Progreso Cruise Ship Terminal — Local services in Progreso

Skip the fake shops right by the dock/pier, and walk straight thru the mini mall out the back, to find the line for the FREE Buses to downtown. Take the bus into town to the local market. The bus drops you directly into middle of the downtown at the Bus Terminal, next door to the Mercado. There is a restroom right as you exit the bus, and hundreds of local venders, who can be a tiny bit harassing. You have several options from here. Shop in this immediate area for an hour or two. You can walk 3 blocks to the Beach (follow the Playa signs). Last, you can take a short $10 open air city bus tour. I try to support the small local venders, and I make sure to tip all the bus drivers. The downtown Mercado represents a authentic Mexican lifestyle. To the venders, just say no thank you several times and move on down to a new area. The FREE Bus picks you back up at the same place it dropped you off at. Please, support the locals in...

Definitely a tourist attraction. There's about a dozen shops but they all sell the same exact things and prices are the same so no point in trying to "shop around." You can haggle a little bit at some and try to get prices dropped but it doesn't always work. Outside of the terminal, going into Progresso, is scary. The walls looks like they're about to fall off. The shuttles have curtains covering the windows and for good reason, it's not a pretty ride into the city. The city is no really no better than the terminal, prices are too high and someone is trying to sell you something every time you turn around. You can't walk in piece without people trying to sell you stuff. It's a little annoying and not really worth it to me since the beach wasn't as pretty as I...

DO NOT SHOP HERE! Scammers and I should have known better!

Let me start with I should have known better with that said I was under the impression that the Jewlery stores in the port itself would be legit.  I purchased an emerald ring and some chocolate diamonds Jewlery. With limited time to get back to the ship they would send me the certificates of authenticity. The Jewlery was stamped 14k gold.   Came home and had them appraised and they are glass and silver. the name of the store was Black Diamonds.  It is in the port itself. fighting with credit card company now but so far no luck since I don’t have the certificates of authenticity. ​​​​​​​never had this happen...