🌴 Earthquake Shakes the Riviera Maya

🌴 Good morning, Insiders!

Did you feel the “earth move under your feet” yesterday? Our little household missed it entirely while others got the “shake rattle and roll” for almost a minute. Never a dull moment down here!

In today’s email you will find:

All this, plus the Riviera Maya Events Calendar are brought to you with support from our Featured Sponsor Launa Brockman with Paradise Professional Services.

For the very best newsletter experience, choose the option above to Read Online.

— Michele Kinnon

Private hospitals in Playa del Carmen and Cancun can provide excellent care. They can also require significant payment up front — especially in emergencies.

When someone faces an unexpected surgery, ICU stay, or serious accident without coverage, the financial pressure is immediate. The challenge is timing. Private hospitals typically require a credit card and proof of ability to pay before admission. Without proper insurance, friends and family are often forced to turn to crowdfunding to help cover costs. Donations take time — time you may not have.

Public hospitals in Mexico serve an important role, but they are frequently operating at capacity and may have limited resources. Depending solely on availability in an emergency is not a strategy most expats are comfortable with.

The right health insurance policy offers access and options when something serious happens and can protect you from an unexpected financial hit.

Launa Brockman with Paradise Professional Services works with expats to structure coverage that fits life in Mexico, whether that’s comprehensive private insurance, catastrophic-only protection, or supplemental options.

👉 Review your health insurance strategy with Launa: [email protected]

Planning ahead is easier than scrambling during a crisis.

Many patients prepare for the procedure itself — but not recovery afterward. HealFast provides physician-formulated nutritional support designed specifically for surgical recovery.

Prepare to Heal

📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at Chamicos on Soliman Bay. Our sweet friend Patti W. recognized it immediately. Well done!

Where am I today? Hint: We were there for a food festival last weekend. 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!

🌎 Caribbean Quake Felt Across the Riviera Maya
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake off western Cuba was felt across parts of Quintana Roo on Monday, including Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal. The shaking was brief, but it prompted precautionary evacuations at some hotels, public buildings, and airport areas while authorities checked for damage. No major injuries or structural problems were reported during this unusual seismic event. Read more

🐾 Planning to Bring Your Dog to Mexico? Not So Fast
A new USDA APHIS advisory has temporarily halted the export of pet dogs from the United States to Mexico after screwworm was detected in Texas. The restriction affects travelers planning to cross the border or fly into Mexico with dogs, and there is no clear timeline yet for when normal pet travel will resume. For now, check with USDA APHIS before attempting to bring any pet south. Learn more

📱 Mexico’s Cell Phone Registration Gets Messier
Mexico’s mandatory cell phone registration deadline is approaching, and the rollout is already raising privacy concerns. While many users still have not registered, some Movistar, Izzi, and AT&T customers report their lines were linked to their CURP or passport information without express consent.The government says the program is aimed at reducing crimes tied to anonymous phone numbers, but questions about personal data use are growing. Read more

⚽ World Cup Watch Parties Come With a Price
Bars and restaurants across the Riviera Maya were hoping the 2026 World Cup would bring a much-needed bump in sales, but legal broadcast fees may complicate those plans. Commercial licenses reportedly start around 15,000 pesos for smaller venues and rise based on capacity. This puts “watch parties” out of reach for many local businesses already struggling through low season. Showing matches without authorization is risky, with inspections and fines possible for unauthorized broadcasts or use of FIFA branding. Read more

🐢 Sea Turtle Season Starts Strong in Akumal
Akumal’s 2026 sea turtle nesting season is off to a promising start, with 53 protected nests recorded in May by monitoring teams. Most belong to loggerhead turtles, with green turtle nests also appearing in key areas like Bahía Akumal, Playa Tortuga, and Akumal Sur. As more females arrive through the summer, conservation teams are asking residents, visitors, and beachfront businesses to respect marked nesting zones, avoid lights and flashes at night, and keep their distance. Learn more

⚽ Tulum Turns the World Cup Into a Beach Event
Tulum is getting in on the World Cup action with Soccer Beach Tulum, a private beach-viewing event at VR Club Tulum Riviera. The series will feature giant-screen broadcasts, all-inclusive access, food, cocktails, football-themed activities, and networking opportunities during key match dates, especially Mexico’s group-stage games. It comes at a time when Tulum’s tourism sector could use a boost, with organizers hoping the World Cup spotlight brings more visitors, more business, and a different kind of summer energy to the beach. Read more

🌿 Mahahual Pushes Back on Mass Tourism
After Royal Caribbean’s controversial “Perfect Day Mexico” project was shelved, Mahahual is now at the center of a much bigger conversation about the future of tourism on the Costa Maya. Federal officials say they will work with local residents, Semarnat, Sectur, Fonatur, and the Quintana Roo government on a new framework to protect the area from large-scale tourism while supporting lower-impact development. Read more.

🏛️ Chichén Itzá Loses Top Spot After Access Dispute
For the first time in seven years, Chichén Itzá was not Mexico’s most-visited archaeological site. Preliminary INAH figures show Teotihuacán edged it out in May, after a 13-day protest by artisans and merchants disrupted access and sent visitor numbers sharply down. The impact was significant, with Chichén Itzá recording its lowest monthly total in six years. Meanwhile, nearby Ek’ Balam saw a major surge as tours and travelers shifted plans. Learn more

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A few years ago, a furnished 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo in La Veleta at this price would have been almost impossible to find. Today’s softer Tulum market is creating opportunities for buyers willing to look past the headlines and focus on long-term value.

This garden-level condo is beautifully maintained, move-in ready, and located in one of Tulum’s most established residential neighborhoods. Inside, you’ll find warm wood finishes, a full kitchen with premium appliances, a separate dining area, and a bright living room that opens onto a screened-in terrace surrounded by tropical greenery. There’s also a private outdoor patio with a plunge pool, giving the whole place a relaxed boutique hotel feel.

The complex itself offers the kind of amenities renters and owners actually want: 24-hour security, beach club access, bicycles, a rooftop terrace, and a hotel-style lobby. It’s secure, peaceful, and just minutes from the beach road and town center.

At $190K USD, this is the kind of listing savvy buyers are taking advantage of. Not because the market is booming, but because opportunities like this don’t tend to last once things recover.

👉 Take a closer look. This one is priced to move.

Would you like to feature your listing in Riviera Maya Insider? Let’s chat!

If the sky looks a little milky, the horizon seems blurred, or your car suddenly has a fine layer of dust on it, you may be seeing the arrival of Saharan dust.

Each year, especially during late spring and summer, strong winds lift fine dust from the Sahara Desert into the atmosphere. That dusty air mass, known as the Saharan Air Layer, travels thousands of miles across the Atlantic, reaching the Caribbean, including the Riviera Maya. NASA says these dust plumes can cross the Atlantic in about a week, while NOAA notes that the dry, dusty layer can also help suppress tropical storm development.

Here, we usually notice it as hazy skies, muted sunshine, colorful sunrises and sunsets, lower visibility, and sometimes a bit of dust left behind after light rain. Most people might find it mildly annoying, but those with asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues may want to limit outdoor exertion when the air feels heavy.

Fortunately, these episodes pass pretty quickly. The dust is part of a seasonal weather pattern, not a sign that something strange is happening. If the haze is thick, keep windows closed, rinse outdoor surfaces after it settles, and enjoy those dramatic sunsets while they last.

The 2026 Best of Puerto Morelos Survey is open, giving residents and frequent visitors a chance to show some love for their favorite local businesses, restaurants, services, and community favorites.

This is your chance to recognize the places and people that make Puerto Morelos special, from go-to breakfast spots and beach bars to trusted service providers and local businesses you recommend without hesitation.

Voting closes on June 15, 2026, and each person may submit only one survey. Winners will be announced by June 20 in the True Friends and Expats of Puerto Morelos Facebook group.

Click here to cast your vote: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y78L3DD

Be sure to hit “DONE” at the end so your answers are counted and all your favorite places and people get your vote!

ADO buses are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to travel between the Cancún Airport, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Mérida, Bacalar, and beyond. Most people use them without a problem. That said, an increase in traveler reports about stolen bags is a good reminder that your luggage and personal items are still your responsibility, especially on busy airport routes when people are tired and distracted.

A few simple habits can help prevent a bad start, or end, to your trip.

One of my best pieces of advise is to make your checked bag easy to spot. Use bright luggage straps, colorful ribbons, or even strips of duct tape so your suitcase does not look like every other black roller bag.

Better yet, buy one of those colorful (often hilarious) bag covers. A thief trying to sneak away with a bag is going to pick one that is inconspicuous — not one with your face printed all over it! This also makes it less likely someone will grab your bag by mistake.

In the unlikely event your bag is stolen or taken accidently, a set of Airtags will help you locate it and retrieve it quickly. These are well worth the investment. Just be sure to hide them well inside the bag so they cannot be removed easily.

In my opinion, there is no reason to avoid the ADO buses. Just travel mindfully, the way you would in any busy terminal or transit system: valuables close, bags under your control, eyes open.

We are heading into the season when a little air conditioning goes a long way toward keeping everyone in a good mood. I love dining al fresco as much as anyone, but there comes a point in June when dining outside starts to feel less romantic and more like a personal endurance test.

I’ve grown accustomed to the varying levels of discomfort that summer brings, but if you are traveling here from cooler climates, it might come as a shock to you.

A few good Playa del Carmen options with indoor dining or reliably cooler spaces include India Jones, Wine O’Clock, Lara y Luca, Don PP, Perché No, The Admiral Sports Bar, Off the Vine, Rolandis, Boston’s, Kobma, Viaje de Sabores, Costelao, Yum Yum, Piaggia and Harry’s.

This is not a “best of” list and it’s by no means comprehensive. Just a summer survival list for people who still want to dine well and comfortably when the heat index has other ideas.

A small but important note: Playa restaurants often have a mix of indoor, terrace, patio, and semi-open seating. If cold air is the goal, don’t be shy. Ask for indoor seating when you reserve, and confirm that the A/C area is available before you go.

Save this list for the days when you want to go out, eat well, and not slowly melt into your chair. Do you have a special go-to place to eat and beat the heat? Reply back and let me know so I can add it to our list!

On Thursday, June 11, La Perla Pixán invites you to a guided mezcal experience that goes beyond tasting — this is a full sensory ritual rooted in agave, smoke, and tradition.

Step into Mezcales Ocultos, an intimate journey through the hidden flavors of Mexico. Each tasting session includes four specially selected artisanal mezcals, paired with four mini smoke-inspired bites, all presented in a guided format that explores the history, origin, and ritual behind mezcal.

Expect an atmosphere of firelight and aroma, with a focus on craftsmanship and cultural depth. Choose from seatings at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes. To keep it intimate, space is limited to 16–20 guests per time slot. The cost is just 450 MXN per person. Advance reservations recommended 984-120-2616.

📍 La Perla Pixan is located on Calle 38 between 5th Ave and Calle Flamingos

Aspen is proof that the best companions are often the calmest. Rescued from the jungle with her puppies and her best friends Aida and Broski, this sweet-natured girl is now ready for a family of her own. At 7 years old and 18 kg, Aspen has a gentle, easygoing personality and gets along beautifully with both people and other dogs.

She doesn’t ask for much—just a couple of meals a day, a comfortable place to nap, and plenty of love. In return, she’ll give you unwavering companionship and affection.

Aspen is spayed, fully vaccinated, parasite-free, and up to date on monthly preventatives. To meet Aspen, email [email protected].

Below are a few standout events coming up soon that are worth planning for. Some may even require tickets in advance. This is just a small selection curated from the full calendar. Browse the complete list by clicking HERE. Don’t forget, you can add your own events for free.

• June 9: Bingo Night for Cause4Paws at Tulipan, Puerto Morelos ($)
• June 11: ABBA Tribute Night at La Vagabunda de la 38, Playa del Carmen
• June 11: Mezcales Ocultos at La Perla Pixán, Playa del Carmen ($)
• June 12: Isla Mujeres Artisan Fair at Paseo de la Trigueña, Isla Mujeres
• June 12: Together for Cuba: Concert for a Cause at the Paamul Palapa ($)
• June 13: GRILL ME: Texas Smoking Lab at Colegio Puerto Aventuras ($)
• June 13: Thai Fest at Mayakoba – 8th Edition at Banyan Tree Mayakoba ($)
• June 16 - 17: Playa del Carmen Grill Fest at Parque Fundadores, Playa del Carmen
• June 20 - 21: Taste Puerto Aventuras various restaurants in Puerto Aventuras ($)
• June 21: Intl. Yoga Day: 108 Sun Salutations on the beach in Puerto Morelos
• June 21: Nohoch Father's Day Bike Race in 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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