Akumal is celebrating Day of the Dead this year, and if you're staying with us, Saturday's festival is free. 
The setting is half the fun. Casa del Sol is an artistic villa on Yal-Ku Lagoon, known around Akumal as the "Casa of the Grateful Dead" because one of the band's members once owned it. A Day of the Dead party there just makes sense.
Across Mexico, Day of the Dead is a time to remember loved ones with candlelit altars, marigolds, their favorite foods and plenty of music. In the Yucatán, the Maya call it Hanal Pixán, "food of the souls," and it's as much a celebration of life as a day of remembrance.
Your Weekend at a Glance
- Thursday, October 29, 5 to 8 pm: Opening gala (Invite only for locals and property owners)
- Saturday, October 31, 9 to 10 am: Free yoga (limited spots)
- Saturday, October 31: Hands-on workshops (times coming soon)
- Saturday, October 31, 4 to 8 pm: Festival with food, artisans and games
- Saturday, 7 pm: Special performance
- Saturday, 8 pm: Closing ceremony
- Where: Casa del Sol, on Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal
- Admission: Free for Akumal Direct and Loco Gringo guests; 50 pesos for all other visitors
Times are still being confirmed. We'll update this post as the schedule is finalized.
Thursday, October 29: The Opening Gala
The weekend's celebrations open with an invitation-only evening at Casa del Sol from 5 to 8 pm. An opening ceremony and the presentation of the traditional altar set the tone, honoring the loved ones we carry with us.
Then the lights go down for a special performance you'll still be talking about on Saturday, and an art exhibit gives you one more reason to stay a while. From there, it's a full-on celebration: cocktails in hand, canapés coming out of the kitchen and live music filling the night air.
Invitations with an RSVP form will be sent to guests staying in Akumal that weekend. Questions about the gala? Contact our team.
Saturday, October 31: Morning Yoga and Hands-On Workshops
Ease into Saturday with free yoga led by Sofia at Casa del Sol from 9 to 10 am, followed by fresh fruit, coffee and traditional Day of the Dead sweet bread. Space is limited, so reserve your spot with our team.
Workshop times are coming soon, and tickets are sold at the venue.
- Tamale cooking class (150 pesos): Learn to make tamales, a staple of Day of the Dead tables.
- Tequila and chocolate tasting (200 pesos): A delicious pairing of two Mexican originals.
- Make your own piñata (kids): Kids build and decorate their own piñata with Fabiola Akumal.
- Day of the Dead bread workshop: More details coming soon.
Saturday, 4 to 8 pm: The Festival
At 4 pm, Casa del Sol turns into a festival, with local food, artisans, games and live traditional Mexican music. Here's what to look for.
Food and Drinks
- Fresh bread from Fabrizio of Que Onda
- Tacos and Mexican street corn from Chef Daveed
- Fresh fruit waters and mezcal cocktails, also from Chef Daveed
- Marquesitas, the Yucatán's crispy rolled crêpes with cheese and sweet fillings, from Akumal's own marquesitas cart
- Coming soon: pizzas from Edgar of La Piccolina
Shop the Artisans
- MexicArte: Mexican folk art and handicrafts
- Hamaca Marte: hammocks and home decor
- Liz of Puerto Aventuras: Mexican clothing
- Paulina: Mexican candy and artisanal Yucatán honey
- Artisanal mezcal from [producer name]
- Coming soon: paintings by Sergio Gamboa
Games, Crafts and Conservation
- Traditional Mexican games with Paulina, like Mexican bingo and the classic cup-and-ball game
- Paint your own ceramic sugar skull at Fabiola Akumal's table
- Visit the Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) stand to learn how the nonprofit monitors Akumal's coral reefs, sea turtles and coastline
- Coming soon: a talk by Miguel Covarrubias
After Dark
At 7 pm, gather for a special performance that captures the magic of Day of the Dead. It's the moment of the night, so find a good spot early. At 8 pm, Sofia leads the closing ceremony to send the celebration off.
Admission and Tickets
Saturday's festival is open to everyone.
- Akumal Direct and Loco Gringo guests: Free
- All other visitors: 50 pesos
- Morning yoga: Free, with limited spots (reserve with our team)
- Food, workshops and goods: Tickets sold at the venue
- Thursday gala: By invitation only
Stay With Us for Day of the Dead
The easiest way to get into Saturday's festival for free is to stay with Akumal Direct. Choose from villas and homes, condos and studios around Akumal, then let our guest experiences team help with transportation, tours, a private chef and more.
Browse Akumal vacation rentals and spend Day of the Dead weekend with us. See you at Casa del Sol!