Masks become voluntary in Quintana Roo

The Governor of Quintana Roo states, Carlos Joaquin announces that mask in the state will become voluntary starting May 10th, 2022. It might have seemed like an eternity to some, but step by step the Riviera Maya is getting back to normal. 

The updated information regarding masks comes after a continued green traffic light system for restrictions in the state. There also have been no Covid-19 deaths reported for five weeks and about 20 reported cases daily. 

This new voluntary use of masks aligns Quintana Roo with other countries and states that have dropped mandates. 

Mask timeline

• In 2020 masks were mandated to be worn at all times outside the home in Quintana Roo. 
• March 22, 2022 Masks we voluntary in outside settings. 
• May 10th, 2020 Mask in all the state is now voluntary. 

When, where, and who it is still recommended to use masks

• It is still recommended in closed areas and in transportation. 
• Service providers, like waiters and front desk staff. 
• If you have an underlaying healthy condition that puts you at additional risk, it is recommended you use a mask. 

Note: If you are traveling to Yucatan State or taking a tour to places like Chichen Itza, masks are still required in public.

What this travel year is looking like

2022 has been off to a good start.  The winter tourism season was very full since it was a time when many had either pushed off travel to or wanted to travel again to the Riviera Maya. So far this year is 1.27% higher in the amount of visitors arriving to the Riviera Maya area over 2019 per pandemic arrivals. 

Seaweed

It has come back with a bit of a vengeance this year. Be sure to see our article about seaweed and the links to current updates. Also, be sure to check out our article and map for the beaches with less seaweed. 2022 is predicted to be a bad year for seaweed. It is living up to the predictions as we have seen recently. 

Barriers for the seaweed have been put in place again to slow or stop some of it before it reaches shore. It appears that they are learning how to anchor the barriers and collect better than past attempts. Currently the Navy has 11 boats working on collection of the seaweed. There still is too much floating toward land to be able to collect it fast enough. It appears to be another batter this year with the sargassum. 

Inflation and currency rates

Worried about rising costs of everything? There is some good news on this front. The Euro, USD, and Canadian Dollar are all higher against the Mexican Pesos. This hedges inflation when visiting and paying for your trip. 

Inflation in Mexico is in the 7% range, which is comparable to many places in the world experiencing rising prices. However, most of the big currencies have risen 5.2% over the Mexican Peso, so you might not notice prices increasing as much. 

If you are staying at an all inclusive, don’t expect to see a cheap price. Most all inclusive hotels are based on tourists paying for rooms and the rates follow the USD. If you choose an independent hotel, you often will not notice price hikes as much. 

Thanks for reading the updates on the Riviera Maya and Playa Del Carmen areas. We will continue to keep you informed about big news events and things that affect your trips to the area along with new destinations and places to visit.