Tourist Feeds Spider Monkey in Playa del Carmen, Video Goes Viral

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A video showing a tourist feeding a spider monkey a peeled banana on a street in this popular resort town has gone viral on social media, sparking amusement and debate about human-wildlife interactions.

The clip, shared on TikTok, captures a young tourist approaching the monkey without fear as it walks upright on two legs toward him. The tourist then offers the animal a banana, first carefully removing its peel, in a close encounter that many viewers found both curious and risky.

Users on platforms like TikTok flooded the post with comments, with many noting the monkey’s “human-like” and comical gait, comparing its posture to that of an elderly person. The animal’s apparent comfort with human presence suggested it might be accustomed to such encounters in the tourist-heavy area.

This marks the second time recently that a spider monkey in Playa del Carmen has captured online attention. Earlier this month, another viral video showed a spider monkey entering a hotel room and stealing a cookie from a dessert table.

The latest video continues to accumulate views and comments, highlighting ongoing discussions about the boundaries of contact with wildlife in their natural habitats amid increasing tourist activity.

Mission accomplished?? They’re like lil old men when they walk #grandserenis #spidermonkey #mexico #bananas