Time Capsules Sealed in Cancun to Be Opened at City’s Centennial

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Two time capsules containing documents, photographs, and personal messages from the city’s founding families were sealed Monday in a ceremony at Fonatur park in Cancun’s hotel zone. They are scheduled to be opened in 44 years, when Cancun celebrates its centennial.

The capsules were placed inside a monument called “La Luz de Cancun” by the Association of Founders of Cancun, a group of 70 families who arrived when the area was a fishing village and witnessed its transformation into a major tourist destination.

Macarena Carretero Valdivia, president of the association, said the capsules are made of a special alloy to ensure durability. The project took five years of planning to gather the materials to be preserved.

“We want this to be an iconic monument for Cancun, giving it the warmth of knowing that the memories of the first founders are inside,” Carretero said.

The capsules include official documents such as the first city council minutes and the first list of municipal officials. Artist Marta Gerstein contributed 160 clay handprints of distinguished founders, including children, men, and women. Photographs and special messages for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will open the containers are also included.

Carretero thanked everyone who helped make Cancun a world-class tourist destination known for quality and warm service. She acknowledged the resilience of Cancun’s early residents, especially the children who “gave it their all” to see the tourist hub grow.

“Future generations will have a reference of how Cancun was created by their families, with a touch of love and nostalgia,” she said. “In 44 years, when they open these urns, they will know who their ancestors were through images and a message of love and hope.”