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Practical information : Treat yourself (& others) Mexico
Timetable
The opening hours of the shops may vary according to the season and the region. However, most shops open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 8pm. Shops close earlier in rural areas. In very touristy areas, shops often have extended opening hours during the high season and close on certain days during the low season. Local markets generally open every day from 7am until 9pm at the latest.
Budget & Tips
Mercados are always a good place to buy souvenirs and handicrafts at affordable prices. Of course, you'll find a lot of trinkets, but for the same quality, you'll be able to get away with less than you would in a tourist souvenir store. Credit cards are rarely accepted in the markets, so bring cash.
What's very local
Mexico has a very rich and colorful craft industry! You'll have no trouble finding beautiful pieces to bring back as souvenirs or to give as gifts on your return. If you can, buy your pieces directly from the artisans in the villages you visit, and pass them on to the local communities. You'll find some typical finds at the mercados . Among the most authentic handicrafts: alebrijes, wooden sculptures of fantastic creatures that are part of Mexican folklore; huipils, beautiful traditional garments adorned with embroidery and worn by indigenous women; hammocks, the finest of which are found in Mérida, on the Yucatán peninsula. In Mexico, you'll also find beautiful traditional jewelry in silver or amber (in Simojovel, Chiapas, where it is produced). And don't forget to bring back a bottle of tequila or mezcal.
Tourist traps
The main risk you run is buying fake crafts, especially from street vendors. This will not happen if you buy your pieces from an artisan or producer, which is why this practice is encouraged. If you are buying jewellery, be particularly careful: Taxco silver bracelets and necklaces may well be fake, as may amber, which is sometimes cut with other resins before being sold as pendants on market stalls.