🌴 Chichen Itza Reopens But Loses Two Iconic Residents

🌴 Good morning, Insiders!

We are back from our whirlwind road trip to Chiapas! We explored amazing archeaological sites, strolled through charming colonial cities and best of all, got away from the heat … at least for a few days. Now, we are back home and at back at it!

In today’s email you will find:

All this and much more, plus the Riviera Maya Events Calendar are brought to you with support from our Featured Sponsor Timeless Beauty.

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📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at Los Rapidos in Bacalar. The first reader to guess correctly was Cym M. Well done!

This week’s photo is more of a “Where Was I?”… IYKYK and weren’t we the lucky ones to experience it.

Where am I today? Reply back with your best guess. Be the first reader to guess correctly and look for your name in next week’s newsletter! If you are reading online, pop me a quick email!

🐾 Chichén Itzá Loses Its Two Most Faithful Guardians
Chichén Itzá is mourning “El Wero” and “Tomasita,” two rescued dogs who became familiar companions to custodians, workers and visitors at the archaeological site. El Wero arrived sick in 2019 but went on to lead a small pack of dogs through the ruins, even becoming known for a memorable climb up the Temple of Kukulkán. Tomasita was quieter, often resting near informational plaques. Both were cherished buy site workers and local guides. Among the stones, temples, two loyal little guardians have earned their place in the history of the Yucatan. Read more

🐾 New Rules for Playa’s Dog Beach
Playa 72, Playa del Carmen’s designated dog beach, now has stricter rules for pet owners. Under newly published municipal regulations, dogs must be healthy, leashed, and under control while using both the access path and the beach. The changes come after complaints about off-leash dogs, safety concerns, and poor owner behavior. Fines may now apply, with unpaid penalties referred for collection. The good news: dogs are still welcome but pet owners must use the space responsibly, or risk losing what little dog-friendly beach access Playa has. Read more

✈️ Volaris Booking Notice Raises Eyebrows
A Volaris booking notice is getting attention from travelers in Mexico after several passengers reported seeing a pop-up limiting some unaccompanied travelers aged 60 or older to nonstop flights or single-connection itineraries with layovers of 2 to 4 hours. The airline does offer an optional assistance service for passengers over 60, but Mexican aviation rules do not appear to require age-based travel restrictions for healthy adults. Until Volaris explains the notice publicly, older solo travelers may want to check itineraries carefully before booking. Learn more

✈️ Tulum Airport Traffic Slows as Airlines Cut Routes
Tulum’s international airport is seeing a sharp slowdown after two years of high expectations. Passenger traffic is down in early 2026, with international arrivals falling 34% in the first quarter and several airlines cutting routes or suspending service altogether. Experts point to weaker demand, high transportation costs from the airport, sargassum, security concerns and Tulum’s overall pricing as factors. The airport is still an important gateway for the southern Riviera Maya, but expectations are shifting. For now, Cancún remains the region’s dominant air hub. Read more

⛵ Progreso Plans Mexico’s First “Nautical City”
A major new marina development could reshape Progreso’s future. Yucatán Marina Club, an 8-billion-peso project planned for Yucalpetén, would combine waterfront housing, boat slips, restaurants, a hotel, shops, public spaces and a museum dedicated to the port’s history. Developers say the project will bring thousands of jobs and help position Progreso as an international nautical hub. But with canals, artificial lakes, marinas and residential towers planned near sensitive coastal ecosystems, the big question is whether Yucatán can build around the sea without repeating old environmental mistakes. Learn more

⚽ Mexico Launches World Cup Travel App
Mexico has launched México Invita, a free bilingual app designed to help visitors explore the country during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Available for iPhone and Android, the app includes host city information, tourism routes, Pueblos Mágicos, events, emergency contacts, roadside assistance, Profeco support, and travel ideas across all 32 states. Learn more

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We’re definitely seeing a shift in the market right now. Properties are sitting longer, sellers are becoming more flexible, and buyers finally have a bit of leverage again. For anyone who has been waiting for the “maybe now is the time” moment… this could be it.

Especially for cash-ready buyers, there are some genuinely interesting opportunities popping up right now across the Riviera Maya. These are not distressed fire sales, but several sellers have recently reduced prices in order to move properties in a slower market.

Here are 10 listings worth a closer look 👇

If one of these catches your eye, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to answer questions, get you more details, or connect you directly with the listing agents.

At some point, everyone who lives in Mexico learns the phrase no hay sistema. The system is down. The internet is out. The terminal is not working. The bank app is frozen. The payment platform is unavailable. Nobody knows when it will be back.

It can happen at the bank, the pharmacy, the government office, Oxxo, the gas station, or exactly two minutes before you need to pay something important.

The best way to handle it is not panic, rage, or a craft a strongly worded Facebook post about Mexican inefficiency. It’s preparation.

Keep some cash on hand, especially during storm season when power and internet outages are more common. Take screenshots of important payment confirmations, appointment details, reservation numbers, and QR codes before you leave home. Don’t wait until the last possible day to pay CFE, Telmex, immigration fees, property taxes, or anything involving a government portal.

It also helps to have more than one bank card, a working Mexican phone number, and printed copies of key documents for those moments when the digital world decides to take a little siesta. Also, know what all your payment options are so you are not relying on just one.

Living here is easier when you build in a margin for the unexpected. Sometimes the answer really is no hay sistema. The trick is making sure your whole day does not fall apart when it happens.

You’ve saved $1.5M. Now the real test: can it generate $10K/month, or will it run dry?

Most retirees find out too late.

It’s not just what you have. It’s whether your portfolio can pay you.

Taxes, timing, and the 4% rule all matter.

If you have $1M+, do not guess.

Learn More

If Chichén Itzá was on your Yucatán travel list and you put those plans on hold, you can move it back into the “go” column.

The iconic archaeological site reopened this week after a 13-day closure tied to a dispute over how visitors enter the site and where vendors will be allowed to sell. The issue centered on the new Centro de Atención a Visitantes, or CATVI, a visitor access point designed to reorganize tourism services at one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological zones.

For local sellers from Pisté and nearby communities, the concern was visibility and income. If tourist traffic shifts away from the traditional entrance, so does the chance to sell. Vendors argued that their livelihoods were at risk and that an important piece of local heritage was being pushed aside.

That argument gets a little murky around the language of “artisans” and cultural preservation. There are certainly local Maya vendors offering handmade pieces and regional crafts. There is also, as anyone who has walked through the site knows, plenty of mass-produced merchandise that likely came from much farther away than Yucatán. The heritage argument is compelling, but it is not quite as clean as it sounds.

After negotiations between INAH, Yucatán state officials, the municipality of Tinum, and vendor representatives, an agreement was reached. Visitors will now enter through the CATVI, while registered sellers already inside the archaeological zone will be reorganized rather than removed. We saw a similar logistical shift last week at Palenque in Chiapas.

So, if you have visited Chichén Itzá before, the experience may look a little different. But the reason people make the trip has not changed. Chichén Itzá remains one of the most remarkable places to stand face-to-face with Maya history.

Last weekend, Sabor a Mar brought together some of the town’s strongest culinary voices together in the Ventana al Mar to help celebrate Navy Day and the municipality’s 10th anniversary.

Chefs from Punta Corcho, El Huerto del Puerto, Origen | Cocina de Brasa & Playa, Pecao Fonda de Mar, Muelle Once, and Mar-Bella brought their A-game all weekend and stood long hours in the heat, greeting visitors with smiles and delicious dishes.

Of course, we were there too and did our best to try as many of the culinary offerings as we could! There were so many tasty bites but the real surprise was the clam showder from Muelle Once. I’d come back just for that!

Mexican cuisine has never been shy about flavor, texture or making excellent use of what the land provides. That includes insects, which have been part of the Mexican diet since long before foodies and chefs starting considering them “trendy” or “sustainable.”

🦗 Chapulines are the easiest entry point. These toasted grasshoppers are usually seasoned with garlic, lime, salt and chile, and you’ll occassionally find street vendor in Playa selling them from big metal buckets outside convenience stores. They are crunchy, salty, tangy and a little addictive once you get past the mental hurdle. Think of them as Mexico’s original bar snack.

🐜 Then there are chicatana ants, which appear with the first rains, usually between May and July. In Oaxaca, they are toasted on a comal and ground into smoky, earthy salsas served with tortillas, tlayudas or grilled meats. They’re seasonal, labor-intensive to collect and increasingly treated like a gourmet ingredient. We found them just last week in a market in Chiapas.

🪱 Escamoles are another classic worth knowing. Sometimes called “Mexican caviar,” these are ant larvae traditionally harvested from the roots of maguey plants. You’ll most often find them sautéed with butter, onion and epazote, and served in warm tortillas. The flavor is delicate, nutty and rich, with a soft texture that is much more elegant than most people expect. My favorite spot for escamole in Restaurante 1810 in Queretaro.

Beyond the novelty, these foods are part of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic culinary heritage and remain an important source of protein, iron, calcium and other nutrients. They also tell a story about regional cooking that is practical, seasonal and deeply connected to place.

So, if you run across chapulines in a market, a chicatana salsa on a menu, or escamoles during the right season, try them. Start with a small taco if you need to. No one is asking you to replace chips and salsa forever. But some of Mexico’s most interesting flavors come from the things visitors are most likely to hesitate over.

Be brave. You could be eating the food of the future!

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This is just a small selection of the events and fun activities going on in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras and all along the Riviera Maya this month! You can find the entire interactive events calendar by clicking any on the listings below.

• June 3: Swan Lake – Russian Ballet of St. Petersburg at Teatro de la Ciudad, Playa del Carmen ($)

• June 5: Fernando Delgadillo en Cancún at Teatro Álamos, Cancún ($)

• June 6: Marina Day Regatta 2026 at the Puerto Aventuras Sailing Club

• June 6 - 7: Isla Mujeres Pickleball Tournament at Domo IEEA, Isla Mujeres

• June 7: Puerto Aventuras Coral Festival 2026 at Colegio Puerto Aventuras

• June 7: Feria Trendy in Puerto Aventuras

• June 10: Pop-Up Dinner with Chef Umberto at KI Restaurant, Ojo de Agua Beach Club, Puerto Morelos ($)

• June 12: Isla Mujeres Artisan Fair at Paseo de la Trigueña, Isla Mujeres

• June 12: Together for Cuba: A String Quartet Concert for a Cause at Paamul Community Center Palapa ($)

• June 13: GRILL ME: Texas Smoking Lab at Colegio Puerto Aventuras ($)

• June 13: Thai Fest at Mayakoba – 8th Edition at Banyan Tree Mayakoba ($)

• June 16 - 17: Playa del Carmen Grill Fest at Parque Fundadores, Playa del Carmen

• June 20 - 21: Taste Puerto Aventuras at various restaurants in Puerto Aventuras ($)

• June 21: Nohoch Father's Day Bike Race at Central Park, Puerto Aventuras

• June 29: Happy Hour Lotería at Latitude 20°, Puerto Aventuras ($)

📆 Did you know you can also submit your own event to appear on the calendar? Give it a try! The more people who use it, the better it gets.

To access the full list of Riviera Maya events and happenings for this week and beyond, click on the link below!

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Thanks for reading Riviera Maya Insider! Let’s chat again next Tuesday!

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