Where Did My Bathing Suit Go?

If you continually misplace something on your trip to the Riviera Maya, don’t blame your traveling companion—it may be an alux (pronounced “aloosh”) playing pranks.

Aluxes are, according to Mayan superstition, mischievous elfin or childlike creatures who live in the tropical jungle and play tricks on people that do not believe in them or give them the respect they deserve. Some stories claim that the aluxes were originally clay or stone carvings that were placed in the Mayan religious temples and then later came to life.

Many Mayans and other locals claim to have had run-ins with aluxes. They can cause the phone to ring at odd hours of the night, and when it’s answered, no one will be there. They can move objects around the room and sometimes even steal bits of food. To curry the favor of the aluxes, many people build them little houses or shrines on their property. Once appeased, the aluxes become good luck charms, helping to ensure a good harvest, bring about good fortune, and protect the believers from other dangers.

Many hotels in the Riviera Maya, even some large and well-established ones, have homes for the aluxes on-site, in hopes that appeasing them with a comfy dwelling will encourage them to be friendly, though they rarely talk about it. Ask your waiters and housekeepers, though, and chances are they’ll know what you’re talking about—and will probably have a story of their own to share.