Mayan Artisan Shopping Trail
Meet the makers. Discover the craft.
The way we see it
Take home more than a souvenir. Take home a story. Francisco Uh May sits on the road between Tulum and Cobá, part of a craft corridor where local families work textiles, thread, wood and other materials into handmade pieces and objects for the home. We drive you there privately, you browse the shops at your own pace and buy straight from the people who sell them, and, when they are at work, from the hands that make them.
Why we recommend it
Not everything you bring home fits in a suitcase. This is a shopping outing with local identity: a hammock for the terrace, a hanging lamp for the villa, a dreamcatcher for someone back home. The route follows what you are looking for, from small gifts to statement pieces.
What you’ll discover
- Dreamcatchers
- Looms and handwoven textiles
- Woven curtains
- Hammocks
- Hanging lamps
- Macramé
- Ceramics and talavera
- Baskets
- Woodwork
- Handmade furniture
- Mirrors and decorative objects
- Textiles and home accessories
- Small gifts and keepsakes
From small keepsakes to large pieces for a house or a villa. Products and designs vary by shop, and some pieces come from other regions of Mexico.
What's included
- Private round-trip transportation from your villa or hotel
- A vehicle and driver for your group alone
- A route through the artisan shops of Francisco Uh May
- One hour to browse and shop
- Stops chosen around what you want to find
The price is per vehicle, not per person. The final rate depends on your pickup point, passengers, vehicle and time. Your purchases are paid directly at each shop.
Getting there
Approximate one-way driving time to Francisco Uh May, depending on traffic and where you stay.
Total time with one hour of shopping
- Tulum · About 2 h
- Akumal · About 2 h 50
- Puerto Aventuras · About 3 h 30
- Playa del Carmen · About 4 h 20
Make it your own
Add a stop on the same road. Each one is quoted separately.
- Cobá Archaeological Site · a visit to the ruins of Cobá
- SFER IK Uh May · the museum of art and architecture in the same village
- Local food stop · regional cooking at a local restaurant
- Extra shopping time · more time to keep exploring the shops
Entrance fees, meals and drinks are paid separately.
Shopping tips
- Cash: bring some to buy directly from the artisans
- Currency: many shops take Mexican pesos and US dollars; pesos give you a better rate
- Cards: several shops accept credit cards, some only cash
- Wrapping: many artisans wrap purchases in plastic; fragile pieces may need your own packing
- Large items: furniture, big lamps or bulky pieces? Tell us before the day so we plan room in the vehicle
- Flying home: check your airline’s size, weight and extra-baggage rules before you buy
Ideal for
Anyone decorating a house or a villa, families looking for gifts with a story, and travelers who want to take a piece of the Riviera Maya home.
Pairs well with
Write to us and we confirm availability and the details for your date, your group and where you start. Here you have Lau and Fede.