🌴 Good morning, Insiders!
I can’t believe it but the mass exodus of our friends back to their summer homes up north says “the season” is coming to a close. It is sad to see our snowbirds go but I know it has been as fun for all of you as it has been for us this year.
In today’s email you will find:
PAIFF 2026 wraps up with 43 award winners
Cell phone registration confusion continues
See the Stations of the Cross in Cancun
Traditional Easter dishes to try in Mexico
All this, plus the Live Music Line Up for this week and the NEW Events Calendar are brought to you with support from our Featured Sponsor Paradise Professional Services.
For the very best newsletter experience, choose the option above to Read Online.
— Michele Kinnon
SPONSORED BY
PARADISE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
🏥 65+ and on Medicare? A Quick Word of Caution.
If you’re enrolled in Medicare — especially Medicare Advantage — you need to be aware that fraudulent schemes targeting seniors are on the rise.
U.S. authorities, including the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, regularly investigate Medicare Advantage fraud cases. These often involve businesses requesting Medicare numbers or Social Security information without a legitimate, active medical reason.
Red flags to watch for:
🔺 Being asked for your Medicare number “just to see what you qualify for”
🔺 Pressure to switch plans quickly
🔺 Requests for personal information outside of an active medical appointment
🔺 Promises of “free” benefits in exchange for your Medicare details
Sharing your information improperly can expose you to identity theft or even place you at risk of unknowingly participating in fraudulent billing.
If you’re living full or part-time in Mexico, remember: Medicare does not cover medical care outside the U.S.
For many retirees, the smart strategy is to maintain Medicare in the U.S. and supplement it with a Mexican catastrophic policy for emergencies, plus medical evacuation coverage if appropriate.
📩 For a confidential coverage review, email [email protected]
Clarity now prevents costly mistakes later.
If you are a local business owner who would like to promote your services to Riviera Maya Insider readers, pop me a quick email. Let’s see how we can work together.
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WHERE AM I?
📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at Punta Roca in Puerto Aventuras. The first reader to guess correctly (who does not live in the building and was not present when it was shared with me) was Yana K. Well done!
Where am I today? I’ll give you a hint and say that this beautiful beach is mentioned further on in today’s newsletter. 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!
IN THE NEWS
🎬 It’s a Wrap for the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival
The Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival wrapped up its third season with a gala at Dreams Aventuras Riviera Maya, closing out five days of screenings and events. What started in 2024 is quickly gaining traction, with more than 70 films from nearly 30 countries featured this year. Big winner Audience took home five awards, including Best Feature Film and Audience Choice. With strong international participation and growing local support, PAIFF is carving out a place as one of the Riviera Maya’s most interesting cultural events. Read more
🗣️ Maya Leader Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling on Xcaret
A recent decision by Mexico’s Supreme Court has sparked criticism from Maya advocate Pedro Uc Be, who says it fails to address the deeper issue of how Indigenous culture is used in tourism. The case involves Grupo Xcaret and its use of Maya symbols and narratives. While the Court did find that cultural rights were not properly considered, Uc Be says the broader problem remains unresolved. Read more
🌊 Caleta Controversy: Blockage Reversed in Puerto Aventuras
A coastal inlet in Puerto Aventuras has been reopened after environmental complaints, resident backlash, and reported federal involvement. The original closure raised alarms over damage to protected vegetation and the obstruction of a federally regulated waterway. While officials cite sargassum mitigation as the intent, others say the environmental impact—and growing scrutiny—forced a reversal. Read more
🌴 Last Coastal Jungle Under Pressure After Fire at Playa 72
A fire near Playa 72 has reignited a much larger issue: the ongoing fight over Chen Zuluub. This stretch of coastal jungle has been tied up in legal disputes for years, with overlapping ownership claims and questionable land sales adding to the confusion. Some buyers have reportedly been sold land that remains contested or undevelopable. While the fire caused limited damage, it highlights the growing tension between preservation and development in one of the last undeveloped beachfront areas in Playa del Carmen. Read more
🎥 New Tulum Film Tackles Cenote Destruction Through a Child’s Lens
A new Mexican film in post-production is taking on one of the Riviera Maya’s most urgent environmental issues. Piratas de Arena (Sand Pirates) follows a group of kids who discover illegal sand mining deep in the jungle and set out to stop it. Inspired by real events and ongoing environmental concerns in the region, the film aims to connect younger audiences with the importance of protecting cenotes and fragile ecosystems. It’s a different kind of story coming out of Tulum. Read more
FEATURED LISTING
🏡 RMI Market Mystery
You all really seemed to enjoy this little game a few weeks ago—so let’s give it another go and see you you do!
Guess the listing price?
Once you have made your guess, click CONTINUE and you'll be directed to the actual listing to see if you guessed correctly.
Would you like to feature your listing in Riviera Maya Insider? Let’s chat!
EXPAT LIVING
📱 MX Cell Phone Registration: What’s Actually Going On
There’s a lot of chatter right now about having to register your Mexican phone number with the government—or risk losing service. Here’s the reality.
First, the big one: there is no clearly confirmed nationwide deadline requiring everyone to register their phone by a specific date. That part is spreading quickly online, but it’s not backed by clear, public guidance from regulators like Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones.
There’s also some confusion with the old Padrón Nacional de Usuarios de Telefonía Móvil (PANAUT), which was ruled unconstitutional in 2022. That system is not in effect.
What is happening is that telecom companies like Telcel and AT&T Mexico are tightening controls. You already need to show ID (passport, INE, or CURP) to buy a new SIM card, and some users are now being asked to update their personal information with their provider.
The reason behind this push is straightforward: anonymous phone numbers are widely used in extortion calls, fraud schemes, and organized crime operations in Mexico. By linking each number to a real person, authorities aim to make it harder to operate these schemes and easier to investigate them.
So what happens if you don’t register?
At this point, nothing immediate. Despite what we have read online, there are no clearly confirmed nationwide penalties or service cutoffs being enforced right now. You won’t suddenly lose your number.
That said, the direction is clear. Providers may continue prompting users to verify their identity, and future regulations could introduce restrictions or suspension for unverified lines. For now, the only thing strictly enforced is that new SIM cards cannot be purchased anonymously.
Bottom line: No need to panic. You don’t have to rush out and register your phone today. But if your provider asks you to update your information, the process is straightforward. You should be able to do it directly on your phone.
TRAVEL TALK
✝️ One Semana Santa Event You Shouldn’t Miss
If you’ve traveled to the Riviera Maya for Easter, you may notice this tourism-driven region doesn’t deliver the same scale of Holy Week pageantry you’ll find in San Cristóbal de las Casas, San Miguel de Allende, Cholula, or even Mérida. That said, there is one event here that’s absolutely worth your time.
The annual Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) at Playa Delfines in Cancún has become one of the most unique Good Friday experiences in the Mexican Caribbean. Now in its 15th edition, the production is a true community effort, with 250–300 local participants bringing the reenactment to life.
Set against a backdrop of turquoise water and open sky, this live portrayal of the Passion of Christ draws thousands of locals and visitors looking for something more meaningful than a typical beach day.
Activities begin around 1:00 PM on Friday, April 3 (Good Friday), leading up to the main performance at 4:00 PM. Expect a full-scale, immersive experience that blends faith, theater, and setting in a way that feels distinctly Mexican Caribbean.
Whether you’re devout or simply curious, the Via Crucis at Playa Delfines offers a rare glimpse of Semana Santa in this region. It’s powerful, a little unexpected, and one of the few moments here that truly stops people in their tracks.
Adventures led by women designed to make a difference.
Trek the Andes with an all-female crew in Peru. Join a women-run tuk tuk tour in Cambodia. Enjoy a traditional hot stone bath experience at a women-owned farmhouse in Bhutan. Intrepid’s new small-group Women’s Expeditions in Peru, Cambodia and Bhutan provide immersive local experiences for travellers while supporting women-run businesses.
NOTES ON NAPKINS
🥘 Traditional Easter Dishes in Mexico
Semana Santa in Mexico comes with its own rhythm and its own dishes. Rooted in Catholic traditions that limit meat during Lent, meals shift toward seafood, preserved ingredients, and dishes that only really show up this time of year.
Bacalao a la Vizcaína is the centerpiece for many families—salted cod stewed with tomatoes, olives, capers, and potatoes. It’s rich, briny, and typically served on Good Friday or Easter Sunday.
Tortitas de camarón con romeritos is a uniquely central Mexican dish. Dried shrimp patties are simmered in a mole-like sauce with romeritos (a wild herb), nopales, and potatoes. It’s earthy, complex, and deeply traditional.
Along the Mexican Caribbean and Gulf coast, you’re likely to find pescado a la Veracruzana, where fresh fish is cooked with tomatoes, olives, capers, and herbs. It’s lighter, brighter, and well suited to coastal tables.
You’ll also see chiles rellenos de mariscos—often stuffed with tuna—making an appearance as another classic Lenten, meat-free option.
On the sweeter side, capirotada shows up on tables across the country. This layered bread pudding combines piloncillo syrup, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and spices. Every family does it a little differently.
These aren’t everyday dishes. They’re tied to the season, to tradition, and to the way Mexico marks this week, one meal at a time surrounded by family and loved ones.
DO GOOD RIVIERA MAYA
🐱 Click, Bid, Help! Coco’s 17th Anniversary Online Auction
Looking for an easy way to give back this week? Coco’s Animal Welfare has just launched its 2026 Online Spring Auction and it’s packed with deals that you won’t want to pass up!
Running now through Sunday, April 5th, the auction features everything from all-inclusive hotel stays and condo getaways to art, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, spa services, tours, and even pet products. Bidding starts at just 20% of retail value, so there are real bargains to be had.
The best part? Every peso goes toward one of the most impactful animal welfare organizations in the region. Over the past 17 years, Coco’s has funded more than 80,000 spay and neuter surgeries, rescued over 1,800 animals, and provided medical care to tens of thousands more across the Riviera Maya.
New items are being added daily, so it’s worth checking back regularly. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, don’t miss your chance to snag something great while supporting a cause that’s doing real, measurable work in Playa. It’s a total win-win!
¿QUE PASA?
📅 Your Riviera Maya Events Calendar Is Filling Up
Just one week in and the calendar is really starting to take shape.
New events are being added daily, from live music and food festivals to fundraisers and local gatherings across Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and beyond. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this is quickly becoming the easiest way to see what’s happening around you and plan ahead.
A quick reminder: you can also submit your own events for review and inclusion. The more people who use it, the better it gets.
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 curated selection from the full calendar. Browse the complete list by clicking HERE or using the link below.
To access the full list of Riviera Maya events and happenings and the Live Music Lineup for this week, click on the links below!
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