Poetry Night Returns to Playa del Carmen with Raúl Ortega Alfonso

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The Cuban-Mexican poet Raúl Ortega Alfonso was the first guest of “Noche de Café y Poesía” in 2026, an event organized by the Municipal Institute of Culture and Arts of Playa del Carmen at the Cultural Forum.

This monthly activity promotes reading and represents a meeting point and coexistence among poetry lovers. “Culture within everyone’s reach” is the instruction of Municipal President Estefanía Mercado, highlighted the Institute’s General Director, Ernesto Martínez Cuéllar.

Raúl Ortega Alfonso was awarded in 2014 with the VII International Poetry Prize “Blas de Otero” in Bilbao, Spain. He has been a university professor and author of multiple poetry collections that have addressed themes where women are the central axis of his compositions.

In this first “Noche de Café y Poesía” of the year, attendees shared their favorite poems and their own works, in addition to moments of inspiration for the audience.

Ernesto Santiago Martínez Cuéllar highlighted the variety of free activities offered by the Institute, which can be enjoyed by Playa del Carmen families, whom he invited to witness the artistic shows of the Carnival from February 11 to 17.