Día de los Muertos on November 1–2 is one of Mexico's most culturally significant holidays — and one that gets thoroughly misunderstood by outside visitors who encounter it primarily through its most photogenic elements.
What it actually is
At its core, it's a family holiday focused on remembering and honoring the dead — relatives build altars (ofrendas) at home and visit graves, leaving food, photos, candles, and items the deceased loved. It's intimate and personal, not a public spectacle, even when public elements exist.
Hanal Pixán — the Yucatecan variant
The Yucatán Peninsula has its own version rooted in Maya tradition, called Hanal Pixán ("food for souls" in Yucatec Maya). The offerings and some of the foods involved are regionally specific — mukbil pollo (a large tamale cooked underground in the pib, a Maya earth oven) is the signature dish, found at this time of year at markets and in homes.
How to observe respectfully
Public cemetery events and community altars in downtown Cancún and nearby towns are genuinely open to observers, and local communities often welcome respectful visitors — the key word being respectful. Ask before photographing family altars, keep voices low at cemeteries, and understand you're witnessing grief and love, not a tourist event. Don't wear a Day of the Dead costume to actual events.