🌴 Parades, Parquimetros and Papadams

🌴 Happy Tuesday, Insiders!

It’s nearly the end of January! How are your New Years resolutions holding up?

Congratulations to the readers who correctly guessed where last week’s photo was taken. It was trickier than I thought. There were a lot of very good guesses—Isla Mujeres, Cozumel—but only 3 of you knew that it was taken on Tankah Bay. Shout out to Lori P. Mark A. and Sharron M.

In today’s email you will find:

Plus the Live Music Line Up for this week and our updated Events Calendar. All this and more brought to you with support from Intrepid Travel, and our Featured Sponsor Timeless Beauty.

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

— Michele Kinnon

January is when we reset. We recommit to our health, our routines, and the habits that help us feel our best—not just for a week or two, but for the year ahead.

At Timeless Beauty, Dr. Luigi Palermo approaches aesthetic medicine the same way: thoughtfully, honestly, and with long-term wellbeing in mind. It’s never about chasing trends or quick fixes. It’s about supporting healthy skin, balanced features, and natural results that age well over time.

Whether you’re considering skin boosters, facial harmonization, Morpheus8, Ultherapy, or regenerative treatments like biostimulation, stem cells, exosomes, or bioidentical hormone therapy, every plan begins with a personalized consultation tailored to you—your anatomy, your lifestyle, and your goals.

For Riviera Maya residents and visitors alike, January is an ideal moment to start something new. Treatments now mean refreshed, confident results you’ll enjoy throughout the year. With services available in Puerto Aventuras, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, expert care is always within reach.

📸 This should be a little bit easier this week…Check out the photo below. Do you know where I am? Reply back with your best guess. The first reader to guess correctly will get a shout-out in next week’s newsletter! If you are reading online, pop me a quick email!

📸 If you would like to see your photo featured here, follow and tag @rivieramayainsidermx on Instagram or send it to [email protected].

🎭 Playa del Carmen Carnival Schedule Still Not Set
Playa del Carmen is gearing up for Carnival 2026, February 14–17, with four nights of free concerts in Plaza 28 de Julio already confirmed. The lineup mixes urban hits, hip-hop, and pop nostalgia, with performances by Bellakath, Santa Fe Klan, NSQK, and a big retro finale with the 90’s Pop Tour. While the music schedule is locked in, parade dates and routes are still pending. I’ll share parade info on the RMI social accounts as soon as it’s released. Read more

🎣 Casting a Wider Net: Quintana Roo’s New Sport Fishing Tourney
Quintana Roo is looking beyond sun and sand with a new proposal unveiled at FITUR 2026: the Great Fishing Circuit of the Mexican Caribbean. The ambitious plan links Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and Puerto Morelos into a coordinated sport-fishing circuit designed to attract high-value anglers and year-round tourism. If it moves forward, the circuit could position the Mexican Caribbean as a serious contender in the global sport-fishing scene. Read more

⚖️ Supreme Court Takes Up Maya Cultural Appropriation Case
Mexico’s Supreme Court has officially stepped in to review a long-running legal battle between Maya communities in Quintana Roo and the Xcaret tourism group over the commercial use of Maya cultural symbols. The case, which dates back to 2022, centers on whether those symbols were used without proper authorization or recognition and whether courts were right to allow their continued use while the dispute plays out. With the SCJN now drafting a potential ruling, this case could set an important national precedent on Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and tourism branding. Read more

⛳ Quintana Roo Bets Big on Sports Tourism in 2026
Quintana Roo used FITUR 2026 to make a strong play beyond sun-and-sand travel, announcing two major international sporting events coming next year. Costa Mujeres will host the second edition of Premier Pádel’s P2 Tour in March 2026, bringing the world’s top padel players to the Mexican Caribbean. In April, Tulum will welcome an international golf tournament designed to blend high-level competition with local art, culture, and music. These events are part of a broader strategy to attract longer stays, higher-spending visitors, and new international audiences while positioning Quintana Roo as a serious player in global sports tourism. Read more

🚗 Parking Meters in Playa del Carmen Under Review
Playa del Carmen officials have announced a review of the city’s parking meter system following a wave of complaints from residents and drivers. While metered parking was originally introduced to improve mobility and turnover in busy areas, many users report unclear rules and inconsistent enforcement. As the city evaluates next steps, the bigger question remains whether meaningful reforms will address enforcement practices and citizen protections or simply tweak the mechanics of a system that many feel is fundamentally flawed. Read more

This video popped up in my Facebook memories yesterday. Seven years ago, t absolutely reflected my experience and my feelings about Playa. And it got me thinking… If you have been visiting or living in Playa for a long time, does this still resonate with you.

Trusted specialty outdoor retailer, REI Co-op, has teamed up with the world’s largest adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, to create a collection of active trips. From farm stays in Costa Rica to sunrise summits on Kilimanjaro, each trip is led by a local expert with small group sizes capped at 16.

Find your next adventure

_{For T&Cs and to view the full collection of trips in 85+ destinations, visit rei.com/travel.}

This is one of those stories that hits close to home—especially for foreign residents who plan to age in Mexico—like me.

Lawmakers are sounding the alarm over soaring private health insurance premiums, warning that up to 80% of people between 55 and 70 could be forced to drop their coverage in the next decade if nothing changes. The concern isn’t just personal—it’s systemic. When people lose coverage just as they need it most, the public health system absorbs the cost, estimated to be over 330 billion pesos.

A proposed Insurance Reform Law aims to rein this in without blowing up the market. The plan would cap annual premium increases for people over 60 to inflation plus five points, require more transparent contracts, allow portability so users can switch insurers without losing seniority, and give Profeco more power to sanction abusive practices by insurers and private hospitals. Insurers argue regulation could hurt the industry, but reports shows the sector remains highly profitable.

Why does this matter for expats? Because many of us rely on private insurance here—and rising premiums are already pushing older residents out of coverage.

Now’s a good time to ask yourself: Do you have health insurance in Mexico that will still work for you 10 or 20 years from now?

🚨 If you’re unsure or want to review your options, let me connect you with a trusted insurance agent who understands expat realities. Reply back to this email or contact me [email protected].

I’m sure by now you’ve seen the recent headlines claiming that 350 dolphins being held in captivity in Mexico will be released. I’ve had a number of readers reach out asking what this means for the dolphins here in Puerto Aventuras. Here’s what you actually need to know.

First, despite the headlines, there is no mass release of captive dolphins into the wild planned—or even considered realistic. The recent reform to Mexico’s wildlife law (often referred to as the Mincho Law) is about ending dolphin exploitation, not opening sea gates. Dolphins that have spent their lives in human care, especially those born in captivity, simply do not have the skills to survive on their own. Releasing them would almost certainly be a death sentence and could also put wild dolphin pods at risk.

What is changing is how dolphins can be kept. The law bans shows, acrobatics, and forced performances, restricts breeding, and tightens oversight of facilities by environmental authorities. Over time, this pushes dolphin programs away from entertainment and toward long-term care models with less human interaction and improved welfare standards.

As for Puerto Aventuras, the dolphins here will not be released. They will, however, fall under these stricter rules, meaning increased scrutiny of their health and care, along with limits on how they can be used commercially.

Personally, I don’t believe dolphins should be kept for profit, and I don’t think the living conditions for the dolphins in PA are ideal. Buy me a drink sometime and I’d be happy to tell you exactly what I think should and can be done with them so they might live out the rest of their days in a more dignified manner.

If sportfishing is on your Riviera Maya bucket list, this is an experience I confidently recommend. Riviera Maya Fishing runs private charters with licensed captains, experienced crews, and top-tier boats—so all you have to do is reel, relax, and enjoy.

All trips include gear, snorkeling, drinks, fresh snacks, and ceviche made from your catch. Interested? Reply back for more detailed info or email me your dates and how many people are in your party!

If your idea of a perfect weekend includes great food, local flavors, and a little culinary wandering, the Tamale & Atole Fair belongs on your calendar. Returning to Plaza 28 de Julio on February 1 & 2, this long-running festival is all about one thing: celebrating Mexico’s most comforting, crave-worthy classics.

Expect rows of vendors serving tamales in every form imaginable—traditional corn-husk and banana-leaf styles, sweet versions, regional specialties, and inventive takes that push beyond the familiar. Pair them with atoles thick, fragrant, and deeply nostalgic, made from corn, cacao, fruit, and spices that feel tailor-made for slow sipping between bites.

The fair draws dozens of producers, many of them small-batch cooks and local families who treat tamale-making as both craft and tradition. It’s casual, festive, and easy to graze—perfect for trying “just one more” of everything. Add live music, cultural performances, and an evening crowd that knows exactly why they’re there, and you’ve got a food event that feels relaxed, social, and delicious!

Last Friday night was one of those feel-good community evenings that reminds me why I love living here. The Hughes Family Charity Curry Night returned for another year and it did NOT disappoint.

Nearly 100 curry lovers (and Oscar) packed Restaurant Latitude 20° to sample an impressive array of curries and support a great local cause. On the menu this year? Saag Paneer (yup, that’s mine), Thai Green Curry, Chicken Korma, Garlic Chili Chicken (hot and mild), Pork Tikka, and Tandoori Chicken served with fluffy rice and crisp papadams. No one left hungry.

Beyond the flavorful curries, the highlight of the evening was the exciting 50/50 drawing with the lucky winner going home with over 11,300 pesos! After dinner, guests packed the dance floor, rocking the night away with The Monstars.

This year, the event raised much-needed funds for Itzé Nah, a local Puerto Aventuras organization providing educational, emotional, nutritional and developmental support to at risk children and needy families in the poblado and Puerto Maya.

Massive thanks to everyone who cooked, donated, danced—and especially to Bet and John Hughes for their generosity and big hearts.

Here are just handful of upcoming events that you will not want to miss and might need to purchase tickets for in advance. This is just just a small selection, curated from our main list, which you can access by clicking HERE or on the link below.

Today – February 8 | Valladolid Expo Fair 2026 (Valladolid)
One of Yucatán’s biggest annual celebrations returns to Valladolid in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria. Expect live music, traditional food, cultural events, rides, and exhibitions showcasing local agriculture, crafts, and commerce. Highlights include the Candelaria Athletic Race and a Battle of the Bands. More info here

January 27 – 31 | WAY: Week of Art Yucatán (Mérida)
WAY debuts as Yucatán’s first regional art week, bringing together galleries, artist studios, haciendas, talks, screenings, and events across Mérida and nearby towns. Designed as a relaxed prelude to Mexico City Art Week, it offers a slower, more intimate way to experience the peninsula’s growing contemporary art scene. More info here

January 29 | Wine Tasting & Dinner at Mamazul (Tulum)
An elegant wine-pairing dinner featuring Monte Xanic wines and a multi-course Mexican-inspired menu. Guided tasting experience in an intimate setting. 1,900 MXN per person. Reservations required via WhatsApp 984 807 6724.

January 30 – Isma Daniels Live (Playa del Carmen)
Parrilleros Playeros hosts a raw, high-energy rock show featuring iconic songs from Los Daniels plus new alternative sounds. Cold beer, fire-grilled food, and rock straight to the chest. Tickets online or at the door. More info here

February 1 & 2 | Tamale & Atole Fair (Playa del Carmen)
Celebrate one of Playa’s tastiest traditions at the 11th Annual Tamale & Atole Fair presented in Playa del Carmen’s Plaza 28 de Julio. Enjoy dozens of tamales, atole, live music, cultural performances, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Free entry.

February 1 | Mérida English Library 30th Anniversary Gala (Mérida)
A formal evening celebrating 30 years of the Mérida English Library. Enjoy a three-course dinner, wine, soft drinks, and live music by Gina Osorno & The Dreamers hosted by the Hotel Fiesta Americana Mérida. More info 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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Thanks for reading Riviera Maya Insider! Let’s chat again next Tuesday!

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