🌴 Your Insider Update from the Riviera Maya - September 8

🌴 Good morning, Insiders!

Thank you to everyone who answered the polls so far. Your responses are genuinely helping me decide where to put my time and energy as Riviera Maya Insider heads into its third year.

One idea I’m seriously considering is bringing back the Thursday newsletter, this time with one very specific purpose: helping you make weekend plans.

It would be a short, easy-to-scan roundup of events happening across the Riviera Maya, delivered every Thursday morning. No news and no long articles. Just what’s happening, where and when, with links to the details.

But, before I bring it back, I’d like to know how many of you would actually use it.

If there’s enough interest, I’ll bring the Thursday edition back for a trial run and see how it goes. I’ll also be looking for the right local business to become the Exclusive Sponsor of the Weekend Guide. If your business would be a natural fit, feel free to get in touch.

— Michele Kinnon

📸 Congratulations to everyone who guessed that last week’s photo was taken at one of the entrances to Xcaret. Kim B. was the first one to reply back…again! Will you beat her this week?

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!

🤖 A Surgical First for Quintana Roo
Cancun’s public hospital has completed Quintana Roo’s first robot-assisted surgeries, beginning with two successful gallbladder removals. The technology remains entirely controlled by trained surgeons and could eventually be used for hysterectomies, prostate cancer operations and other complex procedures. For local families, the biggest benefit may be access to specialized care without the expense and disruption of traveling outside the state. Learn more

🐊 Crocodile Encounters Renew Safety Concerns
A man was seriously injured in an apparent crocodile attack near Noh Bec lagoon, adding to recent incidents involving swimmers, fishermen and pets across Quintana Roo. The danger is made worse when people approach or feed the animals, as illustrated by a Cozumel guide recently caught baiting a crocodile for tourists. Read more

🚧 Federal Authorities Step In at AWA Project in Playacar
A dispute involving a familiar name in Playa del Carmen real estate has escalated. National Guard officers secured the planned Legacy by AWA development in Playacar after closure seals were reportedly removed. Now marketed as Aura by AWA, the project has faced environmental scrutiny since 2025. Here is what current owners, prospective buyers and local agents need to know. Read more

🕶️ Gen X Is Taking Over the Mexican Caribbean
The generation raised on mixtapes, paper maps and travel agents is now Quintana Roo’s largest visitor group. Gen X travelers are coming primarily from the United States, Canada and Mexico, staying for about a week and bringing company. While beaches remain the main attraction, nearly half of all visitors are skipping packaged vacations and planning at least part of the trip independently. Read more

🦅 Hawks on Hotel Patrol
Trained hawks are patrolling some Riviera Maya resorts, frightening away birds attracted to outdoor restaurants and food waste. Hotels promote the practice as a natural, nonlethal alternative to chemicals and traps, but animal-welfare advocates question the use, housing and tethering of captive raptors. Others argue that hotels should address the real source of the problem by controlling garbage and discouraging guests from feeding wildlife. Read more

🧳 Going Beyond the All-Inclusive
Two of the Riviera Maya’s biggest tourism groups are rethinking the traditional all-inclusive vacation. Grupo Lomas and Grupo Xcaret now bundle luxury accommodations with airport transfers, water parks, cenote adventures, catamaran trips and other activities. The packages offer convenience and predictable costs, but travelers should check reservation requirements and consider how many included experiences they will realistically use. Read more

The International Quant Championship (IQC) is one of the world's largest quantitative research competitions. Participants take on research challenges, test ideas and compete alongside aspiring researchers from around the globe. Explore where quantitative thinking can take you. Learn more.

Once you have made your guess, click CONTINUE and you'll be directed to the actual listing to see if you guessed correctly.

There’s something new happening down at the Paamul Restaurant, and this one sounds right up my alley.

The first Paamul Fish & Spritz Market takes place Wednesday, September 16, from 10 AM–3 PM, bringing together fresh seafood, creative cocktails and a small collection of local brands for a relaxed afternoon by the sea.

New Head Chef Brenda Ortega will be serving a special menu of ceviches made with fresh ingredients, while Head Mixologist Elenita Montejo handles the “spritz” side with cocktails featuring Aperol, Campari and Campo Azul.

You can do a little shopping while you’re there, too. Coral Print creates products from recycled plastics collected from local beaches and supports coral restoration work right in Paamul Bay. They’ll be joined by coastal jewelry brand Milan Joyas and Nook Tulum, featuring handmade clothing in natural fabrics.

The plan is to make Fish & Spritz a recurring market, bringing in different local makers and vendors for each edition. Hope to see you at the first one!

The next few weeks are looking especially delicious. From seaside ceviche and wine tastings to pop-up dinners and full-blown food festivals, here’s what’s worth putting on your calendar.

Italian Wedding Pop-Up Dinner September 9 | KI Restaurant at Ojo de Agua Beach Club | Puerto Morelos | 6 PM - Chef Umberto Pala presents a multi-course Italian dinner inspired by his daughter’s recent wedding, beginning with a welcome cocktail hour before dinner on the beach. $700 MXN per person; additional drinks are sold separately. Reservations are recommended.

Three Regions Wine Tasting September 10 | Wine O’Clock Boutique | Playa del Carmen | 7 PM - Guest sommelier Usiel Mendoza leads a guided tasting of wines from Chablis, California and Baja California, exploring how each region shapes what ends up in the glass. $850 MXN per person; advance reservations are required.

Semana Patria Gastronomic Fair September 12–15 | Parque Fundadores | Playa del Carmen | 5–10 PM - Local restaurants, cooks and food entrepreneurs serve Mexican dishes in a festive outdoor setting leading up to Independence Day. Admission is free; food and drinks are available for purchase.

Paamul Fish & Spritz Market September 16 | Paamul Restaurant | Details above.

Apapaxoa Festival GastroCultural Xcaret 2026 September 18–23 | Grupo Xcaret properties | Riviera Maya | Times vary - More than 50 internationally recognized chefs and creators come together for six days of collaborative dinners, brunches, tastings, workshops, mixology, art and music. Activities and dining experiences are individually ticketed.

FIVE 2026: International Wine and Wine Tourism Fair September 24–26 | Cancún Center | Cancún | Times vary - More than 50 wineries from 17 countries gather for three days of wine tastings, tourism experiences and opportunities to meet producers from Mexico and abroad. Admission options and daily schedules are available on the event website.

After more than 20 years in the Riviera Maya, these are purchases that have genuinely made my life easier, more comfortable and, in some cases, less expensive. If I were setting up a home here again, I’d buy these five things sooner rather than later.

1. A small portable generator. You don’t need to power the whole house. Keeping the fridge cold, a fan running, the internet on and your devices charged makes CFE outages considerably less painful. Trust me. You want this.

2. A reverse-osmosis drinking water system. Clean drinking water straight from the tap and no more hauling garrafones. We rent our system from Bebbia but you can also purchase your own. I would never go back.

3. Solar panels. With our sunshine and our dependence on air conditioning, this was money well spent. Just remember that regular grid-tied solar doesn’t necessarily provide power during an outage; that requires a battery or appropriate backup system.

4. Whole-house surge protection. Our power can be unpredictable, and protecting expensive appliances and electronics is far cheaper than replacing them. Our solar guy can hook you up with the right system. Let me know if you want his contact details.

5. Shower filters. Possibly the least expensive item on my list and one of my favorites. The water here was brutal on my hair and skin. Adding good shower filters literally saved both. We have these from Amazon.

Five purchases. Zero regrets. None of these are particularly exciting purchases, but that’s exactly the point. They solve the little problems that can make daily life here more frustrating than it needs to be. If I were starting over, I’d spend the money on all five again without hesitation.

We might be biased, but is Salvana the prettiest little dog you have ever seen? She is a ginger with just a touch of brindle to make it more interesting. Salvana is 1 1/2 years old and knows how to walk on leash. She gets along with other dogs and loves people. She is very playful and sweet. Salvana is spayed, up to date on vaccines, parasite free and has received all her monthly preventatives. If you need a gorgeous redhead in your life, send an email to [email protected].

With Mexican Independence Day just around the corner, this week’s picks are all about the celebrations. From local food and markets to live music and the traditional Grito, there are plenty of ways to join in, whether you want a full-on fiesta or something a little more low-key.

Semana Patria Gastronomic Fair September 12–15 | Parque Fundadores | Playa del Carmen | 5–10 PM - Local restaurants, cooks and food entrepreneurs serve Mexican dishes in a festive outdoor setting leading up to Independence Day. Admission is free; food and drinks are available for purchase.

Independence Day in Playa del Carmen — September 15 | Plaza 28 de Julio | Playa del Carmen | 9 PM. Celebrate with the traditional Grito de Independencia and free concerts by Ximena Sariñana and Sin Bandera. Free and family friendly.

Tulum’s Independence Day Celebration September 15 | Municipal Independence Day Celebration | Tulum Municipal Plaza | 8:30 PM - Tulum marks the eve of Independence Day with the traditional Grito and a free performance by Veracruz cumbia and tropical music favorites Super Lamas.

Puerto Morelos Independence Celebration — September 15 | City Hall Parking Esplanade | Puerto Morelos | 8:30 PM. Wear your green, white and red for a traditional Noche Mexicana and the Grito de Independencia. Free and family friendly.

Mexican Independence Celebration in Leona Vicario September 15 | Parque Principal | Leona Vicario | 7:30 PM - Local families gather in the town’s main park for a public evening of Mexican tradition, community festivities and the commemoration of the Grito.

Lucero & Mijares Independence Day Concert September 15 | Palacio Municipal | Downtown Cancún | 11:30 PM - Cancún’s Independence Day celebration culminates with the traditional Grito and a free late-night concert by two of Mexico’s most recognizable voices. Arrive early, as a large crowd is expected.

📆 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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