Who Do We Have in the Spotlight for International Women's Day 2025

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☀️ It’s Tuesday March 4 and tonight is the last night of Carnaval in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. If you haven’t made it out to partake in the festivities, this is your last chance to get in on the fun. 🎭️ 

In this edition of Riviera Maya Insider you will find:

• Our Photo of the Week

• My appearance on the Expats Like Us podcast

• Results of the 2025 Riviera Maya Chili Cook-Off

• A beautiful new listing in Akumal

• NEW Do Good Riviera Maya - Arts & Crafts for Kids in El Cuyo

This newsletter may be clipped for length in your email. For the best reading experience, scroll up and select the option to READ ONLINE. It’s a better reading experience. Trust me. 😄 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

📸 Our fantastic Photo of the Week was taken in Puerto Aventuras by @kranendonkphoto.

📸 If you would like to see your photo featured here, follow and tag @rivieramayainsidermx on Instagram.

EXPAT LIVING

Last week, I was honored to be a guest on the Expats Like Us podcast. If you haven’t seen or heard this broadcast before, it is produced by Bob Bosse who is the President of the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside and Chris Kovalsky who some of you will recognize from the popular local band Rockumal.

Aside from the fact that my hair looks like a Palomino, I think it came off ok. 🤣 You can watch the interview here or find it on your favorite podcast platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Buzzsprout etc) and don’t forget to like and subscribe to see future episodes!

RIVIERA MAYA ROUNDUP

You don’t have to know everything….but you should know something. Here’s what caught my eye in the news this week.

🔥 Fyre Festival II: Another Scam in the Making? – Billy McFarland’s infamous festival is back, claiming to take over Isla Mujeres in just a few months. But with no permits, no confirmed venues, and hotels denying involvement, is anyone falling for this?

🌊 Sac Actun Under Threat – The world’s longest underground cave system, Sac Actun in Tulum, is facing growing risks from urban expansion, pollution, and the Tren Maya project. This ancient, biodiverse wonder is at a crossroads—will conservation efforts be enough to save it?

🏺 Chichén Itzá Museum Celebrates! – Home to over 500 well-preserved artifacts, including the jaguar throne and Chac Mool, the Great Museum of Chichén Itzá marks its first anniversary. With free entry for all, it’s a must-visit for history buffs!

⚖️ Xcaret Wins Legal Battle Over Mayan Symbols – A court ruling allows Xcaret to continue showcasing Mayan traditions in its attractions, overturning a ban by Indautor. However, the debate weighing cultural heritage and tourism continues with representatives from Mayan communities now set to weigh in.

🏪 7-Eleven Expands in Quintana Roo! – With a 3 billion peso investment, 7-Eleven plans to open 224 new stores across the state by 2030, creating thousands of jobs. This major expansion will more than double its current presence in the region.

🌿 New Sargassum Center Transforms Waste into Opportunity! – A cutting-edge facility in Quintana Roo is tackling the sargassum crisis by converting the seaweed into eco-friendly products. This innovative approach boosts sustainability while managing one of the region’s biggest environmental challenges.

🚆 Mayan Train Bridge Suffers Structural Damage – A section of the highly anticipated Tren Maya exhibits significant structural issues after just a few months, raising concerns about safety. Authorities are assessing the current damage and future risks on this controversial railway project.

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RIVIERA MAYA REAL ESTATE

🌊 Oceanfront Paradise in Akumal – Your Dream Home Awaits! 🌴

🌅 Imagine…sipping morning coffee on your terrace, watching the sun slowly rise over the Caribbean. Stroll down the street for a snorkel in Halfmoon Bay and grab a cold beer and a quick lunch at La Buena Vida. After a dip in your private pool, relax or read a good book then wander into town to meet your friends for Happy Hour at Lol Ha or maybe sneak away for a romantic dinner at La Taverna. If I just described your ideal vacation or retirement, Casa Dos Palmas in North Akumal might just be your dream come true.

This stunning oceanfront villa has it all—five bedrooms, a private pool, a rooftop terrace with jaw-dropping sea views. The villa is fully furnished, equipped with solar panels and ready to move in or welcome guests. If ROI is on your mind, this property has a great vacation rental history and has been impeccably maintained. Want a closer look? Click here to see the full listing and schedule a private tour with Marieke.

¿QUE PASA?

Check out the events and happenings we found for the next month or so on the Riviera Maya and beyond.

March 3 - 7 | SED Teatral’s 1st Teatro sin Teatros Tulum Theatre Festival. Locations and info.

March 4 | Final day of Carnaval 2025 in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras.

March 4 | Akumal Trivia Challenge Fundraiser for Hekab Be Library at Lol Ha Restaurant in Akumal. Registration at 1:30PM. More info here.

March 20 - 23 | ‘Yucatan Challenge’ Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour 2025 at the Port of Progreso Yucatan. Info.

March 22 & 23 | Festival of Beer & Wine hosted by The Lions Club in Merida YUC. 10AM - 8PM. Free admission.

March 26 - 30 | ‘Elite 16’ Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour 2025 at Playa Fundadores in Playa del Carmen.

March 28 - April 5 | Rally Maya Mexico 2025 - various locations across the Yucatan peninsula including Tulum Country Club. Info.

March 29 | The Russian State Ballet Mari El presents Romeo & Juliet at the Teatro de Cancun. Performances at 6PM and 9PM. Tickets.

April 2 - 6 | 2nd Annual Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival - various locations and times. Info.

April 4 | The Ballet of Kiev presents Swan Lake at the Teatro de Cancun. Performance at 8PM. Tickets.

April 4 - 6 | 12th Annual Tequila & Mezcal Expo in Playa del Carmen 3PM - 11PM Location TBA. Free Admission.

April 10 | Saladdin - A hilarious parody (in Spanish) of the show Aladdin at the Teatro de la Ciudad in Playa del Carmen. Shows at 7PM and 9:30PM. Tickets.

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].

🎣 Are you looking for something fun to do while you are here on the Riviera Maya? FishingBooker will connect you with the best boats and the most experienced licensed Captain in the region. Click through to see their entire inventory of locally owned and operated Fishing Charters.

*Riviera Maya Insider is an affiliate of FishingBooker.

UN POCO DE TODO

🔥 9th Annual Riviera Maya Chili Cook-Off Brings the Heat

🌶️ The 9th Annual Riviera Maya Chili Cook-Off was another sizzling success, gathering chili chefs and enthusiasts for an afternoon of great chili and community spirit. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside at Restaurant Latitude 20° in Puerto Aventuras, the event raised funds for programs supporting at-risk children and families.

🥇 First Place: Michele Kinnon – Smoky Chipotle Chili
🥈 Second Place: Sean Patrick Kelly – Vegetarian Chili
🥉 Third Place: Pete Harrison, Oscar Bravo Camposeco & John Hughes – Classic Chili con Carne

Yeah…noone was more surprised than me. 👀 

We all walked away with nice prizes and bragging rights, but the real victory was in the support raised for local charitable initiatives.

🇲🇽 Celebrating International Women’s Day in Mexico

On March 8, we will celebrate International Women’s Day (El Día de la Mujer). So, this week, I’m shining the spotlight on Mexico’s trailblazing President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

Claudia Sheinbaum has made history as Mexico’s first female president, a milestone achieved through her lifelong commitment to science, social justice, and public service. But long before she stepped into the world of politics, Sheinbaum was a bright, young girl growing up in Mexico City, shaped by a family that valued education, activism, and intellectual curiosity.

Born in 1962, Sheinbaum was raised in a household that encouraged critical thinking and civic engagement. Her mother, Annie Pardo, is a renowned scientist and UNAM professor, and her father, Carlos Sheinbaum, was a chemical engineer. From an early age, she was immersed in a world of academics and progressive ideals, listening intently to conversations about science, human rights, and politics at the dinner table.

During her youth, Sheinbaum excelled in math and physics and developed a passion for understanding how things worked. She attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she pursued a degree in physics before earning her Ph.D. in energy engineering. But she wasn’t just a scientist—she was also an activist. As a student, she took part in social movements, advocating for democracy and equality, experiences that would later shape her political career.

Sheinbaum’s background in climate science led her to become part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work on global warming. Her expertise in environmental policy defined her tenure as Mexico City’s mayor (2018-2023), where she focused on sustainability, expanding public transportation, and social welfare programs.

As President, she carries forward her data-driven approach and commitment to social justice, pledging to tackle poverty, education, gender equality, and climate change. Her leadership represents a new era for Mexico, one rooted in science, integrity, and inclusion.

Her election is a victory for all women and young leaders who dare to dream big and break barriers. We look forward to seeing how she tackles the issues here in Mexico and represents her country as a world leader.

DO GOOD RIVIERA MAYA

🎨 Bringing Color and Creativity to the Kids in El Cuyo 🧒 👧 

Arts and crafts….you know….colored pencils, crayons, markers, coloring books and construction paper. All the simple things we enjoyed as kids and gave to our kids to speark their creativity or just keep them busy for an hour or so. They were all so cheap and easy to find, it’s almost impossible to think of a place in which they do not exist. But here on the Yucatan peninsula such places DO exist and one of them is the village of El Cuyo.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico about two and a half hours from Playa del Carmen, El Cuyo is a tiny fishing village with under 2000 inhabitants. About 700 are full-time fishermen and over half of the residents work in the fishing and seafood industry. Visitors from the outside word come mainly for the world-class kite surfing or to simply disconnect from the stresses of the modern world.

On El Día del Niño, celebrated in Mexico on April 30th, a group of Seaside Rotarians will be making a trip to El Cuyo to bring a delivery of arts and crafts supplies to the children of the village. These simple items, ubiquitous in our children’s lives, are impossible to find up there. So—we are going to make their Children’s Day a little brighter and a lot more colorful Won’t you help?

Donations of all kinds of supplies will be collected at La Vagabunda 38 in Playa del Carmen and at the Colegio in Puerto Aventuras. If neither of those locations work for you, let me know by replying to this email and I’ll arrange to come to you personally. We will be taking donations until April 26th. Please help if you can!

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