Across Mexico, streets burst with color as elaborate altars and candlelit processions mark Dia de los Muertos, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into one of the country’s most cherished traditions. These hotels and destinations share their own takes on the tradition so your clients can enjoy the festivities.
Dia de los Muertos, Velas Style
Puerto Vallarta’s Velas Vallarta resort offers an authentic Day of the Dead experience for clients seeking cultural immersion. This all-inclusive, family-oriented destination provides a range of activities centered around the Mexican holiday. The resort’s Catrina experience, available each autumn, allows guests to explore the traditions associated with this annual celebration.
The experience includes a guided tour featuring life-size Catrinas, the iconic skull figures synonymous with Dia de Los Muertos. Guests can participate in traditional culinary workshops and cultural offerings, enhancing their understanding of this significant Mexican observance.
Velas Vallarta’s location on Banderas Bay provides a scenic backdrop for these festivities. The resort’s program allows families to engage with Mexican customs comfortably, combining educational elements with holiday celebrations.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit’s Mexology Fest, scheduled from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, blends Dia de los Muertos traditions with mixology. The event features workshops, tastings, and evenings led by expert mixologists, highlighting Mexican spirits through a Catrina-inspired lens. Notable activities include a top bar takeover, a sensory tasting experience, an agave sound bath and a Tequila trip.
In Baja California Sur, Grand Velas Los Cabos plans a Catrinas Parade on November 2, along with mixology classes teaching ancestral beverage preparation. Mar del Cabo will host a themed feast with a guided altar walk and live music.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya will unveil a hummingbird-themed Day of the Dead altar on October 30. Guests can participate by writing wishes for a wishing tree. Halloween activities include Trick or Treating, crafts, and a family-friendly movie night.
All resorts will offer traditional holiday foods, including pan de muerto, and display cultural altars.
For more information, visit experts.velasresorts.com.
Grand Prix & Catrinas at The St. Regis Mexico City
Dia de los Muertos transforms Mexico City into a vibrant celebration of remembrance. The St. Regis Mexico City offers a luxurious base to experience this unique tradition. Key events include:
- Oct. 25-27: Mexican Grand Prix
- Oct. 27: Catrinas Parade Brunch with Mezcal Siete Misterios at King Cole Bar
- Nov. 2: Day of the Dead Parade Brunch at Diana Restaurant
For F1 fans, the Mexican Grand Prix is fall’s highlight. The St. Regis provides easy access to Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
For more information, visit marriott.com.
Melia’s Night to Remember
ME Cabo is set to host its inaugural Dia de los Muertos event, “A Night to Remember ME Vol 1: Dance of the Spirits,” on Nov. 2, 2024. This celebration, part of the ME Happenings series, will blend Mexican tradition with contemporary artistry against Cabo San Lucas’ only swimmable beach.
The event will guide guests through nine stages, each representing the souls’ journey to Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. Upon arrival, guests will receive a welcome kit with a hand fan, event guide, and marigold pin. Hosts dressed as Catrinas and Catrines will greet visitors, while makeup artists will be available to transform guests into these iconic figures.
Central to the celebration is the Altar of Remembrance, a traditional ofrenda adorned with papel picado, candles, and candy skulls. An MC personifying Xolotl, the legendary soul guide, will lead a special ritual to honor departed loved ones.
The evening’s entertainment lineup features acclaimed violinist Ezinma, known for collaborations with artists like Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder. Following her performance, DJ Mariana Bo, ranked in DJ Mag’s Top 100 for five consecutive years, will take the stage at Taboo Beach Club.
For more information, visit melia.com.
Zihua Ofrendas
Thompson Zihuatanejo will honor Dia de los Muertos with cultural events from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. These celebrations offer guests an opportunity to experience the rich Mexican tradition of remembering deceased loved ones.
On Oct. 31, guests can participate in building a traditional altar, or “ofrenda,” at Hao, the oceanfront bar. Complimentary mocktails and snacks will be provided. The following day, guests will receive Pan de Muerto in their rooms, a symbolic sweet bread with hot chocolate for breakfast on Nov. 1 and 2.
Ceniza restaurant will serve a special four-course dinner on Nov. 1. The menu will feature dishes like Escamoles Taco, Creole Bean Nacatamal and Confit Chicken Terrine, and live music will accompany the meal.
On Nov. 2, guests can partake in a La Catrina Sugar Skeleton Makeup session at Hao, preparing for the evening’s Day of the Dead party. This final event will feature traditional kermes-style foods and live music.
For more information, visit hyatt.com.
Mezcal at Montage
Montage Los Cabos does Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 2 with a special event at its Mezcal Restaurant. The celebration will feature a family-style dinner showcasing traditional Mexican dishes and beloved classics.
The resort aims to create an authentic atmosphere reflective of this important cultural observance. The restaurant will be adorned with traditional altar decorations, paying respect to departed loved ones. Live music will accompany the evening, enhancing the ambiance and cultural experience.
For more information, visit montage.com.
Pueblo Bonito DoD Events
La Frida Restaurant at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort will host an evening curated by award-winning Chef Anaisa Guevara in Los Cabos. The event will feature traditional Mexican cuisine, folkloric dance and a parade of catrines and catrinas to the tune of “La Llorona.” Altars overlooking the sea, live mariachi, and alebrijes will enhance the atmosphere.
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort will present “Welcome to Mictlan,” showcasing local artisans and a grand altar. The celebration culminates with an alebrijes parade, a beach buffet and live music. At Montecristo Estates, a three-course dinner highlighting Mexican ingredients will be served, accompanied by live music from Luna Itzel.
Pueblo Bonito Rose in Cabo San Lucas plans events at its Sunsets & Sushi Bar and Mare Nostrum Restaurant, offering Mexican music, traditional buffets, and altar displays. Medano Beach will host a pan de muerto, tepache and atole tasting during the first week of November.
In Mazatlan, Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay will organize a Mexican party featuring a piñata, pyrotechnics, and a buffet. La Cordeliere restaurant will display an altar honoring notable Mexican personalities. The Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan Beach Resort will present an altar at Las Palomas restaurant, along with Mexican snacks and pan de muerto.
Casa 46, a gourmet restaurant in Mazatlan’s historic quarter, will offer dishes from various Mexican states where Dia de los Muertos is celebrated, complemented by catrina costumes and an altar display.
For more information, visit pueblobonito.com.
4 Days in Todos Santos
Todos Santos hosts the Festival del Dia de los Muertos from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. The event features elaborately decorated altars with marigolds, candles, sugar skulls and personal mementos of the deceased.
The 4-day celebration engages the local community through various contests. The Concurso de los Tapetes transforms streets into artistic displays with dyed sawdust carpets and paper lanterns. The Concurso de Catrinas y Catrines showcases participants in ornate costumes representing historical figures, parading down a lantern-lit runway in the central plaza.
Other competitions include photography, altar creation and a dressed-up pet contest. A light and music show illuminates the Historic Center’s main building facade, complemented by Day of the Dead art displays.
The festival emphasizes eco-friendliness, requiring contestants to incorporate recycled elements and use recyclable paper decorations throughout the town.
A communal altar in the central plaza serves as a focal point. The event concludes with a gathering in the town cemetery, decorated with lights and colors, uniting the living and the departed in celebration.
Notably, Todos Santos, meaning “All Saints” in English, derives its name from the holiday, reflecting its deep connection to these cultural traditions.
For more information, visit golapaz.com.
