Why Xcalak is the Mexican Caribbean’s Final Frontier
Only an hour away from Mahahual’s hordes of rowdy cruisegoers, this tiny fishing village feels like the final frontier of Mexico’s Caribbean Riviera — because in a very real sense, it is.
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A 7-Year Rescue Mission Ends With a Major Award for Hotel SevillaThe win adds another chapter to an already-decorated year for the property and its owner, Mexico City-based Grupo Habita, which Hospitality Design named its 2026 Hotelier of the Year earlier this spring.
A corner property in Mérida’s historic center that sat in ruins for years has just claimed one of the hospitality world’s more competitive design awards. Hotel Sevilla took the Small Hotel prize at the 22nd annual HD Awards, presented by Hospitality Design magazine. The ceremony was held May 5 at Encore Resort at Wynn Las…
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A Monterrey Travel Guide for Newbies: Top Attractions, Museums, and Food
After Mexico City and Cancun, Monterrey has the most flights of any other city in Mexico, which means getting there is very easy. This is true not just of other major hubs like Cancun, but also of other cities in the Yucatán Peninsula, such as Mérida and San Miguel de Cozumel. Now, let’s get this…
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The Mayan Train Just Got Cheaper — Here’s What It Costs Now
Getting from Mérida to Cancún or Campeche by train just became a better deal. The Tren Maya announced a fare reduction of up to 30% across its routes, with new pricing that took effect in late April — and one notable change that travelers from outside Mexico will welcome: the separate, higher foreigner-only rate has…
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Mexico’s Baseball Hall of Fame is a Must-Visit
In the heart of Monterrey’s Parque Fundidora, a massive terracotta building houses the country’s most important tribute to baseball. The Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano (Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame) opened in 2019, offering a modern alternative to the static, velvet-rope museums that typically define sports history. Here, the exhibits are not just…
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Yucatán’s Direct Link to the Big, Purple SoCal Gateway
Travelers in Mérida will soon have a new nonstop route to the U.S. border — and, just a short bridge walk away, to Southern California. Volaris is relaunching its Tijuana-Mérida route on June 1, with four weekly flights connecting the two cities nonstop for the first time since early 2024. The service originally launched in…
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With Eco-Tourism Growing, Río Lagartos is at a Crossroads
It’s one of Yucatán’s most remarkable natural destinations — a protected estuary sheltering Mexico’s largest colony of American flamingos, thousands of migratory birds, and crocodile-filled mangroves that draw ecotourists from around the world. But a simmering turf war among local tour operators is raising questions about whether Río Lagartos can manage its growing appeal without…
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Hacienda Mucuyché vs. Cenote Yaal Utzil: Which Is Worth Your Pesos?Two cenote experiences sit minutes apart on the same road south of Mérida. One is polished and pricey. The other is bare-bones and almost free. Here's how they compare.
Hacienda Mucuyché, a restored henequén-era estate with guided tours and a full-service restaurant, contrasts sharply with a much simpler Cenote Yaal Utzil up the road.
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Xocén: The Navel of the World, Prophecy, and its Fascinating Church
To visitors, Xocén may appear as a tiny community, not unlike many others on the Yucatán Peninsula. But to the Yucatec Maya, Xocén holds profound significance. It is widely considered the sacred center, or the navel, of the Maya world. This understanding stems from ancient tradition. Long before the Spanish arrival, the Maya viewed their…
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Yucatán’s Old Henequén Railway Becomes a Hacienda TrailCamino del Mayab connects living vestiges of Yucatán's heritage
The old henequén railway routes that once transported green gold from Yucatán’s haciendas to Mérida today serve a new purpose.
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New Direct Flight from Dublin Lands in Cancún for the First Time
Cancún International Airport celebrated the arrival of the first regular Aer Lingus flight from Dublin, Ireland, earlier this week. The flight marks the start of the first direct air service between Ireland and the Yucatán Peninsula, strengthening the international reach of the Mexican Caribbean. The route will initially run from January to April, then resume…
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Lol-Tún, Yucatán’s Most Famous Cave System, Will Finally Reopen In 2026
The Lol-Tún Caves, a major tourist attraction and archaeological site in Yucatán, Mexico, are scheduled to reopen to the public in 2026. The exact date for Lol-Tún’s reopening has not been announced. The caves have been closed since 2020 due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Cristobal. The storm triggered significant flooding within the cave…
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Why Chichén Itzá Keeps Breaking Attendance Records
When Dulce Guzmán became the 2.1 millionth visitor to Chichén Itzá this year, she joined a remarkable statistic that underscores an enduring paradox in Yucatán tourism: despite the peninsula being home to dozens of spectacular archaeological sites, one ancient city continues to capture the lion’s share of global attention. The numbers tell a striking story….
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How to Spend a Week in Oaxaca: Markets, Monte Albán and Mountain Adventures
Oaxaca is the proverbial trifecta, a combination of things that always get my blood flowing: history, culture, and natural beauty. If I were to add a fourth factor, it would be that there is a daily nonstop flight from Mérida that gets you on the ground in under two hours. The capital city of the…
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Yucatán’s Cruise Industry To Wrap Up 2025 With Record Results
Yucatán will conclude the year 2025 with record results in its cruise industry, projecting that it will have received more than 460,000 passengers during the period. This represents sustained growth compared to the previous year. The Ministry of Tourism Development (Sefotur), headed by Darío Flota Ocampo, reported that 19 cruise ship arrivals are expected in…
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What The Tren Maya Could Learn From Vietnam’s New Trains
Since its inaugural trip in 2023, the Tren Maya has encountered delays, engine failures, derailments, lawsuits, and ongoing protests. Direct service to Palenque has disappeared. Consequently, the train has too many empty seats to make the rail line successful. So what ideas could the Tren Maya borrow from successful passenger rail services in other countries?…
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US-Mexico Flight Suspensions: What Travelers in Yucatán Need to Know
For foreign residents and vacationers, recent news of suspended flight routes between the U.S. and Mexico might have caused a moment of panic. But here’s the takeaway — you can breathe easy. The core travel plans for the Yucatán Peninsula remain largely unscathed. A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation revoked approval for…
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Islas Marías: From Mexican Alcatraz to Eco-Tourism Paradise
Located roughly 80 km, or 60 miles, off the coast of the state of Nayarit, the Islas Marías archipelago has long been a name spoken more with caution than curiosity. For over a century, from 1905 to 2019, its largest island operated as a notorious penal colony often referred to as the “Mexican Alcatraz.” Its…
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Famous Boulevard in Cancún Hotel Zone Gets Modern Makeover
The legendary Cancún Hotel Zone is getting a massive infrastructure overhaul. Officials announced an ambitious renovation project to modernize the 22-mile (35-kilometer) tourist corridor. The Trust for the Strengthening of Tourism Activity in Quintana Roo (Foatqroo) is spearheading the project, which has a budget of nearly 300 million pesos (approximately $15 million USD). The work…
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The Timeless Charm of the Island of Flores, GuatemalaFlores Guatemala Awaits
The island town of Flores, Guatemala, in Lake Petén Itzá is steeped in history, from its ancient Maya roots to its colonial past and present-day role as a gateway to some of Mesoamerica’s most impressive archaeological sites. Its compact, colorful streets, lively water taxis, and proximity to legendary ruins make it a unique blend of…
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Isla Holbox is Quintana Roo’s 1st Certified ‘Queer Destination’Island paradise joins Los Cabos and Yucatán, which have demonstrated significant advances in tourism inclusion
Isla Holbox made history this week as the first destination in Quintana Roo to receive the prestigious “Queer Destinations” certification, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ tourism in Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The certification positions Holbox not only as a natural paradise with pristine beaches and rich biodiversity, but also as a progressive destination in human…
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Animaya Zoo Grows Greener and More Engaging Every Day
Over the past 15 years since its official opening, the Animaya Zoo has gone from 99 acres of rock quarry to one of Mérida’s most inviting green spaces. Its lush landscape is filled with trees and native foliage, offering visitors a safari-like experience unlike the more traditional zoo in the Centro. El Parque Zoológico Animaya,…
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Shared Histories: Bonds Between Mexico and Türkiye Run Surprisingly Deep
Mexico and Türkiye are cradles of some of the world’s oldest civilizations. Surprising similarities still exist today.
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What to Expect As Mexico City Prepares to Celebrate its 700th Anniversary
Celebrations are gearing up for the 700th anniversary of the founding of Tenochtitlán by the Mexica in 1325, which, after the conquest, became known as Mexico City. Over the past few decades, it’s become common for capitalinos to refer to their city as Mexico-Tenochtitlán, thus making the city’s true foundation date 1325, not 1521, when…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now