Planning to attend the Festival of Life and Death Traditions at Xcaret for Day of the Dead in Mexico? Our honest review covers tickets, schedule, highlights and insider tips to help you get the most out of this special event.
It’s afternoon and the sweet smell of copal incense swirls through the jungle as I follow a stone walkway lined with marigolds and flickering candles. A drum beats in the distance.
In a clearing, women in embroidered huipiles tend an underground oven (pib), where mucbipollo (tamales) bake slowly in the earth.
This is Día de los Muertos at Xcaret in the Riviera Maya. For three nights each year (October 30 to November 2), the eco-archaeological park south of Cancun transforms for its Festival of Life and Death Traditions, a celebration filled with altars, parades, concerts, workshops, and foods that honour one of Mexico’s most cherished traditions.
I’ve experienced Day of the Dead in Michoacán, where fishermen fan the spirits across Lake Pátzcuaro with butterfly nets; in Oaxaca City, sipping mezcal in candlelit cemeteries; and in Mexico City, where colourful gondolas navigate floating Aztec gardens.
But this was my first time at Xcaret’s Day of the Dead festival. And I arrived wondering if a ticketed event could capture the spirit of such an intimate tradition.
Here’s what I discovered, along with everything you need to decide if it’s right for you.
What Is Día de Muertos?
Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican tradition when families welcome the spirits of departed loved ones back to earth.
Rich in symbolism and ritual, it’s a time of remembrance, honour, and joy. It takes place November 1st and 2nd, when the veil between the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest.
During this time, families build ofrendas (altars) decorated with cempasúchil (marigolds), candles, copal incense, favourite foods, and photographs to guide souls home for the night.
In the Yucatán, during Day of the Dead in Cancún and at Xcaret celebrations also include elements of Hanal Pixán, the Mayan “food for the souls” festival that begins in late October.
This makes it unique in Mexico.
The Xcaret Festival of Life & Death Traditions Program in 2025
Xcaret blends cultural programming with a wealth of entertainment, offering visitors a chance to experience altars, regional foods, workshops and performances in one setting.
Each year, the festival highlights a different region of Mexico, and in 2025, it will celebrate Michoacán. The state is home to sveral iconic Day of the Dead Traditions. like the Danza de los Viejitos, Purépecha ball games, monarch butterflies and candlelit tributes on Lake Pátzcuaro.
So the 19th Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerte at Xcaret Festival in 2025 promises to be one of the most culturally rich editions yet.
While it’s not the same as attending a family vigil in a cemetery, it’s a vibrant introduction that respects tradition while making it accessible.
Xcaret Tickets (Which to Choose)
The key is to choose the right ticket type and pace your day so you can enjoy both the park and the festival without being overwhelmed.
🌟 Pro Tip: Be sure to download the Xcaret! and Xcaret Events apps before you go. Upon arrival at the ticket booth, also pick up the paper version of the program. While it’s in Spanish only, the maps, schedules and themes are very helpful in planning your itinerary.
Download both apps before you go.
Exact inclusions (and dates) change yearly, so check the official Xcaret website before booking. Here’s how the options typically compare:
- Xcaret Night (after 4 pm)
Festival-only admission.
Pros: Cheaper, focused on the evening program.
Cons: You miss the park’s highlights and walk straight into peak crowds. - Xcaret (day ticket, no meal)
Full park access + festival. Meals are à la carte.
Pros: Enjoy the park and festival.
Cons: Budget extra time and pesos for food. - Xcaret Plus (day ticket + buffet meal + extras) – Recommended
Includes lockers, gear for water activities, and a buffet meal.
Pros: Includes the park, festival and food but makes for a long day. - Admission with Gala Concert
Adds access to the evening headliner (In 2025, the gala will feature Los Ángeles Azules, icons of cumbia sonidera). Perfect for fans who want both the concert and cultural programming. - Gala Concert only
Concert access only, no festival or park entry. Only worth it if you’re really keen on the performer. - Organized Tour: A Xcaret Tour from Cancun includes transportation, entry and cultural night show (not gala).
⏱️ Map and How to Pace Your Day
Xcaret Park covers 250 acres (about 81 hectares), so pacing yourself is key. Download the map here.
Here’s what we recommend as an itinerary:
- Book Xcaret Plus – Includes underground rivers, snorkeling, lockers, and a buffet meal.
- Midday arrival – Swim, explore, and enjoy the buffet lunch.
- Rest break – Lounge in a hammock or, if nearby, pop back to your hotel for downtime.
- Festival entry (before 4 p.m.) – Head to the Festival of Life and Death Traditions ahead of the evening-only crowds.
- Cultural shows – Mix in concerts, Ballet Folclórico, and pre-Hispanic dance performances to rest your feet and soak in the atmosphere.
Things to Do at Xcaret’s Festival of Life and Death
1. Listen to Live Music Performances
Live music is one of the highlights of the Xcaret Day of the Dead Festival, with everything from solo guitarists to orchestras and famous mariachi songs such as the haunting ballad of “La Llorona” filling the air.
Because multiple performances often happen at the same time in different zones, it’s worth planning your itinerary so you don’t miss your favourites.
2. Take a Walk through the Cemetery
One of the festival’s most photogenic features is the recreated cemetery walk, complete with candlelit altars, at the Bridge to Paradise attraction.
While the setting makes for striking photos, it’s important to note that none of the graves hold real corpses.
Unlike the all-night vigils in Oaxaca or Michoacán, this is a symbolic re-creation rather than a community cemetery.
3. Participate in a Día de los Muertos Craft Workshop
During our visit, we discovered several workshops underway in the Pueblo Maya. Participants could learn how to:
- Make traditional Mayan chocolate,
- Create a clay offering for the difuntos (altars),
- Join a hands-on class in woodcarving,
- Make traditional dulces (candy) with the Mieles XCabil U Kaabilo’ob X-Cabil bee-keeping collective,
- Listen to a fascinating lecture by archaeologists on Maya funerary rituals.
Set beneath thatched roofs and led by local artisans, this open-air section felt like both classroom and cultural encounter.
4. Sample Traditional Day of the Dead Food
The festival is as much about flavour as it is about remembrance. Each year showcases a different Mexican state through music, crafts, and regional cuisine within the Muestra Gastronómica food plaza.
In 2024, members from the local community dished up regional Yucatecan specialties. So you can try local specialties along with a range of typical Day of the Dead foods such as:
- Pan de muerto dusted with sugar.
- Sugar Skull candies.
- Atole or champurrado served steaming in clay cups.
- Cochinita pibil slow-cooked in underground ovens.
- Tamales de hoja santa perfumed with aromatic leaves.
- Esquites (Mexican street corn).
- Refreshing aguas frescas like tamarindo and horchata.
👉 Want to recreate the flavours at home? Explore my Day of the Dead recipe collection.
5. Watch Ballet, Folkloric Dance and Processions
There’s so much to choose from it’s impossible to list it all. But expect vivid ballet folklórico backed by live ensembles.
After dark, the nightly cultural show features a multi-sensory journey through Mexico’s history from prehispanic rituals to modern-day rodeos.
Throughout the park, candlelit processions pass altars perfumed with copal and cempasúchil, blending celebration with remembrance.
5. Face-Painting and Costumes
Nothing says Día de Muertos like slipping into the spirit of a catrina with a skull-painted grin. The face painting tradition is both playful and symbolic.
It honours ancestors while reminding us that life and death walk hand in hand.
At the Festival of Life and Death Traditions at Xcaret, you can join the fun and get your own calavera makeover as part of the celebrations.
Crowds: What to Expect
I was surprised by how busy the Xcaret Park became as the day progressed. Evenings were extremely busy after 4 pm.
The whole space pulsed with a mix of noisy exuberance and genuine reverence.
Some paths near altars and the main stages slowed to a shuffle. Top tips for navigating:
- Eat before sunset.
- Follow the colour-coded lines painted on the walkways to your venue.
- Use side paths to move between venues.
- If traveling with kids or seniors, pick two or three must-do events and keep the night shorter. Choose a meeting place in case you get lost.
What to Wear & Bring
- Breathable clothing and comfortable shoes.
- Water shoes (for Xcaret underground river and snorkeling).
- Light rain layer.
- Small bills and credit card.
- Insect repellent. (Yes, there are mosquitos in Cancun and Riviera Maya).
- Power bank.
- Wipes for face paint.
- Costumes are welcome (but avoid oversized props that block views).
- Folding umbrella chair.
Where to Stay Near Xcaret Park
Hotel Xcaret Arte (adults-only) or Hotel Xcaret México (family-friendly)
Both Hotel Xcaret Arte and Hotel Xcaret include unlimited access and transportation to Xcaret’s parks and offer luxury amenities. See my in-depth review of Hotel Xcaret Arte.
This luxury all-inclusive resort tops my list as one of the best hotels in Cancun Riviera Maya. Its exceptional cuisine, architecture and service is reflected in its steep prices. Definitely a splurge. But if you can swing it, do so.
For a front row seat, guests of the exclusive La Casa de la Playa enjoy curated access to the festival.
Barcelo Maya Caribe and Barcelo Palace (Adult-only)
The Barcelo Maya Caribe (and its neighbouring Barcelo hotels) are another good option if you’re looking for a place to stay near Xcaret Park.
While some rooms can be a bit tired-looking, the location, sprawling main pool and stress-free, all-inclusive buffet dining make up for it.
The beach is definitely a highlight of a stay here. Although the Barcelo’s beach can get mucky during sargassum seaweed season, in November it’s generally blissfully clear.
🌟 Pro Tip: Do what we do and watch for Black Friday sales and score up to 40% off.
How to Get to Xcaret Park
- Some tickets include transportation so check inclusions when you purchase.
- From the Barceló Maya Caribe, we paid 480 MXN pesos each way for a taxi in 2024.
- Hotel Xcaret Arte and Hotel Xcaret guests can use the complimentary shuttle bus. Be prepared to wait until it’s full before departing.
- If you’re attending the Gala Concert, pre-arrange your late-night return.
- Check the official Mexican Caribbean for tips on planning travel in the region to Tulum, Bacalar and beyond.
Final Thoughts
As night fell and the marigolds glowed brighter than the stage lights, it hit us…beneath the costumes and candlelight, something deeper was stirring.
Yes, it’s a ticketed event (and not a cheap one), but it still manages to feel meaningful.
While different than the ancient rituals of Michoacán or the family vigils of Oaxaca, it’s a fascinating and moving introduction to Mexico’s Día de Muertos traditions.
Totally worth it. Just come prepared (and maybe wear comfy shoes).
FAQs
Yes. Many visitors do both. It’s a long day so plan breaks and eat before sunset.
If you’re a fan of the headliner (e.g., Los Ángeles Azules in 2025), yes. Otherwise, the festival alone offers a vast array of activities.
Yes, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Playa del Carmen, blending Mayan Hanal Pixán with traditions from across Mexico, especially at the Festival of Life and Death Traditions at Xcaret Park.
More Cancun and Riviera Maya Experiences to Explore
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