Velas Resorts Press Room

Culinary Events, Cultural Activities, and Wellness Programming Take Place Across The Portfolio's Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, and Puerto Vallarta Properties 

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (September 10, 2026) - Velas Resorts is set to celebrate Mexican Independence Day (September 15) with programming reflecting Mexico's regional cuisines, traditions, and spirit of independence. The holiday commemorates the beginning of Mexico's war for independence from Spain in 1810 and stands as one of the country's most significant national celebrations, marked each year with music, food, and festivities honoring Mexican heritage. Available at Velas throughout the month, offerings ranging from street food experiences and agave spirit tastings to alebrijes painting and a celebration of the national Nogada dish. Velas Resorts values the opportunity to share this cultural holiday with guests, offering an accessible way for travelers to immerse themselves in Mexican tradition during their stay.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Riviera Maya will celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 15 with activities inspired by the country's colors, traditions, and flavors. Kids' activities include Mexican Canvas and Decorate Your Piñata. Teens' activities include a Guacamole Class and Mexican Bracelets. Family activities include Mexican Milagritos and the Mexican Flavors Party, a small food festival featuring traditional Mexican dishes, aguas frescas, and live Mexican music. Adults can take part in a Mixology Class with Mexican Spirits. Guests will also be able to enjoy a special Mexican matcha with strawberry at Amat, and Frida, the hotel's Mexican restaurant. will offer a special menu created for the occasion.  Sabores de Septiembre will also be set on the resort's Bistro Terrace, offering a different culinary station each day. The weekly lineup ranges from Antojos Placeros (Mexican street cravings) and tacos al pastor to ceviche and sea and garden tempuras.

Grand Velas Los Cabos

Grand Velas Los Cabos will host a week of Independence Day events beginning September 13. Taco Sunday, September 13 (6:00-9:00 PM, Miramar Bar), features taco stations including al pastor, copper-kettle carnitas, CDMX cuts, and Baja-style seafood, with a full salsa lineup and a spiked and non-alcoholic raspados station. Agave Night, September 14 (6:00-10:00 PM, Koi Bar), pairs agave spirits with bite-sized Mexican dishes such as smoked avocado tlayuda, chicken tamal, shrimp ceviche, and mole ganache petit four. The Mexican Dinner & Independence Fair, September 15, showcases regional gastronomy from Mexico's Northern, Central, Southern, and Pacific regions through interactive food stations. Mexican Brunch, September 16 (7:00 AM-5:00 PM, Azul Restaurant), offers festive decor and a terrace bar serving margaritas, mezcalitas, and cantaritos. The same day, Cocktail Journey Through Mexico (2:00 PM, Autor Bar, 1.5 hours, reservation required) pairs two Mexican cocktails with a curated selection of botanas (Mexican snacks). A Mexican Salsa Class, September 18 (2:00 PM, Frida Restaurant), teaches guests to prepare arrachera and cheese sopes alongside a five-salsa tasting. 

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos will celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 15 with a full day of programming. The day begins with a Mexican buffet featuring regional classics, including pambazos, churros, and freshly made Oaxaca chocolate, served from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Del Mar. Throughout the day by the pool, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, guests can enjoy traditional Mexican snacks paired with signature mezcalitas made with seasonal fruits and craft Mexican beers. Loto restaurant will feature a four-course menu during regular hours honoring the cuisine of Puebla, Querétaro, and Guanajuato, states that played a key role in Mexico's independence history.

Casa Velas & Velas Vallarta

Casa Velas and Velas Vallarta will present the inaugural edition of Cuisine Beyond Frontiers: Nogada Edition, running August 20 through September 20, 2026, at Andrea Restaurant in Velas Vallarta, Emiliano Restaurant in Casa Velas, and Táu Beach Club. The event reinterprets the season's signature nogada dish through techniques and ingredients from the United States and Canada, blended with Mexican culinary tradition, offered across all three Puerto Vallarta venues. 

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit will also participate in the month-long Chiles en Nogada celebration, highlighting nogada as the star ingredient across a special menu featured at Frida. On September 15, beginning at 6:30 PM, the resort will also host Mexican Night, featuring Mexican mixology with margaritas and cantaritos at Koi Bar, a mezcal tasting at Media Luna Terrace, and live mariachi music.

Starting nightly rates during the celebration period are as follows: Grand Velas Riviera Maya, $1,300 USD; Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, $1,178 USD; Grand Velas Los Cabos, $1,600 USD; Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, $1,510 USD; Casa Velas, $633 USD; and Velas Vallarta, $550 USD. Rates are per adult, per night, based on double occupancy. All-inclusive rates cover luxury suite accommodations, gourmet à la carte meals, premium beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, fitness center access, taxes, gratuities, and more. For more information please visit https://www.velasresorts.com/.  

About Velas Resorts:
Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, and Los Cabos have earned 70 AAA Diamonds, including the prestigious Five Diamond Award. Other esteemed international awards for services and facilities include one MICHELIN Star for Cocina de Autor restaurant in both Los Cabos and Riviera Maya, Virtuoso's Best Family Program, Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award for SE Spa, and TripAdvisor's Top Hotels in the World, among others. Offering unparalleled all-inclusive experiences, properties include Grand Velas Los Cabos, with dramatic ocean views and unique spaces infusing every area of the resort; Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, which enjoys a long stretch of pristine beach and a dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains; and Grand Velas Riviera Maya, offering a sophisticated resort experience in the Caribbean with jungle and beach settings. Velas Vallarta is a family-friendly resort in Puerto Vallarta, offering spacious suites, gourmet dining, and spa treatments with ocean and Sierra Madre views on 10 beachfront acres along Banderas Bay. Casa Velas is a boutique adults-only hotel located on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course where guests have beach access at Táu Beach Club, a casual, relaxed atmosphere overlooking the ocean, with a jacuzzi, pool, delectable cuisine, and an expansive event space. Mar del Cabo, a boutique hotel on Mexico's Baja Peninsula, is the only European Plan property. Opened January 2024, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos is a new 79-suite resort and concept in the all-inclusive space. Velas Resorts was built by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, Founding President of Velas Resorts. Juan Vela Ruiz is Chief Executive Officer of the company. Explore tips, recipes, lifestyle and travel trends, and the latest news about Velas Resorts on the digital mag: www.velasmagazine.com.