🌴 Your Insider Update from the Riviera Maya - September 22

🌴 Good morning, Insiders!

Thank you for your poll responses and messages! Your answers have already helped bring back the Thursday Weekend Roundup and shown me that there’s real interest in future INSIDER gatherings. Plus, it’s been fun for me to get to know you all better. This week, I’m curious about something different.

Has something you discovered in this newsletter ever prompted you to attend an event? Visit a destination? Book a service? Try a new restaurant?

And if you want to tell me what was specifically helpful for you, pop me a message. I’m genuinely curious.

— Michele Kinnon

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📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at Kay Beach Club. Dana A. was the first one to reply back with the right answer, reading from just down 307 in Tulum Country Club.

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!

🏠 Vacation Rental Owners Get a Grace Period
Playa del Carmen is giving vacation rental owners time to join its new municipal registry before more active enforcement begins. Registration remains voluntary for now, but properties must still meet existing licensing, Civil Protection and environmental-fee obligations. Owners can begin online, and the city has indicated inspections could follow in 2027. Learn more

📶 Free Wi-Fi Expands Across Quintana Roo
Free high-speed public Wi-Fi is coming to Parque Fundadores and Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen, with new access points also planned for Isla Mujeres. The program already operates in Cancún, Tulum and Puerto Morelos. While convenient for residents and visitors, the expanding network still represents only a small fraction of the connectivity needed across Mexico’s busiest tourism state. Read more

📵 Cellphones Out of Classrooms Beginning in October
Mexico will restrict cellphone use throughout the school day in primary and secondary schools beginning in October. Many practical questions remain, including where phones will be stored, how parents can reach children during emergencies and what exceptions will apply. The new policy arrives alongside a national student mental-health initiative. Read more

🐢 Record Nesting Season at Playa Aventuras
Sea turtles are having a remarkable year at Playa Aventuras. Through August, Eco-Bahía documented a record 2,637 nests and released 32,478 hatchlings into the Caribbean. With nesting season still underway, those numbers could climb even higher. The conservation program also achieved 95% observation coverage and marked a record 340 turtles. Read more

🏪 Playa Plans One-Stop Shop for Business Permits
Opening a business in Playa del Carmen could soon become easier. The city has signed an agreement to create a one-stop shop for municipal permits and investor support, alongside a 50% reduction in operating-license fees. But important details, including its opening date and the procedures it will handle, have yet to be announced. Learn more

🌿 Xcaret’s Xibalbá Park Nears Opening
After years of delays, Grupo Xcaret’s ambitious Xibalbá park near Valladolid may finally be moving toward an opening. Built around eight natural cenotes, the attraction was closed by environmental authorities in 2022 over damage and missing permits. Officials now say those obstacles are being resolved, although Xcaret has not announced an opening date. Read more

💙 Deportations Increase Pressure on Puerto Aventuras Shelter
The migrant shelter in Puerto Aventuras is caring for a growing number of people, including Mexican citizens deported from the United States. With more residents to feed and accommodate, the center urgently needs fresh fruit, bread, toiletries, toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Local officials recently assessed the facility, but immediate community support is still needed to keep it stocked and operating. Learn more

There’s a new dining concept launching in Puerto Aventuras, and this one literally puts dinner on the water.

Ocean Dinner is the creation of two seasoned local businessmen, Mikael of Riviera Elite and Jason of Calypso Charters, who have transformed a boat into an intimate floating restaurant. The concept is simple but elegant: gather your friends, settle in for dinner and drinks, and cruise the channels of Puerto Aventuras and the caleta while you eat.

This isn’t your typical boat charter with a cooler and a bag of snacks. The boat has been set up with proper dining tables, tableware and lighting, creating the feel of a small restaurant that just happens to move. Think cocktails and canapés, ceviche and aguachile, grilled fish, filet mignon and more.

This new venture is just setting sail and can be booked for private celebrations, with plenty of flexibility in how you put the evening together. Want a sneak peak at the menu? Pop me a message.

If you’re looking for value in Tulum, this one deserves a closer look. This spacious, modern 2-bedroom, 2-bath penthouse at TAO Tulum puts you inside a gated community in highly desirable Aldea Zama, with the beach, town and Tulum’s archaeological zone all just minutes away.

The two-story residence offers 119 square meters of living space, an open floor plan, two pools, fitness center, yoga area and tropical gardens. Best of all, a spiral staircase leads to your private rooftop terrace with Jacuzzi and panoramic jungle views.

For a vacation home, retirement option or property with rental potential, you’re getting a lot here for the price. TAO is also a name many Riviera Maya buyers already know, with established communities in Akumal and Tulum Country Club.

👉 See the full listing here

Negroni Week is back, and La Perla Pixán & La Carbonería is turning it into a full week of cocktails, competition and late-night fun. From September 21–27, visiting bartenders and guest DJs will take over this 38th Street hotspot, along with special cocktails and a flair bartending competition.

There are some interesting spirits in the mix too. Condesa Gin, made in Mexico City with distinctly Mexican botanicals, joins Diega (my personal fave) and cocktail specialist Finest. Not a gin drinker? The Lost Explorer will be representing the agave side with its traditionally produced, small-batch mezcals and tequilas.

But the real draw will be behind the bar. Expect music, creative cocktails and plenty of showmanship as competitors put their bottle-flipping and cocktail-slinging skills to the test.

📍 La Perla Pixán & La Carbonería is located on Calle 38 between 5th Ave. and Calle Flamingos

Get ready to eat your way around Playa del Carmen. Playa Spice returns October 1–November 15 with six weeks of special menus, discounts and limited-time dining experiences at restaurants across the city.

Expect everything from Mexican and Caribbean flavors to international favorites, with plenty of reasons to try somewhere new or revisit a restaurant you already love.

This isn’t a festival in one location. Each participating restaurant will offer its own Playa Spice promotion, with menus, prices, hours and reservation requirements varying by venue. The complete lineup and all the delicious details will be announced before the campaign begins. Stay tuned for updates!

YUM YUM by George is setting the table for the second edition of its Chef’s Table on Saturday, September 26. Just 10 guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, with each dish paired with wine and presented by the chef.

The evening lasts about two hours, giving the chef time to explain each course, the ingredients behind it and why the selected wine works with the dish. It’s an intimate dinner for anyone who enjoys trying something new and hearing the story behind what’s on the plate.

The Chef’s Table begins at 7 PM and costs 1,280 pesos per person, excluding service. With only 10 seats available, reservations are essential. Learn more about the menu and reserve via WhatsApp at +52 984 129 5981.

📍 YUM YUM by George is located on Av. 10 near the corner of Calle 6 in Playa del Carmen.

Golf carts are practically a way of life in Puerto Aventuras and Tulum Country Club. Many residents have them for daily use. But if you rent one to your guests, new state rules may apply to you.

Quintana Roo is introducing numbered inspection stickers for commercial rental carts. Obviously, the new regulations will hit hardest on Isla Mujeres, Holbox and Mahahual where golf carts are ubiquitous. The gray area is carts rented inside gated communities that never venture onto a public road.

Unfortunately, the gate may not be enough to keep out inspectors. State law regulates the business of renting self-drive vehicles and does not offer a clear exemption for carts used exclusively on private roads. Bundling a cart with a condo rental may not sidestep the rules either.

Imoveqroo still needs to clarify how this will work in mixed-use developments, along with the deadlines, costs and inspection process. For now, there is no need to panic, but rental owners should not assume they are exempt without getting that answer in writing.

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There’s a wonderful new partnership taking shape at Hípico Riviera Maya in Paamul.

Héroes con Herraduras (Heroes with Horseshoes) is a Quintana Roo nonprofit that uses equine-assisted therapy to improve the quality of life of children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. The organization provides therapy at no cost to families who otherwise could not afford this type of specialized care and is an authorized charitable organization (donataria autorizada) in Mexico.

Now its work is expanding into our area through Hípico Riviera Maya, the equestrian center located just off Highway 307 in Paamul. The Hípico already offers riding programs, early childhood stimulation with horses and equine-based coaching in a beautiful natural setting.

And you don’t need to be a rider to help. Héroes con Herraduras relies on donations, volunteers, professional services, supplies and community partnerships to keep its programs accessible.

👉 Find out how you can help by contacting Mara Wills at Hípico Riviera Maya. Whatsapp 984 143 6457 or email [email protected].

This is Scooby, our gentle giant. If you are looking for a best friend, he is your guy. Scooby is 4 years old and weighs 27 KG. He is loving and calm and enjoys spending time with his people. Scooby walks well on leash and loves long walks with lots of opportunity to sniff the world around him. Scooby would do really well as an only dog as he is confident. He is a very chill dude and does not love when other dogs bark at him, really, who does? To meet Scooby, email [email protected].

From master artisans and mariachi to wine, polo, international choirs and reggae, this week’s lineup is all over the map in the best possible way.

Xcaret Mexican Folk Art Fair 2026 September 24–27 | Hacienda Henequenera at Parque Xcaret | Riviera Maya | 10:30 AM–7:30 PM - Meet 150 master artisans from across Mexico and shop authentic textiles, ceramics, embroidery, blown glass, woodcarvings and metalwork. Event-only admission is $200 MXN or included with regular park entry.

FIVE 2026: International Wine and Wine Tourism Fair September 24–26 | Cancún Center | Cancún Hotel Zone | Times vary - More than 50 wineries from 17 countries come together for three days of tastings, wine tourism and opportunities to meet producers and discover new labels from Mexico and abroad.

14th CoralCun International Festival September 25 | Parque Fundadores | Puerto Morelos | 6–9 PM - Choirs from Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Mexico bring choral arrangements and popular music to the waterfront for a free, family-friendly concert beside the Caribbean.

Environmental Film Festival September 25 | Akumal Community Center | Akumal | 7:30 PM - CEA Akumal hosts eight short films from around the world focused on conservation, sustainability and our relationship with nature. Admission is free and the program is family friendly, with English and Spanish subtitles.

Mariachi Sol de México Live September 26 | Teatro de la Ciudad | Playa del Carmen | 8–10 PM - The International Mariachi Festival of Quintana Roo brings the acclaimed Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández to Playa, joined by Mariachi Real de Lujo. Doors open at 7 PM.

10th Annual Copa de Verano Polo Tournament September 26 | El Rey Polo Country Club | Puerto Morelos | From 2 PM - Head out along the Ruta de los Cenotes for an afternoon of competitive polo at one of the Riviera Maya’s dedicated polo grounds. The club is located at Km 11.5 on the Ruta de los Cenotes.

Día de Jamaica: Roots x Caché September 27 | Caché Rooftop | Playa del Carmen | 3–11 PM - Spend Sunday enjoying Jamaican food and reggae, with DJ Bassie providing the soundtrack before a live performance by GOADE Reggae Band at 8 PM. Tickets are $100 MXN in advance or $150 MXN at the door. Reservations are required.

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

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