Velas Resorts is celebrating Día de Muertos across its Mexico properties this year, and what you’ll find changes from one resort to the next. One opens the day with a breakfast tied to a Mayan tradition, while another leads guests on tours through a maze of Catrinas.
UNESCO recognizes Día de Muertos as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The holiday reflects the Mexican view of death as a continuation of life, and people honor loved ones who have died through remembrance, altars, food and family gatherings. According to Velas Resorts, it’s one of Mexico’s most meaningful traditions.
5 Resorts Are Taking Part on Nov. 1 and 2
Velas Resorts is hosting Día de Muertos programs at five of its properties on Nov. 1 and 2. You’ll find them in Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, which has two of the five.
A Mayan Breakfast Tradition Opens the Day in Los Cabos
Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos starts its celebration with a breakfast buffet honoring the Mayan tradition of Hanal Pixán, or “food of the souls.” In the afternoon, you can learn to prepare ancestral Mexican drinks in a mixology class built around flowers and aromatic herbs.
The day ends with a four-course dinner, and the menu draws on the gastronomic traditions of the four cardinal points. Guest winery Tres Raíces, from Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, provides the wine pairing.
Candy Skulls in Riviera Maya and Agave in Riviera Nayarit
Kids at Grand Velas Riviera Maya can paint calaveritas, or “little skulls,” brightly decorated candy skulls placed on altars to honor loved ones who have died. The resort is also hosting a holiday tasting and a Día de Muertos movie screening.
The resort’s milagritos, or “little miracles,” workshop lets you design small heart ornaments to represent your wishes and hopes.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is hosting its fourth annual Mexology Fest as part of its Day of the Dead celebrations. International mixologists lead tastings and workshops focused on tequila, mezcal and raicilla.
Catrinas and a Lobby Altar in Puerto Vallarta
At Velas Vallarta, a resort for families, you can paint calaveras, or sugar skulls, in the gardens. Guided tours take you through a maze of Catrinas the size of real people, and an ancestral dinner comes with mariachi music.
Casa Velas, an adults-only resort, is setting up an altar decorated with marigolds and candles on its lobby terrace. It offers a place to stop and remember your loved ones.
Look for Pan de Muerto at Every Resort
Whichever Velas resort you’re at, you’ll find pan de muerto, the “Bread of the Dead,” along with other traditional holiday foods. Every resort also has traditional altars you can visit. Check event times with your resort before Nov. 1, since each property runs its own schedule of workshops and dinners.