Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, will mark Halloween on October 31 and Día de Muertos on November 1 with events that move from theatrical encounters with spirits to the rituals of remembrance at the heart of the Mexican celebration. A candlelit evening at Árbol will give way to a journey through Mictlán, a pre-Hispanic vision of the afterlife.
Las Ventanas al Paraìso was recently named No. 25 on the 2026 list of The 50 Best Hotels and received the Highest Climber Award 2026.
Long before costumes and trick-or-treating, Halloween’s Celtic precursor, Samhain, marked the end of the harvest, when spirits were believed to pass close to the living. Día de Muertos grew from Mexico’s Indigenous and Catholic traditions of remembrance: ofrendas, cempasúchil flowers and food are prepared to welcome departed loved ones into the company of family once more. Though rooted in distinct traditions, both celebrations imagine a moment when the living and the dead draw close—Halloween through the presence of spirits, and Día de Muertos through the offerings that welcome loved one’s home.
HALLOWEEN AT LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO
An afternoon of trick-or-treating for younger guests opens the festivities on October 31. After dark, MICHELIN-recognized Árbol takes on the world of Till Death Do Us Part. Candlelight, distressed florals, aged textures and ghostly details evoke a celebration suspended in time, with an à la carte menu featuring specialty cocktails, a dish of the day and a Halloween dessert.
Dates: October 31, 2026
DÍA DE MUERTOS – A JOURNEY THROUGH MICTLÁN
On November 1, Las Ventanas takes the Mexican account of Mictlán, the nine-stage journey of the soul through the afterlife, as the narrative thread for its Día de Muertos celebration. Altars inspired by each stage will guide guests through an evening of pre-Hispanic ritual and dance, Mexican music and regional cuisine. Marimba and mariachi will mingle with Catrinas, alebrijes and folkloric dancers, bringing together the mysticism of ancient Mexico with the color and energy of its living culture.
Dates: November 1, 2026
A JOURNEY THROUGH MEXICO, ONE COURSE AT A TIME
Executive Chef Víctor Palma will anchor the celebration with a five-course tasting menu inspired by the journey through Mictlán, with each course drawing from a different stage of the journey while honoring the culinary traditions of different regions of Mexico.
The experience begins with The Call of the Ancestors, a sweet lime and mezcal preparation with marigold air and worm salt, offering the first invitation between the world of the living and the dead.
First Course: Itzcuintlán – The Path of Flowers
Inspiration: Mixquic, Mexico City
Roasted heirloom pumpkin and squash blossoms are paired with pickled xoconostle cactus fruit, seasonal pear, walnuts, and local ranch-style cheese, finished with a pulque and red prickly pear vinaigrette. Inspired by the flower-lined pathways of Mixquic that guide souls back home, this dish draws on the autumn harvest and traditional altar offerings that welcome returning spirits.
Second Course: Apanohuacalhuia – Crossing the Waters
Inspiration: Pátzcuaro & Janitzio, Michoacán
Smoked lake trout is layered with toasted blue corn, dried chile, chintextle mole, and avocado scales, balanced by a pickled chayote salad and blue corn mayonnaise. Representing the waters souls cross on their journey through Mictlán, the dish pays tribute to Lake Pátzcuaro and the fishing traditions of the Purépecha people.
Third Course: Tepetl Monamictlán – The Clashing Mountains
Inspiration: Oaxaca
A Duck Duo featuring slow-cooked magret served with deep black mole and plantain purée alongside a steamed bun filled with duck confit, sweet chili, and black plum purée. Inspired by the clashing mountains of Mictlán, the complex black mole highlights the history and permanence central to Oaxacan Día de Muertos celebrations.
Fourth Course: Iztepetl – The Obsidian Mountain
Inspiration: Xantolo (La Huasteca Region)
Crispy pork belly served over a rich frijol puerco sauce with nopales, purslane salad, pickled onion, and a comforting rice and butter tamal. Referencing the obsidian blades encountered along Mictlán’s path, the bold flavor profile reflects the vibrant spirit of Xantolo, where families gather to celebrate their ancestors.
Fifth Course: Dessert
Serving as a refreshing pause on the journey to Mictlán, tepache and charred pineapple granita, honor ancient Mexican traditions while reflecting themes of transformation and renewal, before concluding with Memories of the Ofrenda, a contemporary dessert of buñuelo de viento, aged queso oreado cream and guava. This dessert reinterprets the sweet offerings placed on family altars, blending classic Mexican flavors into a modern finish centered on memory and celebration.
THE WORLD OF MICTLÁN
Beyond the tasting menu, the world of Mictlán will extend across the resort. Thousands of cempasúchil flowers, candlelight and symbolic details will surround the altars, while an interactive altar invites guests to engage with the imagery of remembrance. Folkloric dancers, Catrinas and alebrije stilt walkers will bring the celebration into motion to the sounds of live mariachi and marimba. Their colour and movement form part of a celebration anchored by the altars and the people they honor.
