Stories, guides and news about Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya — written by locals, for locals.
Quick answer: Quintana Roo received about 13 million tourists from January to August 2026, 3.8% fewer than a year earlier, the state tourism secretary, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, told state lawmakers, La…
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Quick answer: Playa del Carmen has again received 15 Blue Flag certifications for the 2026–2027 season, its tenth year in a row, 5to Poder reports. Eight of them are public beaches managed by the city…
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Quick answer: Business owners in Playa del Carmen have asked the city to let bars and restaurants stay open later during the low season, and the city says it may review requests one business at a time…
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Quick answer: Uber began operating in Playa del Carmen and Tulum on October 20, 2026, offering free rides as a launch promotion, Excélsior and Uno TV report. Residents and visitors welcomed another op…
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Quick answer: Mexico’s entry fee for foreign tourists, the Derecho de No Residente (DNR), is set to rise from 983 pesos to 1,158 pesos in 2027, an increase of 17.8%. The Chamber of Deputies approved t…
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Quick answer: Quintana Roo is sending para-dance and para-athletics teams to Mexico's National Paralympiad, Riviera Maya News & Events reports. The Paralympiad is the country's national multi-spor…
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Quick answer: Bacalar's hoteliers returned from a tourism caravan through Monterrey, Chihuahua, Culiacán and Tijuana having connected with just over 300 travel agencies, Riviera Maya News & Events…
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Quick answer: Playa del Carmen will celebrate Janal Pixán, the Maya observance of Day of the Dead, from October 31 to November 3, 2026, with more than 300 artists on stage at Plaza 28 de Julio, two ev…
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Quick answer: New winter routes are being added to Cancún International Airport, with Halifax, Windsor, Tampa and Richmond among the cities named, Riviera Maya News reports. For Playa del Carmen, abou…
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Quick answer: Two island communities near Playa del Carmen have announced their Day of the Dead celebrations for 2026. Cozumel's festival returns with the state of Michoacán as guest of honor, and Isl…
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Quick answer: The conservation organization MarAlliance has launched MARAP, a free app for tracking marine wildlife in the Mexican Caribbean, Riviera Maya News & Events reports. The idea is simple…
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Quick answer: Playa del Carmen is expanding its HIV testing and prevention strategy, Riviera Maya News & Events reports. The expansion follows an earlier municipal pilot program and plans for a de…
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Quick answer: Federal officials have denied authorization for a hotel project in Playa del Carmen after work had already been carried out, Riviera Maya News reported on September 26, 2026. The decisio…
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Quick answer: Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is installing new power lines in Playa del Carmen after months of outages and sustained pressure from residents, Riviera Maya News reported …
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Quick answer: Playa del Carmen is seeking private investment to build sargassum processing plants, according to Riviera Maya News & Events. The move comes as the 2026 season winds down and as Mexi…
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Quick answer: Cozumel is hosting its 18th Island Bird Festival from October 7 to 11, 2026, Riviera Maya News & Events reports. The island is home to birds found nowhere else in the world, and Octo…
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In August 2026, a development group announced plans to build a $270 million Premier Medical Destination Center in Cancún’s emerging tech district, a project expected to create a new…
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In Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was ranked #11 among the Top 15 All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, while its parent company, Velas Resorts…
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In 2026, Puerto Morelos — the small coastal town roughly midway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen — won a triple international award recognizing its development and appeal, drawing…
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On June 4, 2026, Southwest Airlines resumed direct service between Las Vegas and Cancún International Airport after a four-year suspension, timed just ahead of the World Cup and…
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In March 2026, Playa del Carmen’s municipal Economic Development office announced a five-part program to support local entrepreneurs, artisans, and producers, including a…
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In May 2026, Quintana Roo authorities created a formal registry to track and identify real estate agents operating without proper legal authorization across the state, including Playa…
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In May 2026, a new underwater sculpture initiative launched in Quintana Roo aimed at accelerating coral reef restoration along the Riviera Maya coastline, adding to an already…
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In 2026, Quintana Roo granted official protected status to Maya honey produced by native stingless bees, known locally as xunán kab — a designation aimed at preserving both a…
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Sabor a Playa 2026 ran July 9–19 along Fifth Avenue, bringing together twelve local restaurants, more than 100 local artists, and 25 musical groups in an eleven-day celebration of…
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In July 2026, Playa del Carmen became the first destination in Mexico to receive an official Geographical Indication for sustainable bull shark tourism — a legal designation that…
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On March 23, 2026, Mexico approved the 926-room Moxché Club & Resort just north of Playa del Carmen — after a thirteen-year review. Here is what the headlines miss, and what it actually means.
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Book lovers will be happy to know that Playa del Carmen has a handful of bookstores that cater to those who love to read, in both English and Spanish.
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Embark on an extraordinary adventure as we delve into the captivating world of the Maya Train, the ambitious railway connecting the wonders of the Yucatan Peninsula.
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Picture this: you're kicking back on the sun-kissed shores of the Riviera Maya, the gentle breeze carrying the aroma of world-class cooking. Here is where to eat in Playa del Carmen.
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Nestled along the picturesque shores of the Mexican Caribbean, Playa del Carmen beckons fishing enthusiasts with its rich marine bounty and year-round sunshine.
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Understanding the legal drinking age is a crucial aspect of any traveler's journey, and Mexico is no exception. Here is what visitors to Playa del Carmen should know.
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Nestled along the turquoise shores of the Mexican Caribbean, Playa del Carmen has a captivating history that transformed a quiet fishing village into a world-famous destination.
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