Spooky Season in Playa del Carmen

Thanks to the diverse mix of cultures in Playa del Carmen, you get double the fun every spooky season. Each year, you can celebrate all things ghostly and ghoulish from the 31st of October until the 2nd of November with Halloween and Day of The Dead.

Halloween kicks off this deathly exciting season on the 31st, with bars and restaurants decorating with cobwebs and bats, offering spooky parties and themed drinks. Then, on the 1st of November, the celebrations for Dia de Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) begin. These celebrations are much more traditional, with many houses and restaurants creating their own small shrines called ofrendas, to honour their loved ones that have passed. Many fill their homes with sweet smelling orange and yellow marigolds, and special foods and drinks are shared.

So if you’re looking for ways to celebrate this spooky season in Playa del Carmen, here are the best spots to embrace both Halloween and Day of The Dead.




The Lost Tiki

This locals bar and restaurant puts on themed Halloween parties every year, that are sure to get your blood pumping. This year, they are doing a traditional monsters theme, with bone chillingly good food, spooky music, witch’s potion themed cocktails and a costume contest. The best thing about The Lost Tiki is that it’s child friendly, so you can enjoy the Halloween festivities with your whole family.






The Palm Playa

What says Halloween in Playa del Carmen like a fancy dress pool party? This year, The Palm Playa is putting on a ghoulish party, complete with a walking-dead DJ, drink specials and a costume contest. There will also be a face painter and costume specialist on hand to help everyone get in the Halloween spirit.






Live Social

If you’re looking to get the Halloween celebrations started even earlier, Live Social are putting on a dance party like no other on the 28th of October. With live performances from the Uno vs Uno dance group, to salsa lessons and costume contests, this rooftop party is guaranteed to get you in the spooky mood.






Xcaret

There’s absolutely nowhere better to celebrate Day of The Dead than Xcaret Park. Every year, they put on a hauntingly good display with spectacular ofrendas, live shows, traditional foods and interactive entertainment for the little ones. If you’re looking to really embrace the Mexican traditions this November 1st and 2nd, the Festival of Life and Death Traditions in Xcaret is the best place to be.






Ah Cacao

One of the most important traditions of Day of The Dead is the food. Pan de Muerto (an orange essence sweet bread) and Champurrado (Mexican spiced hot chocolate) are traditionally only enjoyed this time of year. Many places around Playa del Carmen offer these delicious treats, but no one does it quite like Ah Cacao.






5th Avenue

For both Halloween and Day of The Dead, one of the most magical things to do is take a stroll down 5th Avenue. Here you will rub shoulders with zombies, Catrinas, vampires, undead cheerleaders and superheroes. Many restaurants also set themselves up with candy for the younger trick or treaters to pass door to door, just like they would at home.