🎨 Riviera Maya Insiders Support Akumal Arts Festival 🎨

🌞 Good morning, Riviera Maya! This is Riviera Maya Insider, the weekly newsletter that makes you the life of the taco cart.

📣 First, ¡Bienvenidos! (welcome) to all our new readers and a massive shout out to this week’s top referring INSIDERS Kelly, Donna, and Laura. Mil gracias for spreading the word!

Do you know someone who should be a 🍍 Riviera Maya Insider? Smash that share button to invite them on board!

Now let’s get into this week’s top news stories.

You don’t need to know everything going on along the Riviera Maya, but you should know something! 😜 I sift through hundreds of local and regional news stories so you don’t have to. These are the headlines in this week’s local news that caught my attention.

🎨 The Akumal Arts Festival returns for 2024 with a “painting party” at the Akumal bridge. Local and international artists and community members will join forces to transform this iconic spot with fresh murals and vibrant colors. This hands-on event invites everyone to be part of the creative process, adding a new layer of beauty and spirit to Akumal’s beloved landmarks. Read my article to find out more!

Riviera Maya Insiders are helping to raise funds for this year’s event. Scroll down to the GO GOOD RIVIERA MAYA section to see how your newsletter referrals turned into US dollars for this beloved community festival!

🎷 The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival has been unexpectedly canceled this year amid allegations of corruption involving local officials. Concerns over fund mismanagement have halted the beloved music event, casting uncertainty on its future in Playa del Carmen. Fans are left wondering what this means for the festival’s legacy in the region. Read more about the controversy here.

🚨 In a troubling incident at the Cancún International Airport, the clash between Uber and local taxi unions intensified involving tourists and interference from the Mexican National Guard. This escalation has left travelers uneasy and raises serious questions about safety, transportation freedom, and the power struggle over who controls access to Cancún’s busy airport.

🦈 The ambitious “Saving Our Sharks” initiative aims to rescue 20,000 sharks by 2025, tackling the urgent threats facing these vital marine predators. With a focus on conservation, education, and sustainable practices, this project is working to protect shark populations crucial to maintaining ocean health. This effort could reshape the future for sharks along the Riviera Maya.

⚖️ In a recent ruling, Calica (SAC-TUN) won a legal battle allowing the quarry to continue operations within a protected natural area along the Riviera Maya. The decision has sparked debate, as environmentalists voice concerns about potential impacts on local ecosystems, while the company asserts its commitment to sustainable practices. This verdict highlights ongoing tensions between development and conservation in the region.

🏛️ Puerto Aventuras is making strides toward becoming an independent municipality, a move that could bring greater local governance and resources to the community. The process, supported by residents and local leaders, seeks to establish autonomy from Solidaridad and address unique regional needs. This journey marks a significant chapter in Puerto Aventuras' development and its vision for the future.

✈️ WestJet has launched direct flights to Tulum from Calgary and Toronto, making it easier than ever for Canadians to reach Mexico’s Caribbean coast. This new route brings a convenient option for travelers eager to explore Tulum’s beaches, cenotes, and vibrant culture. Find out what this means for tourism and future travel between Canada and Tulum.

♻️ The Governor of Quintana Roo has launched the Recycle for Your Future program, an initiative to promote sustainable waste management across the state. This program encourages residents to participate in recycling efforts that benefit both the environment and local communities. By fostering eco-friendly practices, Quintana Roo is taking steps toward a greener future.

🏖️ Despite living in a tropical paradise, many Cancún residents rarely visit their own beaches, citing reasons like overcrowding, high costs, and limited access. This news article reports the disconnect between locals and the world-famous shores just minutes away, shedding light on the challenges and hidden realities behind life in a major tourist destination. Discover what keeps Cancún’s beaches out of reach for its own residents.

Did you find something interesting in the news that you think belongs in the Roundup? Reply to this email and send me the link!

Here is a selection of fun and interesting events coming up soon along the Riviera Maya and beyond!

November 10 through November 16 - Akumal Arts Festival in Akumal.

November 10 - Luis Miguel in Concert at the Andrés Quintana Roo Stadium in Cancun

November 16 & 17 - Feria de Queso de Bola at Parque las Palapas in Cancun.

November 16 & 17 - 2024 Mexican Triathlon Championship at Xel Ha Park in Tulum.

November 16 through 18 - Coco’s Animal Welfare FREE Spay and Neuter Clinic in Playa del Carmen.

November 24 - 2024 Ironman Cozumel Latin American Championship on Cozumel.

November 28 - Thanksgiving Dinners and Events will be published in the upcoming weeks.

November 28 through Dec. 2 - Transcendence Festival “The Butterfly Awakening” at Finca Yorogana in Playa del Carmen.

December 10 - Fundraiser for Gaylita at Café Ole in Puerto Aventuras. Market, music, raffle and more to help cover Gaylita’s ongoing medical expenses.

December 15 - Noel Christmas 10K, 5K and 3K Race in Cancun

Do you have information about an upcoming event that you would like to see shared on 🍍 Riviera Maya Insider🍍? Let us know by replying to this email!

That means a little bit of everything!
Interesting articles about Mexican history, culture, art, food and more

Tulane Grad Student Discovers Lost Maya City Beneath Mexican Jungle
Hidden beneath the dense jungle in southeastern Mexico, an ancient Maya city has been uncovered using advanced laser mapping technology. This discovery provides a glimpse into a sprawling civilization once thriving in the region, with structures, plazas, and roadways preserved beneath the jungle canopy. Archaeologists are now piecing together the city’s history and its role in Maya society, offering fresh insights into this mysterious civilization. Watch the video to get the whole story. 👇

Birria vs. Barbacoa: What’s the Difference?
Birria and barbacoa are both beloved Mexican dishes, but their flavors, cooking techniques, and regional origins set them apart. This article breaks down the unique aspects of each—birria's bold spices and slow-cooked origins in Jalisco, and barbacoa’s tender, pit-cooked method rooted in Mexico’s central regions.

Of course, we love them both and have spent many afternoons trying to find the best of both here on the Riviera Maya. This article explains the specific characteristics of these two taco staples and discovers why each has its loyal fanbase. Learn more here.

🥃 The World’s Best Tequila: A Taste of Excellence from the Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards
Ever wondered what sets a truly exceptional tequila apart from the rest? The 2024 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards recently named this year’s top tequilas, and the results are bound to excite aficionados and casual sippers alike.

From artisanal processes to flavor profiles that redefine the spirit, this article spotlights the top contenders and reveals what makes these bottles stand out on the global stage. If you’re serious about tequila—or just curious about the craft—don’t miss this chance to discover the world’s finest. Read more here.

Are you interested in purchasing real estate along the Riviera Maya? Are you an investor looking for vacation rental properties with great ROI? Maybe you’re dreaming about finally escaping the rat race and retiring on the beach.

Reply to this email and we can help you start your search the right way, working with fully licensed and certified REALTORs and reputable attorneys.

Think you have been priced out of the Riviera Maya real estate market? You may want to think again. Real estate prices in the region have indeed gone up, especially over the past 5 years, with hot spots like Tulum and Playa del Carmen attracting investors from all around the world. You may think you can’t find a fully-equipped 2 bedroom 2 bath for under $200,000. I was surprised when I came across this cute condominium for sale in Tulum.

Over the past few weeks, Riviera Maya Insider has been running a fundraising campaign to support the Akumal Arts Festival. Read more about the festival here.

We asked you, our INSIDERS to refer this newsletter to any friends who you think would enjoy or benefit from it. For every one of your friends who subscribed to our mailing list, we promised to donate 1 USD to the 2024 Akumal Arts Festival. 💌

We have had a great response and this morning, we handed over 110 US Dollars to festival coordinator Joe Schipani, 1 Dollar for every new subscriber that YOU referred.

We are going to keep this campaign open for another week, to help cover more of the costs of the festival. So, go ahead and SMASH that share button.

The Akumal bridge is being scraped and primed and the artists have their designs ready! I’ll be stopping down to check on the progress of the murals this week and should have a great update for you all in next week’s newsletter.

It costs nothing to share the newsletter and gives you, the INSIDERS a way to Do Good Riviera Maya. 💪

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