Your Weekly Window Into Paradise Friday October 9, 2026 |
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Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian readers!
Quintana Roo also had a birthday this week, marking 52 years of statehood on October 8. On that date in 1974, after decades as a federal territory, it officially became Mexico's 31st state.
Sunday brings Agarrando el Rojo to the Botanical Garden, with a local market, creative and eco-workshops, and a free circus variety show. If you are in town
Inside this issue, we also look at Cancún's tourist tax confusion, a proposed shipping route for Puerto Morelos, new ways to explore Quintana Roo, and turning sargassum into building materials.
Thanks for reading, and see you out on the town. 😎 |
This Week’s Insider Picks |
1. 🎪 Market, Circus & Arts at the Botanical Garden
A little shopping, a little circus, and a Sunday in the jungle. Agarrando el Rojo is bringing a full day of art, ecology, and community activities to Puerto Morelos's Botanical Garden, with something for the whole family.
Volunteer-led workshops offer a chance to try different creative disciplines and share skills. Eco-workshops and discussions explore local ecosystems, the biodiversity around us, and ways to care for it.
The afternoon brings a free circus variety show featuring acrobatics, clowning, fire performance, juggling, and more. The mercadito, or small market, lists 29 vendors offering local crafts, art, food, and environmentally conscious products.
Workshop contributions are voluntary, and donations at the garden entrance help support the venue and future community events. Anyone who makes a voluntary entrance donation can enter a raffle, so there is an extra reason to give a little if you can.
Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026 Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Jardín Botánico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín, Puerto Morelos Admission: Free circus variety show; voluntary contributions for workshops and donations at the garden entrance
2. 🎨 Women of Mesoamerica Exhibit: Last Chance to Visit
If you have been meaning to see Women of Mesoamerica, Friday is your last chance. The exhibition at the Puerto Morelos Cultural Center and Museum closes October 9, making this a daytime stop to put on your list before the weekend begins.
The artwork explores the beauty, identity, and cultural richness of women from Maya peoples of Mesoamerica. Traditions, customs, daily life, and the relationship between community and the natural environment all form part of the story.
It is a chance to spend a little time with the region's living culture through art. Go before 4 p.m. Friday or you'll miss it.
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026, final day Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Upper-level hall, Puerto Morelos Cultural Center and Museum Admission: Free
3. 🏉 Mayan Melee Rugby Tournament
Something different for your Saturday afternoon: men's 15-a-side rugby at Campo Pescadores. Dilo Asociación de Rugby Juvenil is hosting the Mayan Melee, bringing visiting players from Los Angeles together with clubs from across the Yucatán Peninsula.
The announced lineup includes LA Soul Rugby Club, Pitz Cancún, Malix Rugby Tulum, ASC Rugby Mérida, and Ek Balam Rugby from Playa del Carmen. Whether you already follow rugby or simply want to see what a local tournament looks like, spectators are welcome and admission is free.
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 Time: 2 p.m. Location: Campo de Béisbol Pescadores, Puerto Morelos (Baseball stadium just before the main highway) Admission: Free, everyone welcome |
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Insider Tip: |
Many Puerto Morelos visitors never make it past the beach, the reef, and the restaurant strip. That is exactly why the Jardín Botánico Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín feels like such a local secret. |
Local News |
Want more than just the beach? Quintana Roo has new adventures waiting for you. The state is offering exciting trips that go beyond the sand and into the jungle.
Explore Nature and History
The "Ruta de los Cenotes" near Puerto Morelos is a top spot. This road is full of natural water pools called cenotes, parks, and trails for you to explore.
You can also visit new ancient Maya cities. The city of Ichkabal opened in 2025 and has large ruins without the big crowds.
Experience Local Culture
For a taste of local life, you can take tours led by Maya communities. Villages near Felipe Carrillo Puerto welcome visitors to share their culture.
You can learn about traditional food, crafts, and even medicinal plants. This helps local families earn money directly from tourism.
This new focus on nature and culture helps protect the environment. It also brings visitors and money to new parts of the state. Read More... |
A new shipping route could soon connect Puerto Morelos to Central America. This plan could bring big changes for businesses and hotels in the popular tourist area of northern Quintana Roo.
A New Route on the Horizon
Port officials are discussing a new cargo line to a country like Guatemala. This would create a second major international shipping path for the town, which is a key entry point for goods.
The main goals are to increase the amount of cargo coming into the state and lower transportation costs. It would also give local businesses a new way to export their products.
Current Operations and Hurdles
Currently, the port's main job is bringing supplies like furniture, sheets, and food from Florida for the area's many hotels. While talks for the new route are promising, no company or start date has been announced yet.
A major challenge is that the port is too shallow for large, modern cargo ships. For now, officials must focus on using the current port more efficiently with smaller vessels. Read More... |
Flying out of Cancún airport? A tourist tax is causing confusion, and some visitors are being overcharged when they try to pay at the airport.
The Airport Problem
Some travelers flying out of Cancún are being asked to pay much more for the Visitax, a state tourist tax. The official price is around 285 pesos, or about $18.
However, some payment kiosks inside the airport have charged up to 550 pesos. Airport staff have not given a clear reason for this much higher price.
How to Avoid Extra Fees
To make sure you pay the right amount, it is best to pay the tax online before your trip. This helps you avoid stress and confusion at the airport.
Always use the official government website, www.visitax.gob.mx, to make your payment. Be careful of unofficial sites that look similar but will charge you extra service fees.
After paying, the website will give you a QR code as your receipt. Keep a screenshot of this code on your phone to show officials as proof of payment when you are leaving. Read More... |
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Sargassum Report |
That smelly brown seaweed on the beach, called sargassum, could become part of our buildings.
A new idea is turning this nuisance into a useful material for construction, which could help clean up beaches in places like Puerto Morelos.
From Seaweed to Cement
A company named RubisCO2 is using a special heating process on sargassum. This turns the seaweed into a powder that can replace some of the cement used to make concrete.
They have already tested about 50 tons of sargassum and plan to build a big factory. The new plant could handle about 60 tons of seaweed every day, though more research is needed to confirm the material's strength and cost.
Helping Local Towns
Other local businesses are also finding creative uses for the seaweed. One company turns it into fertilizer, and an entrepreneur created "Sargablock," a building block made from sargassum and clay.
For towns that get tons of sargassum, this is great news. These ideas can help clean up the beaches while creating new jobs and turning a big problem into an opportunity for the community. Read More... |
Local Events Update |
This week brings creative classes, live music, and a Thanksgiving meal for our Canadian neighbors. One deadline comes first: registration for the Cultural Center's free Día de Muertos workshops closes today, Friday, October 9.
Here are some of the latest additions to the events calendar, along with a last-chance cooking class and a celebration worth reserving ahead.
Free Cartonería Workshops: Paper & Modeling Paste and Clay
Mosaic Art Experience
Last Chance: Chiles en Nogada with Chef Karla Romo
Happy Hour with GRG Garage
Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner
IK Jazz Trio
Cuban Salsa: Beginners & Intermediate/Advanced
Open Mic & The Roomies
Xibalba Roots Reggae
Local Harvest Market: Nuestra Cosecha
Reserve Ahead: Tanino's 15th Anniversary Celebration
These are recent additions and useful highlights, not the whole calendar. There are many more events already listed, so click the big orange Browse All Puerto Morelos Events button below to explore them all. |