On the evening of October 31, the first souls are expected home. Up north it’s Halloween. Here on the peninsula it’s the start of Hanal Pixán, the food of the souls, and this year Akumal is setting a table for them together.

Akumal Direct and Loco Gringo are hosting Even the Dead Come Back to Akumal on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Casa del Sol, the lagoon house at the north end of town. It runs in two parts: a morning of yoga, breakfast, talks and workshops from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and an evening celebration with marimba, face painting, a shared ofrenda and a closing ceremony from 5:00 pm.

It’s free for guests of Loco Gringo and Akumal Direct and $50 MXN for friends staying elsewhere, and the proceeds go to the Akumal Pueblo Community Center. Come for one half, or come for both and take a long lunch in between.

The morning program, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

The morning starts slow and gets more interesting as it goes, with three short talks from people who know this coast well.

Time	What’s happening
9:00 to 10:00 am	Free yoga with Santa Sofia at the palapa
9:30 to 11:30 am	Breakfast: café de olla, chocolate caliente, pan de muerto and fresh fruit
10:30 to 11:00 am	Talk: Akumal Monkey Sanctuary, on animal rescue, care and environmental work
11:15 to 11:45 am	Talk: Akumal turtles and beaches, with Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA)
11:30 am to 1:00 pm	Lunch: tacos, quesadillas and flautas with a cold beer or refresco
12:00 to 12:30 pm	Talk: local archaeology, with archaeologist Miguel Covarrubias Reyna

Yoga spaces are limited. Email info@akumaldirect.com to reserve a mat.

If you caught the sea turtle festival on October 23, the CEA talk is a good chance to ask the questions you didn’t get to. And the pan de muerto at breakfast is the real thing: the sweet, orange-scented bread that only shows up this time of year.

Workshops and art, from 10:00 am

The workshops run all morning, so you can drop in whenever you like and move between them at your own pace.

• Piñata-making with Fabiola Padilla Chan
• Tamale cooking class with Chef Daveed
• Alebrijes and crafts for kids with Rocío Perez. Alebrijes are the brightly painted fantasy creatures of Mexican folk art, and kids tend to get very ambitious with them.
• Our altar: bring a photo or a recuerdo, a small keepsake, to add to the ofrenda

All morning, there are art exhibits by Ingrid Datica, Luis Rey and others, plus pop-ups from Hamacamarte and MexicArte. Workshop tickets are sold on site.

Midday break, 1:00 to 5:00 pm

Use the afternoon for a swim, a nap or a float in Yal-Ku Lagoon at the end of the road. The evening celebration starts at 5:00 pm.

The evening celebration, from 5:00 pm

The evening is the heart of it. Casa del Sol’s gardens light up, the music starts, and everything runs at once, so wander, eat, and stay as long as you like.

Music and performances

• Live marimba, followed by Movil Band
• Special performances by Maria Gallo

For kids, and anyone who wants a painted face

• Face painting with Maria Gallo
• Sugar skull painting with Fabiola Padilla Chan
• Make-your-own diadema, the flower crown, with Rocío Perez
• Lotería and traditional Mexican games

For the grown-ups

• Artisan tequila tasting
• Art installation by Luis Rey
• Artisan pop-ups from Hamacamarte and MexicArte
• Food and drink stands: tacos, treats and something to sip

The ofrenda. Bring a photo of a loved one for the shared altar. More on that below.

Closing ceremony, 7:45 pm

The night ends with a closing ceremony led by Santa Sofia. If you only make part of the evening, make it this part.

Bringing a photo for the ofrenda

The shared altar is open all day, morning and evening. Bring a printed photo of someone you’re remembering, or a small recuerdo: their favorite candy, a note, a pack of the cigarettes they shouldn’t have smoked. On this night it’s for children’s souls in particular, so a photo of a little one you’ve lost belongs here too.

Two customs worth knowing before you go:

• Wait a year for the newly departed. Many families leave off the photo of anyone who died within the past year, since that soul is believed to still be on its journey. Customs vary, but if you’re unsure, bring a recuerdo instead.
• Skip “Feliz Día de Muertos.” This is a season of remembrance, and “happy” can land wrong. If you want to say something, ask who they’re remembering this year.

Our guide to when to set up your Día de Muertos altar explains both, along with what makes a Hanal Pixán altar here on the peninsula different from one anywhere else in Mexico.

Tickets, payment and where the money goes

• Entry: free for guests of Loco Gringo and Akumal Direct, $50 MXN for friends staying elsewhere
• Workshops, food and drinks: tickets sold on site
• Payment: cash, Venmo, Zelle and PayPal
• Food and drinks: by Chef Daveed

Proceeds benefit the Akumal Pueblo Community Center, which gives Akumaleños of all ages a place to learn, stay active and connect through sports, recreation, personal development and lifelong learning. In a town of about two thousand people, every taco ticket counts.

Getting to Casa del Sol

Casa del Sol sits on the edge of Yal-Ku Lagoon at the north end of Akumal. From Highway 307, turn in at the main Akumal entrance and follow the beach road north along Half Moon Bay toward Yal-Ku.

Tips for the day

• Print your photo. A phone screen won’t stay on the altar. A printed photo, even a small one, will.
• Bring repellent for the evening. Late October is still mosquito season, and they come out at dusk.
• Pack a light layer or an umbrella. October is the tail end of the rainy season on this coast.
• Bring small bills. Workshop, food and drink tickets are sold on site, and cash is the easiest way to pay.
• Reserve your yoga mat early. Spaces are limited.
• Watch for updates. More workshops and activities may be added before the 31st, so check back with Akumal Direct and Loco Gringo for the latest program.

En español

Akumal Direct y Loco Gringo invitan a Hasta los muertos regresan a Akumal, una celebración de Día de Muertos el sábado 31 de octubre de 2026 en Casa del Sol. Por la mañana, de 9:00 am a 1:00 pm: yoga, desayuno, pláticas y talleres. Por la noche, desde las 5:00 pm: marimba, pintacaritas, juegos tradicionales, nuestra ofrenda y una ceremonia de clausura a las 7:45 pm. Entrada libre para huéspedes de Loco Gringo y Akumal Direct, $50 MXN para los demás. Lo recaudado beneficia al Centro Comunitario de Akumal Pueblo. Trae una foto de tu ser querido para la ofrenda.

Make a week of it

The season doesn’t end on the 31st. Hanal Pixán continues through November 2, and Valladolid, two hours inland, is one of the best places on the peninsula to see the cemeteries and plazas fill. If you’re arriving early, the Akumal sea turtle festival opens the week before, on Friday, October 23.

Coming for Día de Muertos, or need a place to stay? Ask us anything before you travel: hola@akumalMX.com