Playa del Carmen Shopping Village


Since returning home from our Mexico trip, I've shared a couple posts about our adventures in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. This is the final roundup because the shopping village in Playa del Carmen is worth talking about.



On top of our resort in Playa del Carmen being gorgeous, I loved the fact that there was a safe village right outside the resort full of shops and restaurants! I also tried a fish foot spa for the first time (more details below)....



The locals were a little pushy about getting you into their shop but I was firm knowing what we needed and didn't. We definitely needed beach hats for all the sun we'd be taking in at the pool and our buggy adventures in Cozumel.



There were so many cute coffee shops and restaurants in the village but, since we were staying at an all-incisive resort, we were already caffeinated and our bellies full from breakfast.





I did a little bit of shopping for gifts and picked out the three souvenirs I always collect from new places we visit - a magnet, Christmas tree ornament, and a shot glass.





The local village dog needs a shout out. Rugged and unkempt but friendly and pleasant with all the tourists walking around. His village. No worries.



We really had no intentions of buying Tequila but this was one store K fell victim to, and after trying an amazing coffee tequila, we bargained a price and considered that K's "souvenir" from Mexico. 



While walking through the village, I noticed so many "fish spas" along the way and was really intrigued. I'd heard about them before but not really what the whole purpose of it was.



On our last day, I decided to try out the "fish pedicure" while the opportunity was there and for a bargain price. It's supposed to be 30 minutes but I negotiated a 10 minute run because I didn't want to sit there for so long and also didn't know if I'd like it.


A fish pedicure involves dipping your feet in water filled with small fish called Garra rufa. Garra rufa are sometimes referred to as “doctor fish” because they eat away dead skin found on peoples' feet, leaving newer skin exposed.


The results: I really enjoyed the fish foot pedicure. The fish have no teeth so it doesn't hurt but definitely tickles. After disinfecting my feet and putting them into the water, the fish went to work in all corners of my feet and toes. I enjoyed it and thanked K for being patient while I got some "spa treatment". I think he was intrigued too.


After the fish spa, and then returning to our hotel room to check out the results, my feet felt silky smooth and that was only 10 minutes of "fish time". I'd definitely try this again but probably in a more hygienic place in the US for the full 30 minutes.


And that's a wrap of all my adventures in Mexico.

14 comments

  1. We always get a tree ornament when we travel too!! How cool that you tried the fish pedicure - I really want to do that! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. What a fun place to go shopping! So many cute things!

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  3. I did the fish pedicure a few years ago in Malaysia! It does tickle. And in mine you moved from the smaller to the medium sized to the bigger fish if you could handle it!

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  4. What a fun place to shop. So many cute things. Not sure I would have been able to do that pedicure, although I do think its super neat. I'm afraid I would be too scared.

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  5. This place is cute! I collect shot glasses and coffee mugs wherever I go and I see some shot glasses I would totally grab. That fish pedicure is still so scary to me.

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  6. I love how colorful everything is down there! SO cute! And I've always wanted to try the fish pedicure but I was so worried about it tickling too much and I'm not even really ticklish! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  7. Again, just loving those bright colors you encountered! We love getting ornaments on vacations. Let's talk about that fish foot pedicure! How fun is that. My feet are so ticklish I probably would have been laughing the whole time! Such a fun and unique thing to do!

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  8. This sounds like a great morning spent walking around a market! We get almost the same exact souvenirs from trips, but we get a Starbucks mug instead of a shot glass. I've always wanted to try the fish spa, but never actually got around to doing it. I'm glad that you had a good experience with it!

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  9. How fun that you got to try one of those fish pedis! I've always wanted to try that. And as much as I love love love Punta Cana, I miss being able to walk into town for some shopping and exploring like you can in Mexico. Look at all those fun bright colors <3
    Green Fashionista

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  10. I need to find somewhere to do that fish soak! Though I am super ticklish during a regular pedi so I cant imagine...haha! I love all the beautiful colors in your pictures!!!! And someone hand me a bucket of beer and some nachos please!!!!

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  11. I love how colorful Mexico is! Taht fish pedicure sounds so cool. I have never heard of such a thing!

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  12. Ive always wanted to try the fish treatment!!! I just don't know how I would like them nibbling on me! Hahah it must feel weird!

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  13. I'm always so intrigued by the fish pedicure... my ticklish senses may be on overload though... lol!! I love all the bright colors in the shops - I feel like Kerri needs one of those skulls in her life! ;)

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  14. I kid you not, a friend of mine recently brought me back a shot glass just like one of those you have pictured! I collect shot glasses and friends bring them back for me when they go on trips.
    A fish spa would be quite the experience!

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