José María Morelos, Quintana Roo — The "Sabores de la Zona Maya" (Flavors of the Maya Zone) contest, one of the most important culinary competitions in the region, will award a prize for the best traditional Maya dish. The event aims to provide a day of tradition, culture, and abundant typical food from the region.
The competition is significant because it brings together tradition, culture, and preparation techniques that have endured through oral tradition for several centuries in the area. Each participant or team must present a proposal featuring three traditional dishes inspired by the Day of the Dead and that also comply with the following categories:
- Main Course: A traditional dish.
- Desserts: Traditional desserts.
- Drinks: Traditional beverages.
All food items must include traditional ingredients and techniques to be evaluated positively by the judges.
Who Can Participate in the Day of the Dead Culinary Contest?
The contest is open to individuals who fall within these groups: cooks, students, gastronomic entrepreneurs, collectives, or cooking enthusiasts.
All dishes will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Flavor and presentation.
- Creativity and authenticity.
- Use of traditional ingredients.
- Relationship with the theme of the festivity.
How to Register and What is the Prize?
Those who register must indicate their proposal and their team's name. Registration must be carried out from October 20 to October 31, 2025. The registration must be completed at the Directorate of Tourism, located at the Parador Turístico, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
For more information, individuals can call the telephone number 983 181 3491. The winner of the contest will receive a surprise prize.
More Events
- Riviera Maya businesses pitch concerts for low season
- Quintana Roo Courts British Travelers at WTM London Trade Fair
- Cancún to Host 122 Swimmers From 37 Countries at Open Water World Cup
- Guanajuato Brings Its Kitchens, Crafts and Music to Xcaret’s Day of the Dead Festival
- Feria Xmatkuil 2026 Opens Free Ticket Distribution on November 3 Across Five Yucatán Cities
More Zona Maya
- One Dead and a Woman Arrested After Shootout With Tulum Police in Francisco Uh May
- Nine Zona Maya Communities Earn Federal Community Tourism Certification in Quintana Roo
- Heavy Machinery Reaches Tulum Maya Zone Roads After Teacher Protest
- Free Taste of Quintana Roo’s Ancestral Cooking in Tulum
- Mara Lezama Hands 27 Instruments to Traditional Music Groups to Preserve Cultural Heritage

