🌴 Butterflies, Birthdays, Beach Access and Bank Deposits

TOGETHER WITH

🌴 Good morning Insiders! This year’s Buen Fin has wrapped up for the most part. I bravely attempted Liverpool but came away empty handed. If you found any really great deals this year, I’d be interested to hear about them. Hit reply and let me know!

In today’s Riviera Maya Insider:

• New cash deposit reporting for SAT

• Tracking Monarch butterflies

• Sundays free at Tulum ruins

• Price Reduced on Vacation Villa

All this and more brought to you with support from PA-STAY Property Management, Fintech Takes and The Daily Upside.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

📸 Our beautiful Photo of the Week was taken by Lorenzo Fagini, a former schoolmate of my children and apparently, a fine photographer. You can find him and his travels on Instagram @lorenzofagini.

📸 If you would like to see your photo featured here, follow and tag @rivieramayainsidermx on Instagram or send it to [email protected].

IN THE NEWS

News from the Riviera Maya and beyond. You don’t have to know everything—but you should know something. Here are a few stories that caught my eye in the news last week.

🚨 Protest Paralyzes Playa del Carmen
A major traffic shutdown unfolded near Centro Maya this week as residents from the San Judas Tadeo settlement blocked a major intersection in Playa del Carmen to protest the arrest of one of their community leaders. Authorities say he was detained on extortion charges; residents insist the accusations are false and tied to ongoing disputes over land, services, and community fees. The blockade drew hundreds, halted buses and private vehicles, and kept Playa at a standstill for over 3 hours.

🏗️ Crackdown on Illegal Developments in Quintana Roo
Real estate enforcement is ramping up across Quintana Roo. Sedetus has filed criminal complaints against rogue developers, issued more than 1.1 million pesos in fines, and publicly listed 116 projects operating without permits. With inspections expanded statewide — especially in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Isla Mujeres — the message is clear: the state is tightening control to protect buyers and rein in irregular land sales.

✈️ Tulum Air Show 2026 Cleared for Takeoff
Big things are coming to the skies over Tulum. Officials have confirmed that the Tulum Air Show 2026 will take place next Spring at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, bringing together the Mexican Air Force, civilian pilots, and international delegations for one of Quintana Roo’s largest public events to date. The four-day showcase will feature aerial demonstrations, paratrooper teams, and family-friendly exhibitions, with Italy as the guest nation. The event will highlight Mexico’s growing aviation sector while launching FAMEX 2027, a major defense and aerospace expo.

🌴 Playa del Carmen Celebrates 123 Years
Playa del Carmen just celebrated its 123rd anniversary, and this year’s ceremony was all heart. Mayor Estefanía Mercado honored the city’s Maya roots, the founding families who built the first homes on this coastline, and the community spirit that still defines Playa today. A newly uncovered 1902 document confirms when the name “Playa del Carmen” was first used, adding a fascinating layer to the city’s history. From chicle camps to a global destination, the celebration was a reminder of how far this place has come and the people who shaped it.

🌽 Mexico Launches Major Plan to Save Native Corn
Mexico has unveiled an ambitious new program, Corn is the Root, aimed at protecting native corn and supporting the 1.5 million small-scale farmers who still grow it. Beginning in 2026, the plan will bring region-specific machinery, technical support, and community-run processing equipment to producers across the southeast, including Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Campeche. As imports continue to rise and domestic production falls, this effort could reshape Mexico’s entire corn economy.

ICYMI

These were the most popular new stories from last week’s newsletter.

🚧 Tulum’s On-Again, Off-Again Bypass Project
If you’re confused about the long-promised Tulum Bypass, you’re not alone. After headlines claiming the billion-peso megaproject was canceled, local officials now insist it’s simply being reworked…

🏡 New Vacation Rental Rules Coming to Quintana Roo
If you own a vacation rental, or plan to book one through Airbnb or VRBO, new rules are on the horizon. State officials have finalized updates to Quintana Roo’s Tourism Law that include short-term rentals for the first time. ..

RIVIERA MAYA REAL ESTATE POWERED BY PA-STAY

🏝️ PA-STAY: Boutique Property Management Services

PA-STAY is locally owned, deeply rooted, and dedicated to giving Puerto Aventuras homeowners true peace of mind. With more than 15 years of experience living and managing properties within the community, this boutique agency specializes in personalized property management and professional condominium administration, offering clear communication, financial transparency, and dependable on-site support.

Their intentionally small portfolio allows for hands-on care tailored to each homeowner’s needs. PA-STAY also offers rental services—exclusively promoting properties within their own client base—to ensure consistent quality and trustworthy transactions. If you want expert management with a personal touch, PA-STAY is your team in Puerto Aventuras. For more information about their services contact [email protected].

🌴 PRICE REDUCED! Move in Ready Villa with Pool & Solar

If you're looking for a move-in ready home with personality, privacy, and proven ROI this charming 4-bedroom, 3-bath villa in Puerto Aventuras deserves your attention. This gorgeous villa belongs to a lovely family who are friends of mine—and avid RMI newsletter readers. I have been inside many times and I can tell you—someone will be very lucky to snap up this move-in-ready home that has been so thoughtfully designed and immaculately maintained.

Set on a generous 480 m² lot, this two-level home blends Mexican flair with modern comfort, all within the secure gated resort community. The ground floor has everything for easy living: a spacious living and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen with pantry, a large laundry room, and a guest bedroom. Additional living space has been created with a furnished lanai opening up to the tropical yard and private pool. Upstairs, you’ll find two bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill bath, plus the spacious primary suite with walk-in closet and en suite bathroom.

The home is fully equipped with central AC, ceiling fans, hurricane shutters and 28 solar panels. There is off-street parking for two vehicles. It’s being sold fully furnished and has an excellent vacation rental history. The sellers have reduced the price to an attractive $695,000 USD. Whatsapp 984 151 9763 for more info and to arrange a private showing.

EXPAT LIVING

Sharing local insights, practical tips, and community stories to help you feel at home in Mexico, no matter how long you’ve been here.

 💲 SAT Tracking Cash Deposits - What It Means for You

There’s been a wave of confusion online this week about supposed “new taxes” on large cash deposits in Mexico. Here’s what’s actually happening and how it might affect anyone living or working on the Riviera Maya.

SAT, Mexico’s tax authority, has confirmed that cash deposits over 15,000 MXN per month trigger automatic reporting by banks. This is not a new tax, nor is it a fee charged by your bank. It’s actually part of an existing legal framework under the Income Tax Law (ISR), which gives SAT the authority to monitor cash-heavy activity that may indicate undeclared income or financial irregularities.

What is new is the agency’s renewed emphasis on oversight, including a 3% surcharge on the amount that exceeds the 15,000 peso threshold. This is not applied to electronic transfers (SPEI, TEF), debit transactions, or mobile payments, only cash physically deposited into bank accounts.

So, if someone deposits 26,000 MXN in cash in a single month, the excess amount (11,000 MXN) may incur a 3% charge, which equals 330 MXN.

Banks are legally obligated to report these movements to SAT. If deposits don’t align with your declared income, SAT may request documentation showing where the cash came from, especially for individuals who frequently exceed the threshold. This is part of Mexico’s broader effort to reduce tax evasion, money laundering, and untraceable cash circulation.

For most residents, tourists, and small property owners, this won’t change everyday life. But if you accept cash for rentals, services, or business activity, it’s important to:

• Keep proof of all income
• Use electronic transfers for large payments
• Avoid repeated high-value cash deposits

SAT stresses that the goal is transparency, not punishment. Still, keeping your accounts clean and consistent is the best way to avoid an unpleasant audit.

🗺️ Free Sundays at the Tulum Archaeological Site

If you are overdue for a day trip to the iconic Tulum ruins, this is your moment. As part of a nationwide policy from the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), the government has confirmed that Mexican citizens and legal foreign residents are granted free entry on Sunday to the Tulum archaeological zone.

This policy follows Mexican federal law (Art. 288 of the Ley de Derechos Federales) and aligns with other major historical and cultural sites in Mexico where admission is typically free for nationals and legal residents on Sundays. Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City and other INAH-managed sites follow the same pattern, fostering accessibility and cultural inclusion.

Of course, due to this policy, Sundays tend to be the busiest day as locals take advantage of the free pass. We suggest arriving early to avoid the crowds and be sure to bring your proof of residency or INE if you’re a citizen. Expect bigger crowds but don’t let that deter you from seizing the opportunity to explore one of the Mexican Caribbean’s most stunning archaeological wonders without the entrance fee.

Tip: Visit the ruins in the morning then enjoy the beach through one of Tulum’s new free access points. Read more below….

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🏖️ Discover Tulum’s New Free Beach Access Points

Tulum’s beaches are officially open to everyone again. With clearly marked, year-round access points, enjoying them just got easier. Following public demand and federal support for free coastal access, the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat has confirmed four new official entryways to Tulum’s shoreline, ensuring residents, nationals, and international visitors can reach the sand without fees or confusion.

Two of these new access points are located inside Parque del Jaguar, connecting directly to Playa Santa Fe, Playa Pescadores, Playa Maya, Playa Mangle, and a fifth smaller stretch of beach. All are reachable, walking, running or cycling, for free via improved internal paths. These routes are open daily and maintained as part of the park’s environmental and cultural preservation plan.

The traditional entrance to Parque del Jaguar has also received upgrades including wider walking paths, better signage, and new rest areas. Governor Mara Lezama says twenty new directional signs are being installed between Federal Highway 307 and the beaches, so visitors can find public entry points easily and confidently.

Two additional entrances acessing Playa Conchita and Playa del Pueblo, sit along the coastal road, offering clean, safe, family-friendly spots with trash separation, restrooms, and official surveillance. This marks a major win for the community, which has long pushed for public access points not tied to hotels or private beach clubs. These wide clear access points also seem to be a great way to get machinery on and off the beach during sargassum season.

Whether you’re a local or visiting from abroad, you can now enjoy Tulum’s iconic shores as they were meant to be: free, open, and welcoming to all.

🦋 Monarch Butterflies Take a New Route Through the Yucatán

Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies make their epic 4,000-kilometer journey from Canada and the U.S. to central Mexico—but new research shows their route may be expanding. After years of monitoring, local conservation group Alas Mayas has confirmed that the Yucatán Peninsula is now part of the monarch’s migratory map, with butterflies not only passing through but reproducing here for the first time.

Monarchs tagged in North America have been tracked flying through Celestún, Holbox, Cancún, and Isla Mujeres—and in some cases, continuing on to Cuba. On Isla Mujeres, researchers have recorded every stage of their life cycle: egg, larva, chrysalis, and adult. It’s an extraordinary discovery that places the Mexican Caribbean on the radar of scientists and nature lovers alike.

Using new solar-powered micro-transmitters, researchers can now trace individual butterflies along their routes in real time, building a clearer picture of how climate, wind, and habitat shape their migration. Community scientists across Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo are helping by logging sightings, turning curiosity into conservation.

DO GOOD RIVIERA MAYA

Looking for a way to give back or get involved in your community? There is always some GOOD to do! Let us connect you with reputable non-profit organizations and charities working in the Riviera Maya.

💟 Join the Puerto Aventuras Gratitude Chain

Every November, the students of Colegio Puerto Aventuras invite the community to take part in one of the most uplifting local traditions — the annual Gratitude Chain. This heartwarming event celebrates the month’s core value of gratitude and brings neighbors, families, and friends together in a simple but powerful act of appreciation.

Throughout the month, the students hand out red, white, and green ribbons, asking everyone to write a message of thanks, hope, or positivity. On Thanksgiving Day, these ribbons are linked together to form a colorful Gratitude Chain that stretches around the Puerto Aventuras marina—a symbol of community spirit and connection.

Students parade from the school to the marina carrying banners filled with positive messages. As they arrive, the chain grows longer, linking ribbon after ribbon until it winds along the waterfront. Each loop represents a shared intention of kindness and appreciation. The energy is contagious, and watching the chain stretch around the marina is truly inspiring.

How can you help?
Community members are encouraged to pick up ribbons from Colegio Puerto Aventuras, share them with friends and neighbors, and return them before Thanksgiving to be part of this year’s chain. You can also come to the marina on the day of the event to write your message and help extend the chain even farther.

The goal? To one day have the Gratitude Chain encircle the entire marina — and maybe this will be the year! After the event, the colorful chains are reused as Christmas decorations at the school, carrying the season’s gratitude right into the holidays.

¿QUE PASA? SPONSORED BY FINTECH TAKES

Your go-to roundup of local events, festivals, and happenings—so you’ll always know what’s going on and where to be in the Riviera Maya.

2nd Sustainability Forum for Quintana Roo
November 19 | Moon Palace Resort | Cancun | 8:30 AM - 4 PM

Ladies Who Lunch
November 20 | The Divot | Puerto Aventuras | 12:30 PM

H2OH Residents’ Sunset Cruise for Charity
November 20 | Gran Marina | Puerto Aventuras | Leaves at 6 PM

Women's Amateur Latin America Golf Tournament
November 20 - 23 | PGA Riviera Maya | Tulum Country Club

4th Annual Octopus Festival
November 21 & 22 | Various Locations in Rio Lagartos

The Addams Family - The Musical (Spanish)
November 22 & 23 | Teatro de la Ciudad ‘Xaman Ha’ | Playa del Carmen

Ironman Cozumel 2025
November 23 | Cozumel | 7 AM Start

H2OH Residents’ Sunset Cruise for Charity
November 27 | Gran Marina | Puerto Aventuras | Leaves at 6 PM

Ch’i’bal Soundfest 2025 ft. Lila Downs
November 28 & 29 | Parque Fundadores | Playa del Carmen | 7 PM

The Chalky Challenge One-Man Show
December 1 | Nauti Burro | 4:30 PM

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4th Annual Playa Food for Families Fundraiser
December 3 | Buzo’s Restaurant | Playa del Carmen | 6 - 8 PM

H2OH Residents’ Sunset Cruise for Charity
December 4 | Gran Marina | Puerto Aventuras | Leaves at 6 PM

Feria Trendy Artisans Market
December 6 | PA Bandstand | Puerto Aventuras | 5 - 9 PM

Puerto Aventuras Tree Lighting & Christmas Choir
December 6 | PA Bandstand | Puerto Aventuras | 7 PM

Tulum Half-Marathon 2025
December 7 | Explanada del Palacio Municipal | Tulum

Intl. Philharmonic Orchestra - Tribute to Williams & Zimmer
December 10 | Teatro de la Cuidad ‘Xaman Ha’ | Playa del Carmen | 7PM, 9PM

Final H2OH Residents’ Sunset Cruise for Charity
December 11 | Gran Marina | Puerto Aventuras | Leaves at 6 PM

Paamul Art Show & Sale Benefitting Seaside Rotary
December 13 & 14 | Locations TBA | 12 - 5 PM | Info to come

The Nutcracker Ballet
December 20 | Teatro de la Ciudad ‘Xaman Ha’ | Playa del Carmen

Feria Trendy Artisans Market Christmas Edition
December 20 & 21 | PA Bandstand | Puerto Aventuras | 5 - 9 PM

Do you have information about an upcoming event that you would like to see shared on Riviera Maya Insider? Let us know by replying to this email.

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