Cancún’s María Desatadora de Nudos Sanctuary Expects 25,000 Visitors for Day of the Dead

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The María Desatadora de Nudos sanctuary in southern Cancún expects to receive 25,000 visitors during Day of the Dead week, driven by religious services and traditional observances honoring deceased relatives.

Luis Pablo Garza, rector of the Catholic complex, said attendance will climb from the 18,000 people who normally pass through in a week to 25,000 during the commemorative period. Local families and tourists visit the site to pay tribute to loved ones who have died, reflecting devotion to the Virgin Mary Undoer of Knots and the survival of the tradition in the community.

The sanctuary has decorated its grounds with Day of the Dead motifs and set up altars for offerings. Opening hours have been extended to make it easier for visitors to reach the crypts.

Three special masses on November 2

The sanctuary’s administration scheduled three Eucharistic celebrations for November 2, the date the liturgical calendar sets aside for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, with special prayers for those buried in its crypts.

Garza explained the significance of the services:

“On Monday, November 2, the Day of the Dead, we will hold three masses — at 12, at 1:30, especially for the deceased who rest in the sanctuary’s crypts, and at 5:30 in the afternoon.”

The rector noted that church law allows priests to celebrate up to three masses on that date to pray for the eternal rest of the dead.

Guidance for visitors

The blend of Catholic faith and Mexican custom draws both residents and foreign visitors, and sanctuary officials invited people to attend with their families and to keep order during the activities.

Because of the expected crowds, the rector’s office advised visitors to arrive early and follow staff instructions so that access to the crypts stays quick and safe.