🌴 Tradition on Pause: A Turning Point for the Riviera Maya

🌴 Good morning Insiders!

The big news over the past few days has been the cancellation of the 2026 Travesia Sagrada Maya. If you don’t know what that is or why it’s important to the region, you will definitely want to read the first featured news story. This is an event that is near and dear to my heart so this probably won’t be the last time you find it here. 🙏

In today’s email you will also find:

All this plus the NEW Riviera Maya Events Calendar and much more brought to you with support from our Featured Sponsor Timeless Beauty.

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Congratulations to my friend Stacy Z who knew immediately that last week’s photo was taken at the pier at Kin Ha on Isla Mujeres. If you have never been there, it’s a great place to snorkel…as is the destination below!

📸 Where am I today? 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!

🚣‍♂️ Sacred Mayan Journey Cancelled for 2026
One of the Riviera Maya’s most iconic cultural events won’t take place this year. Grupo Xcaret has cancelled the 2026 Travesía Sagrada Maya following a ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court restricting the use of Mayan symbolism in its promotions. The decision leaves 333 canoeros and hundreds of supporting participants sidelined and raises bigger questions about cultural ownership and tourism in the region. The event now sits at the center of a growing debate over who has the right to represent and benefit from Indigenous traditions. Read more

⛳ Record Round Seals Tulum Championship Victory
The Tulum Championship 2026 wrapped with a standout performance as Dylan Menante fired a course-record 63 at PGA Riviera Maya to claim the title at 19-under par. The Korn Ferry Tour event drew 156 players from 20 countries, reinforcing the Riviera Maya’s growing status on the global golf stage. A strong showing from rising stars including 18-year-old Blades Brown and Mexico’s Álvaro Ortiz added to a high-stakes final round. Read more

🦈 Sharks Worth More Alive Than Caught
Over the past four years, conservation efforts in the Mexican Caribbean have helped save an estimated 30,000 sharks by turning former fishing operations into sustainable tourism ventures. From bull shark dives off Playa del Carmen to “Shark Safaris” near Isla Mujeres, local communities are finding new income and purpose in protecting these misunderstood predators. With shark fishing down sharply and ambitious plans for protected areas in motion, the region is emerging as a model for ocean conservation done right. Learn more

🚕 Tulum Taxis Go Digital—But Will It Fix the Problem?
After years of complaints about high fares, inconsistent pricing, and lack of transparency, Tulum’s taxi union is rolling out a new digital platform aimed at modernizing the system. The SITS by Flywheel technology promises trip tracking, improved safety, and greater accountability. But expectations are high. Taxi issues have long chipped away at visitor trust and are increasingly seen as part of the destination’s broader downturn. Learn more

💸 Property Tax Hand Off Raises Questions in Playa del Carmen
A new agreement quietly handed over property tax collection in Playa del Carmen to the state’s SATQ but the fine print tells a different story than what residents were originally told. Instead of targeting only delinquent accounts through 2026, the deal covers all taxpayers and could extend indefinitely. It also introduces additional costs not applied to other municipalities. With the city facing a significant budget shortfall and recent tax hikes already hitting businesses hard, the move is raising concerns about transparency and what it could mean for property owners going forward. Read more

🧺 Playa del Carmen Moves to Revive Struggling Public Markets
City officials are turning their attention to Playa del Carmen’s underperforming municipal markets, starting with a long-overdue overhaul of the Diana Laura Riojas market in Colosio. With most stalls closed, widespread subleasing, and serious infrastructure issues, including an unusable second floor, the city faces an uphill battle. The plan focuses on restoring order, cleanliness, and security, but it also highlights a bigger gap: Playa still lacks the kind of vibrant public markets found across Mexico. Read more

♻️ Haircuts for a Cause in Playa del Carmen
A grassroots campaign in Playa del Carmen is turning something as simple as a haircut into a tool for environmental protection. Over one weekend, volunteers collected around 20 kilos of human hair that will be used to create natural barriers for oil spill cleanup. With 138 free haircuts provided across the city, the initiative drew strong community support and even contributions from Cozumel. Ongoing collection points are now in place as organizers work to build a rapid-response network for future environmental emergencies. Learn more

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One of the classic perks of keeping your boat in a marina is the marina community itself. Most marinas have some version of a yacht club — sometimes polished, sometimes a little loud — where local boat owners and passing cruisers gather for a drink, swap stories, and trade the kind of fish tales only fellow boaters truly appreciate.

Until now, Puerto Aventuras has been a safe and well-run place to dock a boat. But few would describe it as a true marina “community.” That may be starting to change.

Puerto Aventuras Marina is launching Harbor Nights: Dock & Meet, an event intended to become an annual gathering exclusively for boat owners. The concept is straightforward: create space for connection. Not just slips and invoices, but conversation. Shared ideas. Open dialogue. A chance to meet the people docked just a few meters away and talk about what matters to owners here.

For years, we’ve lived in a place built around boats without much structured interaction among those who own them. This feels like a step toward something more intentional — and more inclusive — for the boating community in Puerto Aventuras.

The first Dock & Meet takes place Friday, April 24 at 8:00 PM (location to be confirmed based on attendance). If you are boat owner looking for your community, you will want to be there. If you’ve been hoping for a stronger sense of harbor camaraderie, this could be the beginning.

Please RSVP as soon as possible so organizers can select an appropriate venue.
📥 [email protected] 📲 +52 984 801 0117

The Tulum Airshow is the big event on everyone’s calendar this week. If you’re planning to attend, why not turn it into a full day with dinner after the expo. These spots are all in town, easy to reach after the event, and each one offers a different take on Tulum’s evolving food scene:

Whether you’re in the mood for elevated Mexican cuisine, fresh seafood, or a relaxed dinner with good wine, these spots make it easy to turn your airshow visit into a full, well-rounded Tulum experience.

There’s no shortage of sushi in Playa but actually learning how to make it properly? That’s not such an easy ask.

Viaje de Sabores is hosting a small-group sushi night that leans more experience than class. You’re not sitting back and watching—you’re at the station, knife in hand, building rolls from scratch using fresh ingredients and learning the techniques that make the difference between decent sushi and really good sushi.

The evening kicks off with a welcome cocktail, then moves into a guided, step-by-step session with a professional chef. Expect a bit of knife work, a bit of trial and error, and a lot of eating along the way. You’ll sit down to enjoy what you’ve made, and anything left over goes home with you.

The workshop will take place on Thursday April 23 at 6:00 PM and should run about two and a half hours. The event costs 2500 pesos and and is capped at just 10 people, so it stays interactive and personal. If you’ve been looking for something a little different to do in Playa, this one’s worth a spot on your calendar. Reservations required via WhatsApp 984-134-7430

📍 Viaje de Sabores is located on Av. Constituyentes between Av. 20 & Av. 25

If you’ve been thinking about taking a trip on the Tren Maya but the price was holding you back, now might be the moment to take another look.

Recent promotional fares, currently running through late June, are bringing prices down in a way we haven’t really seen before. Even better, on some routes and dates, Premier class seats are showing up at or very close to standard Turista pricing.

What does that look like in real terms?

A one-way trip from Cancún to Mérida, which previously could climb well over 1,000 pesos for higher-tier seats, is now popping up around 550 to 600 MXN for Premier class on select departures. Cancún to Bacalar sits closer to 600 to 650 MXN. That puts the train in direct competition with, and in some cases cheaper than, ADO standard service, and significantly below their premium options.

Another noticeable shift is pricing. The steep markup that international travelers were seeing in the past has, at least for now, largely disappeared on many routes. While it’s not being officially framed as a permanent change, the savings are very real.

As always, prices vary depending on timing and availability, but if the train has been sitting on your “maybe someday” list, this is one of the more compelling windows to make it happen.

👉 Buy tickets on the Tren Maya website or on the Tren Maya Tickets apps on Google Playstore or Apple App Store.

Pilot is one of Playa Animal Rescue’s longest residents—and one of the most deserving of a home. Rescued in terrible condition, he lost a leg during his recovery, but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit! This sweet, resilient boy doesn’t miss a beat. He loves his walks, all the sniffing adventures they bring, and most of all, being close to people.

Pilot is affectionate, loyal, and just wants someone to share his life with. He’s proof that strength comes in the gentlest form. Could Pilot be your perfect match?
📩 [email protected]

What’s going on this week? Here are just a handful of the events that have been added to the new calendar. 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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