Mexican chocolate; I eat this straight and love the grainy texture.
And some cheeses.
And jars of cajeta.

So those types of things, and the medicines, are what I would be interested in.

I'd love to read about your favorite buys; does not have to be specific to Cozumel...the things I mentioned can be found at any Mexican food market.

Muchas gracias y Feliz Ano Nuevo a todos!!

No advice, but I think my sister-in-law is on the same cruise.

Be careful with pharmacies in Mexico. There are legit ones where you need a prescription. And there are 'fly by night' advertisting things that really are not what they say they are.

in Cozumel on a cruise you can simply take a taxi into the downtown central area and walk around. I helped my sister plan this (but too long ago I don't have notes). They had lunch, I think there was a museum, I'm sure there is shopping.

Honestly I go to Mexico twice a year but have never bought any of the things you are asking about

FraD: No way!!?? To be clear, this cruise was not my idea!! It's the Star Princess, leaving Ft. Lauderdale Saturday the 10th. (??). Is this the one??

Suze, thanks! Food-related things are the most interesting to me; at this stage, I do not need any more silver earrings or pottery!! But I do cook a lot.


But about the taxis...I guess just walk away from the pier and find one in the street?/. I can always ask a local (if I find one!)) when I get off the ship....

If I find anything interesting, I will report back...

I do not need any more silver earrings or pottery!!

No I don't buy those things -lol

Food-ish stuff I bring home include: Mexican honey, toffee glazed nuts, vanilla, chocolate. I also really like some of the locally made body lotions or soaps, so usually grab a few of those. And each trip find one arts & crafts something. I collect shadow boxes. Like milagros. And have bought small framed paintings or collages. OK I did buy a few handblown glass hummingbirds last trip but gave those away as Christmas gifts. I also often buy fabric and ribbons.

If sufficient time, how about considering some cultural enrichment?
From mainland Playa del Carmen, take a taxi down to see the wonderful ruins at Tulum. Then do your shopping on your return to Cozumel, or Playa, where you'll have a much better selection. Think about it.

As far as farmacias go, unless you're looking to buy pain killers w/o a scrip, the bigger chains are just fine. So don't be worried about scare-mongering reports about fake drugs. Chains such as Ahorro, Guadalajara & Similares are perfectly safe. Ahorro & Similares often have a consultorio on site for super cheap if you need an antibiotic scrip. Personally, I buy Losartan for BP, wife on occasion generic Prozac (fluoxetina) for depression, both w/o a scrip for pennies on the dollar compared to US prices. Pain killers & antibiotics are pretty much the only meds you need a scrip for.
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Thanks to you both!!

That's very helpful about the meds. Do we know anything about Ozempic in farmacias? I'm not worried about fake medicines.

I don't know that much about Ozempic and costs in the states. But both Guadalajara's & Ahorro's websites show it available. Seems Guadalajara is a bit cheaper? When I'm drug shopping, I usually have to put in the código postal to see if it's in stock and at which store. Ahorro says no scrip necessary, Guadalajara says you do. Similares website shows an oral dose; again I don't know how effective that is.
http://www.farmaciasguadalajara.com/...&storeId=10151
https://www.fahorro.com/search/result/?q=ozempic

So don't be worried about scare-mongering reports about fake drugs.

I am not "scare mongering". I speak from experience about the fakey chain pharmacy store-fronts for things like a benzodiazapam.

Also not true. You don't need a prescription for antibiotics. I bought Amoxillan over the counter (from a legit pharmacy) on my last trip in Puerto Vallarta.

This article offers a good summary of prescription drug laws in Mexico, and antibiotics are classified as a schedule IV drug, for which you do indeed need a prescription to legally buy them. The law was enacted, ironically, to prevent the sale of fake drugs containing fentanyl or other controlled substances. This was copied from the second bullet point in the article: 'Buying antibiotics without a prescription from an illicit source puts you at risk of receiving counterfeit medications that may be ineffective or laced with dangerous substances like fentanyl.' So if a farmacia is selling prescription drugs w/o a scrip, they are breaking the law and may not be legitimate.
https://medx.it.com/are-antibiotics-...ions-and-risks

My cousin from DF is a dentist and he used to write us scripts for popular "recreational" drugs that we'd fill at some out of the way farmacia in out of the way places (out of the way back then, that is). I'm talking the late 1970s here!!

Clearly prescriptions are required for antibiotics but it seems enforcement is lax in Mexico. Very concerning as the overuse of antibiotics is a massive problem worldwide. Many "super bugs" are now impervious to antibiotic treatment making some infections effectively untreatable. Too many are popping antibiotics like sweeties for minor conditions like travellers diarrhoea, minor colds, sinusitis where the reality is that they have little to no effect.

It was not from an "illicit source". It was at a regular legit pharmacy that has been around 'forever' and is well-regarded. I took them for brochitis that developed during my last trip. Not "popping antibiotics like sweeties". I was quite sick, knew what I needed, they worked, and no I did not have a prescription or see a doctor to obtain them.

ek~ It's not the 70's anymore -hahaha

“knew what I needed" where did you complete your medical training?

ek~ It's not the 70's anymore -hahaha [/QUOTE]

Yes, my back knows that!!!

Not going to argue with you catch23. I know my body and I know what my doctors in Seattle prescribe when the same thing has happened in the past. I was fortunately able to repeat that course of medication in Mexico and fixed the problem without having to be hospitalized. I am sharing what happened and how I dealt with it. Isn't that the point of these forums?

ek ~ no kidding THAT!

I get what you're trying to say. But just the same, if they're selling schedule IV drugs to you w/o a prescription, they are very likely selling them to others. And that's illegal. One definition of illicit would be, 'not legally permitted or authorized, unlawful'. Whether it was a legit pharmacy or not, if they're engaging in illegal (illicit) activity, that sends up a huge red flag, especially given your concern about buying fake drugs. So far, there's been 306 views of this post so other readers need to know that buying antibiotics in Mexico w/o a prescription is illegal regardless of what your experience may have been.

I was trying to reply to: "Do we know anything about Ozempic in farmacias? I'm not worried about fake medicines."

And that I would not trust the sidewalk "pharmacies" that may have a sign out saying they offer Ozempic because it may or may not actually be that.

I'm not going to buy anything I am not sure about....

I remembered something I want to find, and buy, maybe at the main market in Cozumel; I have a few of these woven plastic bags and they are pretty great--I hope I can find some like this one:


Woven plastic bag, bought in Merida main food market