El Cuyo Beach Festival
El Cuyo has summer fun in the works. Photo Anne Fritzenwanker / Travelbee
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El Cuyo Beach Festival: Summer Fun For 2 Weekends

ByYucatán Magazine

Officials in Tizimín announced a packed summer schedule for the El Cuyo Beach Festival 2025, aimed at boosting the economy of this remote fishing village on Yucatán’s Gulf coast.

Mayor Adrián Quiroz Osorio presented the festival program alongside city council directors at a press conference on Thursday. The event will run over two weekends: July 25-27 and August 1-3.

  • El Cuyo
    The amazing pier at El Cuyo in Yucatán.Photo: German Schaub / Getty
  • El Cuyo has summer fun in the works. Photo Anne Fritzenwanker / Travelbee
  • El Cuyo Beach Festival
    El Cuyo has summer fun in the works. Photo Anne Fritzenwanker / Travelbee
  • El Cuyo
    Long before it began to grow as a tourism destination, El Cuyo was settled by the Maya, as evidenced by the remains of an ancient temple on which its lighthouse was built.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Colorful El Cuyo, Yucatán.Photo: Getty Images
  • El Cuyo
    During the high season, plenty of little markets and shops pop up, selling everything from snacks to inflatable toys and handmade jewelry.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    A handful of colorful wooded homes still stand in El Cuyo, giving it a Caribbean flair.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Because construction at El Cuyo is so strictly controlled, several camping and glamping businesses have set up shop during the past few years.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    El Cuyo is still relatively small, though the number of hotels, rentals, and restaurants doubles yearly.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    The roaring of truck engines going way too fast on sand “roads” and loud music being blasted on the beach certainly do not contribute to El Cuyo’s famous vibe.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Part of what makes El Cuyo so special is its quiet, something that certainly could not be said of the community over Easter weekend.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Renting buses for weekend trips by groups of friends or members of congregations is a common practice in Yucatán. To cut down on expenses, they usually bring their own food and drink.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    El Cuyo is a great spot for birding, with pelicans, cormorants, and flamingos among the easiest-to-spot species, especially during the morning.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    A group of kids laughed and spent their lives playing in El Cuyo’s warm waters while flying a kite.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Over Easter weekend the beaches at El Cuyo were overflowing with visitors enjoying the sun and surf.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Condos exist at El Cuyo and seem to be multiplying, but none exceed three stories as of yet.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Just a few miles from the Quintana Roo state line, El Cuyo is Yucatán’s most remote beach.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Even the drive into El Cuyo has changed drastically over the last year, with roughly 40 windmills near the winding roads of Dzonot.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    El Cuyo’s lighthouse was constructed directly atop an ancient Mayan structure.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Colorful El Cuyo, Yucatán.Photo: Laura Sanchez / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Colorful El Cuyo, Yucatán.Photo: Laura Sanchez / Yucatán Magazine
  • El Cuyo
    Private investors are preparing to launch another dinosaur-themed attraction, this time in El Cuyo.Photo: Courtesy
  • El Cuyo
    El Cuyo is situated where the Caribbean sea meets the Gulf of Mexico.Photo: Flickr
  • El Cuyo
    A new boardwalk will be built in the port of El Cuyo, Tizimin, as part of a government project to promote development in tourism. Google map

    • “We’ve worked to ensure a completely family-friendly festival, with safe activities and dignified service from service providers,” Quiroz Osorio said. He expects the event to become a major tourist showcase for eastern Yucatán.

    El Pueblo Mérida

    The festival comes after a slow season since Easter, according to organizers. Tourism Director Gabriel Aguiñaga Medina said they expect 18,000 to 20,000 visitors, representing a significant economic opportunity for the region.

    Tourist Infrastructure

    El Cuyo has 42 accommodation centers, including hotels, cabins, and inns, not counting furnished homes rented through platforms like Airbnb. The goal is to revive the port’s economy, Aguiñaga Medina said.

    Municipal Police Deputy Director Marcial Perera Navarro said 60 officers will patrol the port on foot and in vehicles during the festival. He urged visitors to avoid driving after consuming alcohol.

    El Cuyo Beach Festival Activities

    The festival opens Friday, July 25, at 8 p.m. with comedian Ruperta Pérez Sosa. A “Back in Time” themed night follows, featuring DJs Jorge Monforte and William Poot.

    Saturday kicks off with beach sports tournaments and cleanup campaigns. The “Paint Yourself in Colors” race and a biker ride attracting more than 300 motorcyclists are also scheduled.

    Evening entertainment includes a rock concert by “Chiquitazo Show,” headlining performance by La Explosiva Banda R-15, and electronic music by DJ Andrés Monforte.

    Growing Destination

    El Cuyo is known for its gorgeous beaches, sandy roads, and laidback vibe, located about 162 miles (260 kilometers) east of Mérida. The village sits within the Río Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, an important nesting area for sea turtles and home to thousands of flamingos.

    Tourism has brought a fair deal of prosperity to El Cuyo, but locals have successfully pressured authorities to prevent high-rise construction that could threaten the community’s character. Condos exist at El Cuyo and seem to be multiplying, but none exceed three stories as of yet.

    The remote location – accessible only by a single paved road – has helped El Cuyo avoid mass tourism development seen elsewhere on the Yucatán Peninsula. Many compare it to what Tulum and Holbox were like 15-20 years ago before they became major tourist destinations.

    Growing Popularity

    This past Easter weekend El Cuyo was, perhaps for the first time, fully booked, with beaches overflowing with visitors. Most were domestic travelers, with Yucatecos making up the largest share.

    The festival promises to expand spaces for artisans, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs to display and sell their products. Environmental activities will be included alongside cultural events, beach sports tournaments, and concerts for all ages.

    Transportation to El Cuyo requires driving through Tizimín and Colonia Yucatán, or taking multiple buses. The journey from Cancún takes about 2.5 hours by car.

    For more information about visiting El Cuyo and other Yucatán destinations, visit elcuyo.net.

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