Hurricane Wilma and Cancun, Mayan Riviera

These two areas-- so popular with families because of their all-inclusive resorts-- were hit full-on by Hurricane Wilma Oct. 21 and 22 2005.

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If you've reached this page by a search engine, please head to more recent pages about Cancun and Riviera Maya- updates after Hurricane Wilma - resort openings, etc.

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continued below...

Hurricane Wilma - Cancun and Mayan Riviera

Cancun-- Mexico's giant planned tourist development-- and the Riviera Maya south of it are the country's most popular tourist destinations for families, with numerous all-inclusives in both areas.

Hurricane Wilma hit both with a vengeance over the weekend. Prior to the hurricane's landfall, tends of thousands of tourists in Cancun had evaculated or been moved to shelters.

It appears that, luckily, no lives were lost; but thousands of homes were destroyed in some areas, and doubtless many resorts were also hit. North American news media has focussed more on Wilma's next stop, Florida; and also damage to communications infrastructure has hindered information-gathering in Mexico.

Click below for online news sources about effects on Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Several of these sources are Forums, where people are posting from personal experience, so you will find recent comments updated constantly.

And here's a practical suggestion by one concerned vacation-home-owner: in hard-hit areas such as Playa del Carmen, local people-- living in houses not up to hotel building standards-- bear the brunt of the damage and many have lost everything. If you're visiting, pack extra clothes you can give away to the local Red Cross.

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Riviera Maya continues to be an excellent source of news updates, reporting on Friday Oct. 28 2005 that some 50% of hotel inventory ( -- less than reported earlier--) is operational or will be by Nov. 1; that 70% is hoped to be operational by Nov. 15, and 90% by Dec. 15; and that Mexico's President Vicente Fox has pledged money to reclaim Cancun's famed white-sand beaches, and arranged for tax breaks and a large line of credit to help the region rebuild.

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Cancun: Travel Weekly had updates dated Oct. 25, that included this news:

• "Officials with the state of Quintana Roo estimated that hotel reconstruction would cost $1.5 billion and take as long as four months"
• "Jesus Almaguer, head of the Association of Hotel Owners for Quintana Roo said as many as 80% of the region’s hotel rooms were damaged"
• "Ana Patricia Morales, vice president of the Cancun Hotel Association, said full recovery could take until Easter week. Morales said all of Cancun’s hotels were affected, ranging from shattered windows to collapsed walls and roofs."
• power had been restored to a quarter of Cancun, "with half the city expected to have electricity by Oct. 29. Cozumel and Isla Mujeres remain in the dark."

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  Mayan Riviera:
  See this page at Riviera Maya, which serves the tourist industry. Of particular interest are these comments (from Wed. Oct. 26 post):

  • "Generally speaking, the Riviera Maya is in much better operationg condition than has been reported in the foreign media"
  • "The Cancun Hotel Zone infrastructure will be back on line over the next 8 to 12 weeks. The goal is to be ready for the Holiday Season"
  • Regarding the Riviera Maya infrastructure... 65% of the hotel inventory is now operational
  • Many people are inquiring about travel dates for November. Here is what we are saying: some hotels, especially those in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and some in Playacar, seem to be OK. But we feel that you need to check this on a hotel by hotel basis.
  If you're concerned about your reservations, you can refer to or contact this helpful Riviera Maya site; or contact your resort directly.

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  More sources for info about the Riviera Maya and Cancun:

  • Playa del Carmen
    Hurricane Wilma Destroys Town- news24.com, Oct. 22 2005. 1000 homes destroyed; waters as high as the third floor of hotels
  • Cancun
    8 meter Waves Flood Cancun - news24.com, Oct. 21 2005.
  • Can-Do Hurricane Information, Oct. 24 2005: Tulum reported fine; downtown Cancun starting to re-open; encouraging signs from Playa del Carmen.
  • CancunandRivieraMaya.com: Forum posts, including second-hand reports and interesting comments. For example: "I've seen quite a few pics from the area, and having been in construction for over 20 years now, I can tell you that most of the damage is cosmetic. Broken glass, signs, palapas, entry ways, facades, trees, power lines, a couple roofs here and there, and a lot of water damage. I am sure that the local residents took the brunt of the damage as their homes certainly weren't constructed up to the standards of the hotels."

    Also at CancunandRivieraMaya.com: "..The large spread total destruction that is being reported in Playa is nothing more than sensationalistic journalism. The people of Playa are out in force along with a few thousand members of the military orchestrating a mass clean up. Power is being restored across town and already exists in Playacar, food and water is being distributed to the masses. Phone service is restored in some parts... "

    And this practical suggestion: "IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO VISIT SOON .... I recommend that each traveler bring at least 10 articles of new or used clothing with them when they visit and donate them to the Red Cross in Playa. They will see to it that those in need receive the help. Pass this on to anyone you know going down and it could mean that tens of 1000's of articles of clothing can make it down over the next few weeks......think adults and children alike."

  • RIU resorts: RIU press release Oct. 24 2005 "confirms that all guests staying at its 8 establishments in the Mexican Caribbean (5 in Playa del Carmen and 3 in Cancun) are safe after Hurricane Wilma passed through Mexico.

    "The establishments suffering the most damage were the three hotels in Cancun, especially the Riu Caribe. Today, Monday, repairs have begun on the Riu Palace Las Américas, the least affected of the three. RIU guests from the 3 Cancun hotels are being kept in the civil protection shelters local authorities have provided...

    "The RIU chain hopes to have its 5 resorts in Playa del Carmen in the Mexican Caribbean up and running and ready for new guests within a week. To the contrary, the 3 RIU hotels in the city of Cancun will need a few more days for repairs.

    "The situation in Playa del Carmen returned to normal and yesterday, Sunday, guests returned to their rooms, where the electricity and hot water supply has been restored... The first guests have begun to swim in the sea opposite the RIU resorts in Playa del Carmen. Normalisation is in full swing. The sun has come out and the rubble outside the hotel grounds is being cleared away.

    ... "As soon as the roads are ready for traffic, tourists will begin to come home through the Merida airport."

  • Cozumel: was hard hit. See forum posts at travelnotes.cc. Sample: "Just got off the phone with [contact in Cozumel.] She says that it is as bad or worse than it sounds. The best estimates for power are 3 to 7 weeks. The military is at this time flying in food and water. The road from about Chedraui to Villa Blance along the water front is gone."
  • Dreams and Sunscape Resorts: posted atAMResorts web site, 7:00 PM Monday Oct. 24 2005. "We are pleased to inform you that by the end of today, all guests will be moved from shelters back to the resorts. Guests from Dreams Cancun are being accommodated at our resorts in the Riviera Maya including Sunscape Puerto Aventuras and Sunscape Tulum.

    There remains limited communication as phone and power lines are still down however the resorts have power via generators. We are able to provide food, water and secure shelter to our guests as they await transfers back to the airports and their respective homes."