🐝 What's the Buzz About for World Honey Bee Day?

TOGETHER WITH

It’s Tuesday August 5 and today’s newsletter is dedicated to World Honey Bee Day. which is recognized annually on the third Saturday in August. In this region—home to the sacred, stingless Melipona bee—we celebrate all month! Playa del Carmen hosted its “Lagrimas de Oro” honey festival last week and Tulum is presenting their fair this upcoming weekend in Cobá. Keep reading to find out more.

Also in the news:

• Corruption in the PDC Immigration offices?

• U.S. Tarrifs boost Mexico’s chocolate industry

• Why is HSBC closing accounts across Mexico?

• An update about the Xcaret annual pass

— Michele Kinnon

*This newsletter may be clipped for length by your email provider. For the best reading experience, scroll up and select the option to READ ONLINE. The typeface is larger and easier to read. The images are crisper. It’s a better reading experience. Trust me. 😄 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

📹️ We are mixing it up a little bit this week. In place of our regular Photo of the Week and in anticipation of World Honey Bee Day check out this marvelous short film featuring Anselma, a traditional beekeeper and guardian of the sacred melipona bees.

📸 If you would like to see your photo (or video) featured here, follow and tag @rivieramayainsidermx on Instagram or send it to [email protected].

IN THE NEWS

News from the Riviera Maya and beyond. You don’t have to know everything—but you should know something. Here are a few stories that caught my eye in the news this week.

INM Scandal: Appointments for Sale in Playa?

Playa del Carmen’s immigration office is under investigation for allegedly allowing third parties to sell appointment slots—some for as much as 3,000 pesos. With reports of fraud and fake QR codes, officials say reforms are coming. Get the story here.

Uber Reserve Arrives at Cancún Airport

Travelers flying into Cancún can now pre-book rides up to 30 days in advance with Uber Reserve—making it the first airport in Mexico to offer the service. But will this convenience survive long-standing tensions with local taxi unions? Read more about this new service.

Tax Showdown in Playa del Carmen

A proposed property tax reform in Playa del Carmen has sparked heated debate. While the mayor says it's about fairness, hotel and restaurant leaders warn of skyrocketing costs and job losses. Is this fiscal justice—or a blow to business? Find out what’s really at stake.

Tulum’s Breaking Point

Once the crown jewel of barefoot luxury, Tulum is facing its worst tourist season in over a decade. With hotel occupancy plummeting and beaches choked by sargassum—and red tape—locals are sounding the alarm. Can cultural festivals save the town, or is it too late to revive its fading magic? Read the full story.

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U.S. Tariffs Sweeten the Deal for Mexican Chocolate

Trump-era cocoa tariffs are melting profits for U.S. chocolate makers—but Mexico’s producers are savoring the moment. Thanks to USMCA, Mexican chocolate can still enter the U.S. duty-free, giving local brands a major boost. This trade twist could completely reshape North America’s chocolate industry. Find out how.

Why Is HSBC Closing Bank Accounts in Mexico?

Some HSBC Mexico clients are seeing their accounts unexpectedly closed—but it’s not a mass purge. The bank says it’s all part of routine anti-money laundering protocols. Could your account be at risk?

New Bypass in the Works for Playa del Carmen?

The overpasses on 307 are stressed. Avenida 115 can’t keep up with the city’s explosive growth. City planners are eyeing a new traffic bypass to ease the gridlock and struggling to find solutions that align with Playa’s long-term development plan. Read more.

ICYMI LAST WEEK

These were the most popular news stories featured in last week’s newsletter.

Tax Revolt in Paradise?

Playa del Carmen’s business and legal communities are pushing back hard against a proposed property tax overhaul that could spike valuations by up to 900%. They’re calling the plan arbitrary, opaque, and economically reckless—especially as tourism slows and local businesses struggle. Get all the details here.

Biometric CURP to Become Mandatory by 2026

Mexico is rolling out a new biometric ID system—and by February 2026, you’ll need it for almost everything, from banking to healthcare to school registration. The updated CURP will replace most official IDs, so now’s the time to get informed and ready. Read more.

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EXPAT LIVING

Celebrate World Honey Bee Day in Cobá

Head to Cobá for a sweet celebration of one of nature’s most important pollinators—bees! The Municipality of Tulum is hosting a full afternoon of hive-inspired fun in honor of World Honey Bee Day, with events that highlight the ecological and cultural value of bees in the region.

The festivities kick off at 2 PM with a honey-based recipe contest, followed by food tastings, artisan products, and cultural exhibitions. You can attend talks from experts, explore live hive displays, and even take guided visits to nearby Maya villages and meliponarios—traditional stingless bee sanctuaries. Kids will love the drawing contest, while adults can browse the artisan market or enjoy traditional food and dance performances throughout the day.

📍 Casa de la Cultura, Cobá
📆 Saturday, August 9 | Beginning at 2 PM
🎟️ Free Admission | Food and beverage for purchase

Is Xcaret Cancelling Its Annual Pass?

A few readers with annual Xcaret memberships reached last week with questions about the newly imposed daily visitor limits. So—we looked into it. Good news: the Soy Xcaret annual pass is still alive and well.

I actually had this pass myself a few years ago and absolutely loved it. It’s available to Quintana Roo residents and offers unlimited park entry for a full year. Food, drinks, and extras like transport and add-on activities aren’t included, but for locals who enjoy visiting often, it’s a great deal.

Despite recent headlines about daily capacity limits, there’s no sign Xcaret plans to eliminate this annual membership. The limits are aimed at managing single-day visitor traffic, not at restricting locals with passes. If you’re a local looking for a way to visit Xcaret regularly without paying full admission each time, the Soy Xcaret pass is still available—and definitely worth considering.

👉️ Find out how to get the Xcaret annual pass and what it includes!

NOTES ON NAPKINS

A Special Order of Liquid Gold

Experience the pure taste of the jungle! Organic wild honey, harvested with care by local beekeepers in the Maya Hinterland, is making its way to Playa del Carmen. From the heart of the selva to your home, Michael Maurus is bringing two unique varieties: Regular Apis Honey—sweet, rich, and perfect for everyday use and medicinal honey from Melipona bees—a rare, more potent honey with incredible health benefits.

🍯 100% Pure Medicinal Melipona Honey: 590 MXN for 250g/8.82oz.
🍯 100% Pure Apis Honey: 195 MXN for 500ml/16.91 fl oz.

📍 Centro Maya | Playa del Carmen
 📆 Sunday, August 10 | Pick up promptly between 9 - 9:30 AM 
📞 Reserve in advance on whatsapp 998 179 0300

Send a message to reserve your jars in advance. Michael will guide you through the reservation and answer any questions you have about cost, payment, and exact pickup location details. Deliveries of this 100% pure organic honey are infrequent. Don’t miss your chance!

👉️ Learn more about Melipona honey and the sacred bees of the Maya

Make Your Own Chile en Nogada

August marks the beginning of Chile en Nogada season—a patriotic culinary tradition born in Puebla and steeped in history. Legend has it that the dish was created by nuns in 1821 to honor Agustín de Iturbide with the colors of the Mexican flag: green poblano chile, white walnut sauce (nogada), and red pomegranate seeds. Now, you can learn to make this iconic dish from scratch at La Perla Pixán in Playa del Carmen.

This immersive cooking class includes an introduction to traditional Mexican techniques like tortilla-making, salsa prep, and guacamole, followed by a step-by-step tutorial on the house-style chile en nogada—from its savory-sweet filling to the creamy nogada and final plating. Cost includes all ingredients, hands-on instruction, a glass of wine and certificate of participation. Best of all—you get to eat your own creation!

📍 La Perla Pixán | Calle 38, Playa del Carmen
📅 Thursday, August 7 | 11 AM Start
🎟️ 2,000 MXN | 3,000 per couple | 1,500 for locals
📞 Reserve early: 984 120 2616 | Limited spaces available!

👉️ Learn more about the history of Chiles en Nogada

¿QUE PASA?

Art Exhibit "Between Jungles, Mangroves, Corals, and Paintbrushes"
August 1 - 30 | Puerto Morelos Cultural Center and Museum | Tues - Sun 10 AM - 6 PM.

Tak’an Gastronomic Festival
August 8 & 9 | Former Train Station in Halachó, Yucatan | Free Admission

National Bee Day Festival
August 9 | Casa de la Cultura de Cobá | Beginning at 2 PM.

ATP Challenger Tour Europcar Cancún Country Open
August 12 - 17 | Cancun Country Club |

Reggae on the Rooftop
Thursday, August 14 | Presented by Run Away Realty at La Sirena Rooftop in Puerto Morelos | 6:30 - 11:30 PM

Aura Music Festival
August 14 - 17 | Parque de Museo de la Cultura Maya in Tulum | Various vendors, activities and concerts | Free Admission

Tulum Lobster Festival 2025
Friday, August 15 | Explanada of the Tulum Municipal Plaza | For more info: 984 116 8511.

Punta Allen Lobster Festival 2025
August 16 & 17 | Various events taking place in Punta Allen | For more info: 984 116 8511.

Xul Ha Summer Fest 2025
August 15 - 17 | Various sporting competitions and artistic events in the village of Xul Ha south of Bacalar.

Trendy Market Artisans Fair
Saturday, August 16 | Puerto Aventuras | 6PM - 10PM | Free Admission | Vendors welcome | Whatsapp 984 188 3492 for more info.

7th China Paper Balloon Festival
August 23 & 24 | Tahmek, Yucatan | Activities begin at 6PM

2025 Apapaxoa Gastocultural Festival
August 26 - 31 | Hotel Xcaret Arte in Playa del Carmen.

Oasis Tour Live ‘25
September 12 & 13 | GNP Stadium in Mexico City.

2nd Annual Xcaret Folk Art Fair
September 25 - 28 | Xcaret Park | Playa del Carmen | Details to come.

Playa del Carmen Jazz Festival 2025
October 3 - 5 | Teatro de la Ciudad, Xaman Ha in Playa del Carmen

Do you have information about an upcoming event that you would like to see shared on Riviera Maya Insider? Let us know by replying to this email or sending it to [email protected].

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