Print and digital magazine of the Riviera Maya
Based in Playa del Carmen, we publish interviews and stories about the people and brands that bring our community to life. Culture, food, places and experiences of the Riviera Maya, in our print and digital magazine.
Inaugural issue
Explore Issue 01
Publications
ISSUE 01STORIESThe first print issue of Xtabay Magazine will mark the beginning of an editorial project created in Playa del Carmen to represent the Riviera Maya.
Brands joining this first edition will not simply occupy advertising space: they will help shape Xtabay Magazine from its very first issue.
Information for brands and partners
OFFICIAL PRESENTATIONExplore our vision for the magazine, how print and digital content work together, and how your brand could be featured in our inaugural issue.
Video and PDF in Spanish. Read or listen to the project introduction in English.
Culture and the arts
The photographer shares the origin of the images she presented in the exhibition “Naturalezas no humanas” during Fotoseptiembre 2026.
Read and watch the featureVoices from our city
Raymundo Tineo, a local historian and chronicler of Playa del Carmen, reflects on the city’s past, how it has changed and the stories behind its growth.
Watch on YouTubeMemory and mystery
FIRST STORY
A tale of two women, a ceiba tree and a mysterious presence after dark.
A story from Maya tradition, passed down and reinterpreted over time, forming part of the cultural heritage of the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán Peninsula.
Read the full legendTravel · culture · food
Discover the arts and cultural spaces that help make Playa del Carmen the city it is, including its City Theater.
Places that form part of the identity of the Riviera Maya.
The people and stories behind the region’s food.
Memorable encounters and new ways to experience the Riviera Maya.
Xtabay Challenges
Explore our word search and an interactive guide to the stories behind Playa del Carmen’s places.
Find the eight hidden words. You can play directly from your phone.
Tap or click the first and last letter of a word.
Find all eight words in the list below. Some are Spanish: PLAYA means beach, SELVA means jungle and CARIBE means Caribbean. CENOTE is a natural sinkhole; XTABAY and ALUX are names from local legends.
Read the clue, look at the image and discover places that hold part of Playa del Carmen’s history.
Clue: A coastal settlement whose name means “water of the north.”
Where are we? Choose one answer:
An animated series by Xtabay Magazine · Videos in Spanish
Xtabay Universe is an animated series created in Playa del Carmen and inspired by the Maya worldview. Its stories unfold in recognizable city settings, connecting fantasy with the lives of the people who shape the city every day.
The series also gives us a way to tell the stories of people who live and work in Playa del Carmen: their experiences, businesses, brands and memories. Behind every person and every project is a story worth telling.
Visit our TikTok profileA production born in Playa del Carmen, where fantasy and reality begin to meet.
Visit the TikTok profileAn invitation to share the real experiences, projects and memories that inspire our stories.
Visit the TikTok profilePeople and recognizable places in Playa del Carmen become part of the series.
Visit the TikTok profileWe’re developing a new space within Xtabay where people can feel heard, supported and connected. Built on kindness, respect and human conversation. Coming soon.
Back to homeGet involved · Advertise your brand
With Xtabay Magazine, your brand appears in the print edition and can continue connecting with readers through our website and social media. Content and promotion depend on the package you choose.
A mini website for your brand: the QR code printed in your ad takes readers to your brand profile on our website. It can bring together your location, WhatsApp, social media, website, menu, services, reservations, promotions or coupons. Your information will remain online for one year after your participation.
Quarter-page print ad, digital profile with a QR code printed in the ad and one social media post.
Half-page print ad with a QR code linking to your expanded digital profile and three social media posts during the issue’s circulation.
Full-page ad with a QR code linking to your digital content, interview, brand story or press feature, plus social media posts.
Sponsorship within a challenge, with a QR code linking to your digital profile and a related social media post.
Premium presence with a QR code linking to your digital profile, a social media campaign and brand integration in three Xtabay Universe episodes.
Would you like to learn more and choose the package that fits your brand?