🌴 Mexico's Supreme Court Rules Against Xcaret in Maya Rights Case

🌴 Good morning Insiders! While most of Mexico is gearing up for Easter and the semana santa festivities, here in Puerto Aventuras, it’s all about the International Film Festival. If you don’t have your tickets yet, we have links to the info in the new (yes, NEW) Riviera Maya Events Calendar. Whoop!

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📸 Where am I today? This week’s photo was taken by my friend Tod. It’s glorious but I think it’s going to be a tough one!

Do you know where it was taken? 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!

⚖️ Supreme Court Orders Xcaret to Halt Use of Maya Cultural Symbols
In a shocking decision, Mexico’s Supreme Court has ordered Grupo Xcaret to stop using Maya cultural elements in its parks, hotels, and advertising unless it obtains proper consent. The ruling stems from a 2022 complaint filed by El Gran Consejo Maya de Quintana Roo and raises bigger questions about cultural ownership, tourism profits, and who controls the narrative of Maya heritage in Quintana Roo. The decision raises bigger questions about cultural ownership, tourism profits, and who controls the narrative of Maya heritage in Quintana Roo. Read more

🌀 Hurricane Season 2026: The Names Are Set
It’s not even April, and the 2026 hurricane name lists are already locked in. From Arthur to Wilfred in the Atlantic and Amanda to Zeke in the Pacific, this year’s storms are queued up and ready if conditions allow. El Niño typically increases wind shear and can suppress Atlantic activity, but unusually warm ocean temperatures this year could counterbalance that effect. For those of us in Quintana Roo, that means staying on alert. Read more

🐆 An Endangered Cat — An Island Conflicted
When researchers reviewing camera traps on Cozumel in 2016 spotted an ocelot, it raised immediate concern. While the wildcat is endangered across much of its mainland range, its presence on the island could threaten species found nowhere else on Earth. Cozumel’s endemic mice, curassow, and even its dwarf peccary evolved with few natural predators. The discovery highlights a complicated reality: conservation isn’t always simple — sometimes protecting one species puts others at risk. Read more

🪶 Voladores Leave Tulum After 30 Years
For more than three decades, the Dance of the Flyers of Papantla has been part of the cultural landscape at the Tulum Archaeological Zone. Now, the voladores have announced their departure. Citing a steady decline in tourism and insufficient income to cover basic expenses, the group says continuing performances at the site is no longer sustainable. Their exit leaves a visible cultural void in one of the Riviera Maya’s most iconic destinations. Read more

🦩 Flamingos Take Center Stage on the Big Screen
A new documentary premiering March 26 shines a cinematic spotlight on one of the Yucatán Peninsula’s most iconic species, the American flamingo. Flamingos: Life After the Meteorite, narrated by Julieta Venegas, follows the birds across northern Yucatán’s fragile wetlands, where thousands gather to breed and feed each year. Filmed over 700 days, the project explores the flamingo’s remarkable resilience in a region shaped by the ancient Chicxulub impact and modern environmental pressures. Read more

🐊 Río Lagartos: Growing Pains in a Wild Paradise
Río Lagartos remains one of Yucatán’s most extraordinary eco-destinations — home to Mexico’s largest flamingo colony and nearly 400 bird species inside a protected UNESCO Ramsar wetland. But as visitor numbers grow, so do tensions among local tour operators competing for business. A dispute over soliciting tourists at the town entrance has prompted municipal officials to step in, raising questions about how this small fishing community balances economic survival with preserving its low-key charm. Río Lagartos finds itself at a crossroads. Read more

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The 2nd edition of Playa del Carmen’s taco festival is planned for March 30 & 31. Why are they having a festival on a Monday and Tuesday? Your guess is as good as mine but here we are. What I do know is that Yucatan is the guest state and that means it’s going to be delicious! Let’s dig into what kinds of tacos are you likely to find!

Cochinita Pibil
This is Yucatan’s most iconic dish—pork marinated with achiote, orange, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground in a pib. Serve it on a corn tortilla with pickled purple onion and chopped habanero pepper.

Relleno Negro
Relleno negro is a stew made with chicken or turkey cooked in a black recado sauce based on chiles. It’s accompanied by hard-boiled egg. Tacos are served with meat, a bit of the black broth, and a slice of egg.

Tzic de Venado
Yucatan is known for its white-tailed deer. The meat is shredded and mixed with radish, cilantro, and orange juice. These tacos come with refried beans and habanero pepper. Because deer is hard to source, few restaurants offer it.

Castacán
Castacán is pork skin with a layer of fat and a crispy outer layer, making each bite both crunchy and tender. It’s chopped into pieces and topped with tomato, onion, cilantro, habanero, and plenty of lime.

Huevo con Longaniza
One of Yucatan’s tastiest sausages is the longaniza from Valladolid, available throughout the state. The sausage is fried and then scrambled with eggs before being served in tacos.

Poc Chuc
Poc chuc features pork cooked with sour orange and grilled over charcoal. It’s served with grilled purple onion, chiltomate sauce, and habanero pepper.

Tikin Xic
These tacos are filled with fresh fish marinated in achiote and sour orange, purple onion, and spices. They’re wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground, leaving the meat juicy, tender, and flavorful. Serve with a tomato sauce topped with chopped onion and cilantro.

If you’ve ever tried to cook proper Indian food in the Riviera Maya, you know the struggle. You can find decent turmeric and cumin. But tandoori masala? Fenugreek? Masoor dal? Not so much.

Well, we have some very good news for curry lovers who’ve been improvising for years. Spice of India has officially opened in Cancún, bringing a full lineup of authentic Indian spices, seasoning blends, premium rices, dals, and hard-to-find ingredients that simply haven’t been available locally.

We’re talking the essentials that make a curry taste like a curry and not just “spiced stew.” The kind of pantry staples that turn a home kitchen into something that smells like Delhi, Mumbai, or your favorite Indian restaurant.(Shout out to India Jones)

For those of us who cook at home, this is is a big deal! No more hit or miss runs to the Belize free-zone. No more stuffing suitcases with spice packets from Mexico City. No more settling for substitute ingredients that don’t quite hit.

If proper curry is part of your regular rotation, this new shop might be worth the drive north.

📍 Spice of India is located in Cancun on Av. Bonampak and Calle Coba. Open Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM.

My friend is selling her condo in Playa and it’s a real beauty! If you’re already living in Playa—or planning to make the move—this is the kind of condo that just makes sense. Located in the Aqua Terra complex, just a few blocks from 5th Avenue and an easy walk to the beach, this 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit offers that balance of central convenience and a quieter, more livable setting that can be hard to find.

Inside, the layout is open, functional, and filled with natural light. The living and dining areas flow out to a private balcony with city views, giving you a comfortable spot for morning coffee or winding down at the end of the day. The primary bedroom has a walk-in closet, en suite bath, and its own balcony access, which adds a nice sense of space and privacy. There’s also a dedicated laundry area and plenty of storage, making it well suited for full-time living.

The building itself is very well maintained, pet-friendly for owners, and known for attracting both long-term residents and vacation renters. Amenities include a large community pool, tropical gardens, controlled access, and reserved parking.

This is a great option for someone who wants to live and work in Playa without giving up walkability or for a buyer who wants a property that can comfortably do both personal use and rental income. All this with a price tag under 300K.

👉 Take a closer look. This one fits real life in Playa.

If you feel like you are seeing more spider monkeys near convenience stores in Puerto Morelos, on the golf courses of Playa del Carmen, or wandering the streets of Puerto Aventuras, you’re not imagining it. Sightings are increasing along the Riviera Maya. And while the moment can feel magical, it’s not actually good news.

Spider monkeys are true canopy dwellers. They depend on mature forest and a fruit-rich diet high in the treetops. When they begin showing up in parking lots and residential neighborhoods, it usually signals habitat fragmentation and food stress. Ongoing development along the corridor has reduced continuous jungle, pushing wildlife into closer contact with people.

Feeding them only makes the problem worse. Offering bananas for a quick photo op teaches monkeys to associate humans with food. That shift alters natural behavior, increases stress within troops, and can lead to aggression or injury.

And it’s not just discouraged. Article 4 of Mexico’s General Wildlife Law establishes the framework for protecting native species. The law prohibits actions that cause damage or disturbance to wildlife. Feeding wild animals qualifies as a disturbance.

Those of you in Puerto Aventuras probably remember when stories of a jaguar inside the gates felt almost mythical. Recently, we’ve had at least two well-documented jaguar encounters in as many years. Increased wildlife visibility is a concerning pattern.

These animals are undeniably beautiful. Admire them. Photograph from a distance. But, please don’t feed them. Living here means respecting that they are wild — and keeping them that way.

We might be a little biased, but Salvana really is something special. This stunning redhead—with just a hint of brindle for extra character—is as sweet as she is beautiful. At 14 months old, she’s playful, affectionate, and full of life, with a personality that makes her easy to fall for.

Salvana loves people, gets along well with other dogs, and already walks nicely on a leash—making her an easy addition to just about any home. She’s the kind of dog who brings energy when you want to play and settles in close when it’s time to relax.

She is spayed, fully vaccinated, parasite-free, and up to date on all her monthly preventatives, so she’s healthy and ready to go.

If you’ve been thinking your life could use a gorgeous, lovable redhead, Salvana might be your girl. Send a email to [email protected].

It’s here!! Now you can browse what’s happening across the Riviera Maya in one place and sort by date, location, and type of event. Looking for live music in Playa? A food festival in Puerto Morelos? A charity event in Puerto Aventuras? You can filter it in seconds.

Even better, this isn’t just a page of event listings. You can submit your own events directly to the calendar for review and publication. The goal is to have one organized, easy-to-use hub for everything happening locally.

Take a look and add your next event while you’re there.

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

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