🌴 Your Insider Update from the Riviera Maya - October 6

🌴 Good morning, Insiders!

October is underway, and things are definitely starting to pick up. Playa Spice is giving us an excuse to eat out, and the events calendar is filling up with Halloween and Día de los Muertos fun. This week, we have good news and bad news out of Tulum, while Cozumel captures the headlines with reef rests, a potential dolphin sanctuary and a new cat café.

All this and much more, brought to you this week courtesy of our Featured Sponsor, Dr. Luigi Palermo and Timeless Beauty.

There’s a lot going on, so grab your coffee and let’s get caught up.

— Michele Kinnon

📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at the entrance to Playa 88. Melissa C. reading from Playa del Carmen was the first one to answer back correctly!

Where am I today? 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!

🍽️ Playa Spice Is Back — Who’s Participating This Year?
Playa Spice is underway through Nov. 15, with restaurants around Playa del Carmen rolling out special menus, discounts, two-for-one offers and other promotions. This isn’t one set restaurant-week menu: each participating spot is creating its own offer, giving you a good excuse to try somewhere new or revisit an old favorite. The lineup ranges from beachfront dining and breakfast spots to longtime Playa favorites. Learn more

💀 Xcaret's Festival of Life and Death Turns 20
One of the Riviera Maya's biggest Día de Muertos celebrations returns Oct. 30–Nov. 2, and Xcaret is going big for its 20th anniversary. This year's festival brings more than 200 performances, 37 altars and 18 traditional cooks to the park, with Guanajuato joining as the guest state. Pandora and Flans headline a separately ticketed gala concert on Oct. 31. Read more

🐬 Cozumel Moves Closer to a Dolphin Sanctuary
Chankanaab Park has emerged as the leading candidate for Cozumel’s proposed dolphin sanctuary, and there’s more behind the idea than creating another marine attraction. Changes to Mexico’s wildlife laws are forcing a rethink of what happens to dolphins already living in captivity. The proposed sanctuary would be separate from Chankanaab’s existing dolphin facility, but its location within an environmentally sensitive reef area could make finding the right location complicated. Read more

🌴 A 1,000-Acre Development Is Proposed North of Playa
A developer is seeking federal environmental approval for HAZUL, a massive resort and real estate project about nine kilometers north of Playa del Carmen. Plans include a 280-room hotel, homes, commercial areas, nearly 224 acres of man-made lakes and, surprisingly, an artificial beach nowhere near the Caribbean. More than half the property could undergo forest land-use change, and wildlife surveys recorded several protected species — including a jaguar. Learn more

🌿 Can Sargassum Become Big Business?
After years of spending millions to collect and dispose of sargassum, Mexico is looking at the seaweed as something potentially useful. At an international conference in Cancún, officials revealed that 198 sargassum projects are underway in Mexico, with 38 already selling products and 11 considered ready to scale. A new processing hub near Puerto Morelos could eventually handle as much as 4,000 tons a day. The challenge now is turning promising ideas into businesses big enough to make a difference. Read more

🐬 UPDATE: Nine Cancún Dolphins Remain in Limbo
We’ve been following the nine dolphins left at the closed Dolphin Connection facility in Cancún, and there’s finally an important update. Profepa says all nine have health problems, and three may be too medically fragile to relocate safely. The remaining six are being evaluated individually for a possible transfer. Conditions at the facility have reportedly improved, but the dolphins remain there nearly a year after it was closed. Read more

Spend enough time browsing Riviera Maya real estate listings and you may notice that a lot of it starts to look remarkably similar. White walls, clean lines, polished concrete, a furniture package from Actual. Beautiful, certainly, but sometimes a little predictable.

Then you find Villa Santiago. This striking three-story home in Puerto Aventuras has something increasingly difficult to find: a personality of its own.

With more than 8,000 square feet of living space, Villa Santiago was designed for generous living and entertaining. Soaring vaulted ceilings, Italian craftsmanship, a chef’s kitchen and expansive doors that bring the outdoors in give the home real presence.

Outside, there’s a private pool, tropical gardens, covered entertaining terrace with built-in bar and a rooftop terrace, plus a separate caterer’s kitchen for larger gatherings.

This isn’t a house designed to appeal to everyone, and that may be exactly the point. Villa Santiago is for the discerning buyer looking for something distinctive, beautifully crafted and decidedly different. Contact Marieke to take a peak inside.

I’ve been following Omar Vázquez and his Sargablock since the beginning, and this is one of those local stories that just keeps getting better.

Omar started experimenting with sargassum during the massive 2018 arrivals, eventually figuring out how to incorporate it into construction blocks. His first proof of concept was Casa Angelita, a home in Puerto Morelos named for his mother and built with more than 2,000 Sargablocks.

What started with wooden molds and about 200 blocks a day has grown into an operation capable of producing as many as 5,000. Omar says Sargablock has also donated 21 homes right here in Quintana Roo.

Now the idea is heading beyond Mexico. Sargablock has sold its first international franchise license in the Dominican Republic, with another project developing in Belize and interest from elsewhere in the Caribbean. Rather than shipping Mexican blocks around the region, Omar wants communities to make them locally using their own sargassum.

Why this matters: We hear a lot about turning sargassum from a costly nuisance into something useful. Omar has spent eight years actually doing it. If his model can work elsewhere in the Caribbean, a homegrown Puerto Morelos business could become part of a much bigger solution.

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Playa Spice is back through November 15, which means you have six weeks to turn “we should try that place sometime” into an actual reservation.

Organized by CANIRAC Playa del Carmen, Playa Spice isn't a traditional restaurant week with a prix-fixe menu everywhere. Each participating restaurant creates its own promotion, which might be a special menu, a discount, two-for-one deal or another special dining experience.

The lineup gives you plenty to work with. Lido Cocina de Playa, Café Antoinette, Fah Bar, Piaggia, Aldea Corazón, Mamita’s Beach Club, Chez Waffle, Ah Cacao, Los Aguachiles, Chez Celine, and YUM YUM by George are among the restaurants taking part.

One caveat: there is no universal Playa Spice offer, so check directly with the restaurant before you go to see what they're offering, which days it applies and whether you need a reservation.

Living here full-time, I don’t actually spend much time at all-inclusive resorts, but I know some of you do. My go-to travel advisor, Lori Gold of Mexperts, (who has forgotten more about the best stays in Cancun, Isla Mujeres and the Riviera Maya than most of us will ever know ) tipped me off to a new best-of list, so I paid attention!

Forbes recently released its list of 11 Best All-Inclusives in Cancun and picked Atelier Playa Mujeres as its best Cancún-area all-inclusive for food lovers. Forbes’ editors also chose Dreams Playa Mujeres as best for families and Palmaïa, The House of AïA in Playa del Carmen for spa and wellness.

👉 Explore all 11 Forbes vetted picks to see which one suits your kind of getaway.

If Cozumel is on your dive list this fall, don't panic when you hear that some of its best-known reefs are “closed.” This is part of an annual conservation program that rotates heavily visited reefs through temporary two-month rest periods. Cozumel diving is very much open.

For October and November, San Francisco, San Francisco Bajo, Santa Rosa and Pared de Santa Rosa are taking their turn to rest. Meanwhile, Palancar Cuevas, Palancar Ladrillos, Colombia Somero, Colombia Intermedio and Colombia Profundo have reopened following their August-September closure.

The program began after White Syndrome hit Cozumel's corals hard in 2018 and 2019. The closures don't magically repair damaged coral, but they temporarily remove pressure from boats, divers and snorkelers while other parts of the marine park remain open.

What this means for your trip: If you have a particular Cozumel reef on your must-dive list, check the current rotation before booking. Otherwise, don't let the closures discourage you. Your dive operator will simply choose from the many sites currently open.

The Tulum Hotel Association recently celebrated La Zebra’s first MICHELIN Key, but it wasn’t the only local newcomer in the 2026 selection. Two more Tulum hotels—Sana Tulum and NABOA Hotel Tulum—also received their first Keys. Farther afield in the Mexican Caribbean, NIZUC Resort & Spa in Cancun and Casa Las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel & Spa on Holbox joined them. All five received One Key.

If you’re wondering what that means for a stay, a Key recognizes the hotel experience, while a MICHELIN Star recognizes a restaurant. One Key means “a very special stay”; inspectors consider service, design, character, value and how a hotel connects guests with its setting.

For anyone planning a getaway, the new picks offer a few more places to explore—from Tulum’s beach and jungle to Cancun and Holbox. Browse MICHELIN’s Mexico hotel selection to see if your favorite is listed.

Things are getting a little quieter at Tulum Airport. Aeroméxico ended its Tulum service September 30, suspending its Mexico City connections and citing market conditions. Now Volaris is following. The airline will continue flying through the holidays but plans to suspend all Tulum operations beginning January 7.

The departures are part of a bigger trend. JetBlue, Copa, Avianca and Discover Airlines have also dropped Tulum service since the airport opened in December 2023.

The numbers help explain why. Passenger traffic at Tulum was down about 34% through August compared with the same period last year. Volaris has specifically pointed to low passenger loads on some routes, along with airport fees and other rising operating costs.

But Tulum isn’t going completely dark. Viva and Mexicana will continue domestic service, while American and several seasonal international carriers remain. Canadian service routes should also be ramping back up for winter soon, so be sure to check both airports when looking for options.

This one is a little outside our usual geographic range, but I think it’s worth the ferry ride.

The Humane Society of Cozumel Island is moving its Cozumel Cat Café downtown, into the courtyard of the Vista del Mar Hotel on Melgar. The concept is pretty irresistible: grab a coffee, enjoy the Caribbean view and spend some time with cats looking for homes.

But the café has a bigger purpose. Every visit helps support the Humane Society, which has been working on the island for more than 30 years through spay and neuter programs, veterinary care, adoption, education and community outreach. A particularly important part of that work is providing free sterilization services to help control Cozumel’s animal population.

The new location isn’t open quite yet, and you can still visit the cats at the current café in the meantime. When the downtown doors open, put this one on your Cozumel list. Coffee and cat cuddles that actually help more animals? I’m in.

Handsome Remy is ready to move on to the next phase of his life. He is 2 years old, neutered, up to date on vaccinations, parasite free and full of love to give. Remy loves to spend time with humans and other dogs, and walks are the best thing to ever happen to this guy.He is a total joy to be around, he has it all. Looks, brains and sweetness. You will never be bored with this guy in your life! If you are interested in Remy, please send an email to [email protected].

This week’s lineup is all over the map, in the best possible way. Think birdwatching, wine tastings, stand up comedy, live music, circus arts and a legendary ghost story. Pick your pleasure and make some plans. See the full calandar of events HERE.

Gran Noche de Vaquería — Fiesta de la Cancha Maya October 6 | Cancha Maya | Tulum | 8 PM - Tulum opens the Fiesta de la Cancha Maya with a traditional vaquería featuring Yucatecan music, jarana and a live performance by the Real Orquesta Yucateca ROYAT de Arturo Turriza.

18th Cozumel Island Bird Festival October 7–11 | Various locations | Cozumel | Times vary - Five days of guided birdwatching, conferences, workshops, cultural activities and family-friendly events celebrate Cozumel’s remarkable birdlife and the importance of protecting the island’s biodiversity.

Free English Stand-Up Comedy at Iguana Comedy Club October 7 | Iguana Comedy Club | Playa del Carmen | Doors at 8 PM; show at 8:30 PM - International performers and a rotating lineup of comics take the stage for a free night of English-language stand-up. Admission is free; a US$5 reservation guarantees a seat and includes one drink.

La Vid y La Ceiba Harvest Festival October 9–10 | Participating restaurants and Selva Maya | Valladolid | Friday 2–9 PM; Saturday 2–10 PM - Celebrate Mexican wine and Yucatecan food with a Friday wine-pairing route through Valladolid, followed by Saturday’s main festival featuring regional cooks, artisans, live music, grape stomping and wines from 15 Mexican wineries. Saturday admission is 685 MXN.

Planet Pop: Depeche Mode & 80s Night October 10 | Velarium | Playa del Carmen | 9 PM - A live Depeche Mode tribute anchors a night of synth-pop, new wave and familiar ’80s favorites, with Esa Flais and Sharon Y Selector joining the lineup. Cover is 50 MXN.

Agarrando el Rojo: Mercadito, Workshops & Circus October 11 | Jardín Botánico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín | Puerto Morelos | Activities from 10 AM - Spend the day exploring a local market, creative workshops, dance, circus arts and live performances throughout the botanical garden. Food, drinks, handmade goods, plants and natural products will also be available.

La Llorona: 25th Anniversary October 11 | Teatro de la Ciudad | Playa del Carmen | Performances at 6 and 8 PM - One of Mexico’s most famous legends comes to the stage in a theatrical production filled with mystery, suspense and tradition, starring acclaimed Mexican actress Lourdes Munguía.

📆 Did you know you can also submit your own event to appear on the calendar? Give it a try! The more people who use it, the better it gets.

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