🌴 La Comer in Tulum: Is It Really Worth the Trip?

✨ Happy Holidays Insiders!

I hope you are all enjoying these last few days of 2025, whether that means thinking ahead to the new year, making plans with friends, or simply slowing down and spending time with family. This pause in the festivities time tends to feel a little calmer, and that’s not a bad thing.

For me—as I hinted in last week’s email—2026 will bring changes to RMI. I’ve already expanded the events calendar to accommodate more offerings, both free and sponsored and I'm working on the website (albeit slowly) to keep the RMI community engaged and informed.

And here’s where the community comes in.

I want to hear from YOU! Let me know what you like, what you don’t like and send any suggestions you might have as RMI grows and evolves. There’s a real person behind this newsletter and even if I get a response from all of you—now over 3000 weekly readers—I will respond! That’s a promise.

Plus, if you send me a nice testimonial, I’ll feature it on the new website and give you a shout out in next Tuesday’s newsletter. Deal? Just hit reply!

In today’s Riviera Maya Insider you will find:

• Is La Comer in Tulum living up to the hype?

• Fun NYE traditions in Mexico

• Local opera talent performs in Cancun

• A new luxury resort for Punta Maroma

All this and more brought to you with support from The Daily Upside, Money.com and our featured sponsor Timeless Beauty.

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

📸 Our beautiful Photo of the Week was taken by my friend and travel guru, Lori Gold. In 2024, this resort was named the “Most Instagrammable in the World”. Do you know where it is? For more amazing destinations like this, be sure to follow Lori at @explorewithlor.

📸 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

🌿 The Death of a Beloved Yucatan Conservationist
Trailblazing environmentalist Joann M. Andrews has passed away in Mérida at the age of 96. From her early days in the U.S. Foreign Service to founding Pronatura Península de Yucatán and having an orchid named in her honor, Andrews spent six decades shaping conservation efforts across the region. She was a tireless advocate for nature, education, and culture in Yucatán, and her legacy lives on in the forests, wetlands, and communities she helped protect. I had the honor of spending time with Joann and her family on many occassions, at riding competitions, visiting the family hacienda and admiring the beautiful horses they bred and raised. I consider Joann one of the great Grande Dames of the Yucatan and she will be missed.

🎶 A Rising Voice Returns Home
At just 19, Puerto Aventuras–born baritone Enrique Pérez Mendoza is already making waves on the world’s great stages—and now he’s bringing that talent back to the Mexican Caribbean. This January, he headlines Romantic Opera Night in Cancún alongside the Cancún Classical Orchestra and acclaimed international musicians from Russia and Japan. Trained in Europe since age 14 and already a multi-award winner with performances from Carnegie Hall to Vienna, Pérez Mendoza is fast becoming one of Mexico’s most exciting young operatic voices.

🌊 Windsurfing Talent from Playa Makes Waves Abroad
Playa del Carmen’s own Jerónimo Abogado placed 12th in the world at the 2025 Youth iQFOiL Sailing World Championship in Portugal, competing against the best young windsurfers from over 30 countries. Representing Puerto Aventuras Sailing Club and Mexico, he finished as the third-highest Latin American competitor, cementing Quintana Roo’s growing status in the sport. With eyes now on the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, this rising star continues to make his mark on the international stage.

🧵 Stitches That Tell a Story
A new book is shining a long-overdue spotlight on Maya embroidery in Yucatán—not as folklore, but as living heritage, economic power, and cultural identity. El Bordado Maya de Yucatán: Patrimonio Vivo brings together the voices of more than 300 embroiderers, documenting ancestral techniques, personal histories, and a groundbreaking safeguarding plan led by the women themselves.

🚗 Faster Licenses and Digital Convenience
Getting or renewing your driver’s license in Quintana Roo just got a whole lot easier. Service times have been cut in half—down to about 10 minutes—and drivers can now carry a fully legal digital license on their phone. The digital license can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet using a secure QR code. Physical licenses are still issued, but with upgraded security and real-time identity verification. It’s meant to be a smoother, faster, more modern process that finally feels designed with people in mind.

🌊 Turning the Sargassum Crisis into Opportunity
What if the seaweed piling up on Caribbean beaches could actually power homes, enrich soil, and replace imported materials? Mexican scientists say it can. A new project aims to transform millions of tons of sargassum into alginates for food and pharma, biogas for energy, biofertilizers, and even construction-grade biomaterials. With semi-industrial tech already running and plans for a biorefinery in the region, this could be a game-changer for the Mexican Caribbean.

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ICYMI

In case you missed it, these were the most popular new stories from last week’s newsletter.

🐬 Dolphins Rescued in Cancún Inspection
State and federal authorities have stepped in after reports surfaced that nine dolphins were being kept in abandonment at a former water park in Cancún’s hotel zone.

🌴 Tulum’s High Season Surprise: Hotels Win, Rentals Struggle
As Tulum heads into peak season, a clear shift is emerging in where visitors choose to stay. Hotels are roaring back, with occupancy nearing 90 percent, while vacation rentals lag far behind.

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.

🛒 La Comer Lands in Tulum: Here’s the Verdict

Like all of you, I was chomping at the bit to check out the new La Comer in Tulum—mostly out of curiosity and partly because people wouldn’t stop talking about it.
The TL;DR? Totally worth the trip.

This is La Comer’s first store in Quintana Roo, and they clearly came to impress. The space is big, bright, and well laid out, with a noticeably calmer vibe than some of the other large supermarkets in the area. Think wide aisles, clearly marked sections, and shelves that actually make sense. The product range is impressive: excellent produce, clean and well-organized meat and seafood departments, a MASSIVE wine and spirits section, and a dizzying array of imported items I’ve not seen locally. I was genuinely drooling over the cured meats and cheeses.

The specialty sections for vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and organic products are far better than what you’ll find in any other chain grocery store around here. Costco fans will also spot familiar Kirkland favorites—yes, with a noticeable upcharge. There’s a café, plenty of prepared foods if you don’t feel like cooking, and don’t get me started on the gelateria.

This store is a major investment in Tulum, bringing hundreds of jobs and positioning itself firmly in the more upscale supermarket lane. Prices? Some items are competitive, others less so—pretty much par for the course. There’s ample covered parking, bike racks, and sustainability features like energy-efficient lighting and water treatment baked into the design, which matters here if you’re paying attention.

Public opinion so far lines up with my experience. Most shoppers are praising the quality, cleanliness, and selection. As someone who’s spent plenty of time in supermarkets all over Mexico—including other La Comer locations—I went in with realistic expectations and walked out impressed. If you live nearby or you’re stocking up for a longer stay, La Comer is absolutely worth the trip.

👉️ Check out our photos here on Instagram

🐝 The First Jungle Honey Run of 2026 Is On!

My friend—and now officially a published author—Michael Maurus is headed back to Playa with the first honey haul of the year straight from the Maya hinterland. Michael and his sidekick Bruno will be delivering honey on Sunday, January 18 at 9 AM sharp in the Centro Maya parking lot.

If you’ve been waiting to restock your pantry with 100% real, raw, unfiltered and unadulterated jungle honey—this is your moment. Michael’s bringing two kinds:

• 🍯 Apis (Regular Raw Honey) – 195 pesos (500 ml / 16.9 oz.)

• 🐝 Melipona (Medicinal Honey) – 590 pesos (250 g / 8.8 oz.)

Why am I giving you so much advance notice? This honey is produced in very small qualitities and must be ordered ahead of delivery! If you know, you know. And if you don’t—Melipona is the rare, ancestral bee of the Yucatán with powerful medicinal properties.

Also—if you have already purchased Michael’s beautiful book “Whispers from Mother Nature: Echoes of What We Used to Know”, be sure to bring it along with you so he can sign it. If you don’t have your copy yet, Michael will be bringing copies along (795 pesos each) with the honey, so you can purchase a copy from the author himself!

👉️ Contact Michael through Facebook messenger to order your honey

🎉 How Mexico Rings in the New Year

If you’re ringing in the New Year here in Mexico, get ready for a celebration full of joyful traditions—some you might want to try for yourself!

At midnight, many people eat twelve grapes—one for each chime of the clock—each representing a wish for the year ahead. Others grab a broom and sweep out the old year, literally clearing space for what’s to come. And if you’re hoping to travel in 2026? Better grab that empty suitcase and hit the street—yes, that’s a thing.

From red underwear for love to lentils for luck, these quirky customs reflect the hopes, humor, and heartfelt intentions that Mexicans bring to the start of a new year.

Curious which color underwear to buy? Or how lentils became a symbol of prosperity?

👉 Click here to explore 7 beloved New Year’s traditions in Mexico and how you can try them too, no matter where you are when the clock strikes twelve.

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🌴 A New Chapter of Luxury Is Coming to Punta Maroma

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to keep an eye on what’s coming next in the Riviera Maya—especially on the luxury end—there’s a new resort project worth keeping an eye on near Punta Maroma.

A development called Hotel Terraesmeralda Punta Maroma has officially entered Mexico’s federal environmental review process. The location alone will catch the attention of seasoned travelers: Punta Maroma sits between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, close enough for easy access but far enough to keep a quieter, more exclusive feel.

According to the project proposal, the resort is planned as a large-scale destination property with 954 hotel rooms spread across 10 buildings. Accommodations would include junior suites, executive rooms, and presidential suites—suggesting a mix of upscale comfort and high-end indulgence. On-site amenities are designed to support a full resort experience, including a destination spa, multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym, event spaces, and a variety of restaurants and bars.

What’s notable for travelers is the project’s long timeline. Construction is planned to begin in 2026 and will progress in five phases over 18 years, meaning this is not a quick build, but a slow-burn development aimed at evolving with demand. The proposal also mentions sustainable systems and careful site planning—important considerations in this stretch of coastline.

For now, this is a look into the future rather than a booking opportunity—but it’s a reminder that the luxury landscape of the Riviera Maya continues to expand, especially for travelers seeking resort-style stays with space, amenities, and a bit of breathing room from the crowds.

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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.

🎁 Support Alive’s Annual Holiday Drive

For the ninth year running, our friend Ale from Alive Bar in Playa del Carmen is organizing her annual holiday donation drive to help local families and children in need. Since 2016, she’s been collecting toys, food, clothing, and personal care items to make sure the season is a little brighter for those who often go without. No cash is accepted—just useful, tangible items from the heart.

This year, Riviera Maya Insider is pitching in by collecting donations in Puerto Aventuras. If you’re local, please consider dropping off something from the list:

• New or gently used toys – dolls, balls, puzzles, backpacks

• Essentials – baby formula, diapers, crayons, children’s shoes and clothes

• Non-perishable food – canned goods, rice, lentils, baby food, formula

Every single contribution makes a difference. Many of these kids have never had a visit from Santa or a holiday meal to remember. Let’s help change that! The donations will be delivered on January 6, Three Kings Day, so there is still time to get involved.

If you’re in Playa, you can bring your donations directly to Ale at Alive Bar on 10th Ave. between Juarez and Calle 2. If you’re in Puerto Aventuras, just head over to Restaurant Latitude 20° and I’ll make sure it gets to her.

¿QUE PASA?  

Here are just handful of upcoming events, curated from our main list, that you will not want to miss and might need to purchase tickets for in advance.

Wednesday, December 31 – Playa Fest 2026: Fiesta Neón (Playa del Carmen)
Glow into 2026 at this high-energy NYE celebration in Parque Fundadores, with guest DJs, lights, and 6 hours of nonstop music. Free entry! More info here

Friday, January 2 – David Guetta at Zamna (Tulum)
Global dance music icon David Guetta returns to Zamna Tulum to launch the 2026 season in epic style. Expect a high-voltage night of deep jungle vibes and next-level production. More info here

Saturday, January 3 - Trendy Market (Puerto Aventuras)
All your favorite Trendy vendors will be back in Puerto Aventuras celebrating the New Year with new designs and old favorites. Don’t miss this chance to shop and support local craftsmen and artisans. More info here

Sunday, January 4 | Crazy Toy at ALIVE (Playa del Carmen)
The popular band, Crazy Toy is back for the season and playing live at ALIVE. Voted “Playa del Carmen’s Best Live Music Venue”, ALIVE is the best place to see them in their element. Music starts at 4 PM. No cover. No reservations required.

Wednesday, January 7 | Romantic Opera Night (Cancún)
Enjoy an elegant evening of symphonic and operatic performances by local baritone Enrique Peréz Mendoza, international guests and the Orquesta Clásica de Cancún. Held at the Teatro de la Ciudad. Tickets available here

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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