Hammocks are sold in markets across Mexico and are one of the mainstay products in a range of Mexican handicrafts. Most of the hammocks you buy in Mexico will emanate from the Yucatán region, woven using hand-looms situated in towns and villages surrounding the beautiful colonial city of Mérida.
Investing in a good hammock
There is some debate about where and how hammocks came into being, although it seems likely that hammocks arrived in Mexico from the Caribbean, long before the Spanish landed on the shores of present-day Veracruz.
Mexican hammocks are woven in a variety of colors and patterns, although not all hammocks are created equal: there are certain features which need to be considered closely if you are going to procure a hammock that will last you and be comfortable to lie in.
The wide-weave nylon hammocks will be the least expensive, possibly around $300-$500 pesos; cotton and other natural fibers (where available) with a tight weave will be more expensive, starting from $800-$1,000 pesos or more.
Tips to help you buy your Mexican hammock
When you invest in a decent hammock, you’ll take home a hanging bed that will be a real pleasure to use, and provide years of restful service. Generally speaking, the higher the price, the better the quality—although as with all trades in Mexico, price is subject to negotiation.
Here are some tips to help as you choose a hammock to invest in:
Choosing your material
Hammocks are woven in a variety of materials, but only nylon and cotton are widely available. Other traditional materials that may be used for hammock-making include hemp and sansevieria.
Nylon hammocks are the least comfortable, especially in the heat, but if you live in a damp climate they will be the longest-wearing; the key then is to ensure you buy a closely-woven nylon hammock (see weave, below).
Cotton is the most comfortable material that is widely available, and if you really want a hammock made from a natural fiber like sanseveria, you’ll likely have to order it locally: check online for traders and options—some shops might ship their products to you if you can’t attend the store locally.
Check the weave and the thickness of the material
Most hammocks are twisted and folded when they are hung on display for sale. It’s essential when considering a purchase to take the hammock down, untwist it, and stretch the material out to check the weave.
Cheaper hammocks have a wide weave and are made from thinner threads. Whichever material you choose, if you choose a wide weave, the hammock will not be comfortable for anything other than brief periods of rest.
When you compare hammocks, choose the one with the tightest weave for the most comfort: the “gaps” between the fibers should be narrow. A tightly-woven hammock will provide excellent body support and enable you to rest for hours on your hanging bed.
Check the workmanship
Check the ends of the weaves; ensure that the fibers are woven well, and that the ends are elegantly finished without any loose ends or strands hanging out. Ensure that the materials are in good condition and not worn, damaged, or frayed.
Choose your merchant
Good quality hammocks are available for purchase across Mexico, although if you’re determined to get something quite special, you’ll need to visit a specialist hammock merchant in Mérida or purchase online.
Some online purchase options
- General search for hammocks on Google
- Hammocks advertised on Amazon Mexico
- Hammocks advertised on Mercado Libre
Ambulant vendors
You might come across ambulant vendors offering hammocks for sale, but be sure to check the material used as well as the weave and thickness of the threads especially as ambulant vendors tend to carry the cheaper versions instead of the more expensive varieties, although some vendors do offer the higher quality and more expensive ones too.
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When you first get into a hammock, CUIDADO! I set ours up over a concrete floor. I sat on it from the side and leaned back to put a leg into it. It spun me out on to my head and flipped my legs over the front of my body, wrenching my 74-year-old neck. Better to straddle the hammock first.
I just bought two hammocks in Baja and they are unusable. They have wide spaces (didn’t read this until later) and if you get in them, you will drop to the ground. Is there a way to fix them to make them usable?
We bought a couple of Sanseviera hammocks at
Casa De Las Artesanias. 1275 pesos for matrimonial size.
Below from yacatanliving.com
hammocks today are not made of sisal, since this fiber is very crude and scratches your body. True enough, some years ago, self-sufficient farmers would make their hammocks of that fiber, but no longer… and today, never for commercial sale.
All good, accommodating hammocks today are made from different threads of cotton. More Weather-resistant hammocks are made from artificial threads, such as nylon, but they are not so comfortable, especially when the weather is hot.
In the village of Euan, there is a small production of hammocks made from the fibers of the plant lengua de vaca or sansiviera. This fiber looks like sisal, but is much softer, and you really have to search for them to find one.
Never ,had a bad mex hammock check hanging width
I have exactly the same issue with the hammock I bought from Merida Hammocks.
I would love to hear how to remedy the issue. I’m ready to pitch it and get a hammock with the wood bars at each end, which is the only solution I can think of.
I have a new mexican hammock (a present). when I strung it up this summer and tried to hop in, the middle (width-wise, not length-wise) of the hammock was up and the ends (sides) hung down, I was so disappointed. Anyone got any ideas on how to rectify this? I have pulled and pushed at the ends going into the end loops, with limited success.
Had the same problem, I hung it lower and it helped a bit, but it doesn’t solve the problem completely. Also, mine smells, really bad. If I touch it, the odour stays on my hands…
Don’t worry, your hammock is fine. You’re just not using it properly. You must lie at a diagonal position, across the hammock sort of at a 45 degree angle and your body will lie flat in the trough created.