I am going to Cancun for a week this summer. I plan to hike to/around some of the Mayan sites while wife lays at the beach. In addition to carrying small pack with basic emergency needs and GOOD first aid kit, I was thinking of taking several SAKs for trade when bargaining at the roadside stands (I can get wholesale prices on SAKs). My thoughts are that a good quality knife might be a little harder to come by than gringo dollars.

Was also thinking about carrying something a little more substantial, like the Cold Steel Bushman. Decent steel, cheap, and big enough for the more serious emergencies. Would probably just trade it also, rather than bring back to states. (This would all go through checked baggage.)

Did a search on knife carry and Mexican law and couldn't find anything generally against, does anyone know any different? Any other helpful thoughts/hints? Good Mayan site suggestions?

Thanks all!

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Honestly...I think you are wasting your time. I've been to Cancun twice and each time...the dollar is king. It's a nice idea, but I really don't envision the shop keepers wanting to trade t-shirts for knives, and I am not quite sure they would know or even believe the claims of quality...but this is just my opinion.

I've been to the downtown market twice..I won't go back. It's crowded and seems to be an endless maze of small shops, each one pretty much containing the same thing as the last. We left one store, only to confronted by the next shop keeper who, no lie, said, "Come see my crap!" very enthusiastic, but not want you want to hear. If you go in one store, they will hound you to visit theirs, not enjoyable..at least for me.

Just flashing dollars can get you a deal. One store I wanted 4 shirts to take back..so I pretty much figured up how much I wanted to spend, got out the appropriate amount of $ and just told the guy, "I will give you this for 4 of those"..and he took it. Now think of the explaining you'll have to do in trying to trade the knife..just a thought.

Cancun was gorgeous, but not sure how it will look after the last hurricane..they got slammed pretty hard. I recommend the all-inclusive route. You can eat and drink all most 24 hours a day, very secure and awesome pools and beaches. I've stayed at Cancun Palace and can't remember the name of the other, have to look it up.

Have a great time and just remember to hold on if you take the bus into the city from Hotel Row...these guys drive like mad! and make sure you visit Senor Frogs..fun time.

I live in Mexicali, Baja Mexico, here any knife with a blade bigger than 2 inches it is considered a "Arma blanca" (white weapon), and you can get detained by the local police. Arma blanca it's a slang referring to objects with a sharp side that can be used to hurt people (knives, machetes, broken bottles, etc.). In fact, i carry a gerber compact sport that has a blade a little bigger than 2 inches, and a local cop that is a friend of mine told me i can get in trouble if someday they pull me over an check the multi tool. But until today i still havent been in trouble for wearing it in my belt', maybe i'm lucky or it's just a law that they don't usually apply.

Thanks, got the all inclusive. Was actually thinking the knives would be more for the local, out of the way stuff around Cobol and other small Mayan sites. But, like you said...cash is king!

One of the scariest rides I ever had was in a Mexican taxi. Small children and donkey carts did NOT have the right of way.

Thanks for that, a most cool web site.