371 Best Places to Shop in Mexico

Associated with the funky Cabo Wabo bar, Waboutique sells memorabilia, excellent tequila, and souvenirs such as baseball hats, shot glasses, and mugs with the Cabo Wabo logo.

As in the United States, Walmart is a popular place to pick up beach supplies, snacks, and necessities you forgot to pack.

Nearly 60 local women are part of this beading cooperative, which creates handcrafted jewelry and sells it for a very reasonable price. It’s worth the drive to the middle of the island to see these talented artisans at work.

Xinqeño is a little shop that sells its own brand of mole made from a wonderful recipe. Both this branch and the one on the Carretera Coatepec (near the entrance to town), sell the same thing.

If your idea of souvenirs is fine chocolate, stop here and browse the delectables, some made on the premises, others imported from Mexico's cacao-producing state, Tabasco. You can also have tea, coffee, or, of course, hot chocolate at one of the shop's small tables.

This friendly shop carries a seemingly limitless supply of traditional masks, figurines, and other pieces of Mexican folk art, like amate (paper made of tree bark). You'll see a lot of iconic cultural imagery, like the sagrado corazón (flaming sacred heart) and calavera (Day of the Dead skull). Owner Manuel Martínez, who passionately took the reins from his father, founder Zenon Martínez (hence the name), has a particular penchant for masks and travels the country finding the most interesting ones to stock. There's something for everyone, with prices starting at around $5 and, based on size and rarity, going up into the hundreds.

This contemporary gallery features fine pieces of jewelry, clothing, painting, and sculpture. Every artwork is from a renowned artist, such as Italian Alessandro Alpiani or Mexican Rodrigo Lara.

Near the north end of Banderas Bay, Hikuri is run by a British couple who pay asking prices to their Huichol suppliers and employ indigenous workers in the adjoining carpentry and screen-printing shops. The workers initially have little or no experience, and the training and jobs here give them a leg up to move on to more profitable work. The excellent inventory includes large and small fine yarn paintings, beaded bowls and jewelry, and feathered prayer wands. An on-site patio restaurant called Abalón (closed Wednesday and 2–6 pm) is another good reason to visit, for its international dishes and sometimes live music.

Yes, it has tequila, but it also has wines from Chile, California (Gallo), and Spain; imported vodka and other spirits; and the cheapest beer around. You'll find it across from IMSS (Mexican Social Security Agency).

It's DIY chic here. You choose the colorful, cotton, triangular sash of your liking, miraculously transforming pretty but baggy dresses into flattering and stylish frocks. The color palette is truly inspired, although the selection for men is limited.

The area's first large supermarket, just south of Flamingos Country Club, is almost as convenient for people in Bucerías as for those in Nuevo Vallarta. It has the full range of grocery, liquor, deli items, and more.