SEMARNAT said it will not approve Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day México project in Mahahual, citing environmental concerns over the area’s reefs, mangroves, and coastal ecosystems. The decision follows public opposition, legal disputes over land-use changes, and growing pressure from local communities and environmental groups.
Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) will not approve Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day México” project in Mahahual, Quintana Roo, marking a major victory for environmental groups, local residents, and civil society organizations that had warned of risks to one of the most sensitive ecosystems in the Mexican Caribbean.
Alicia Bárcena, Minister of Environment (SEMARNAT), says the ministry would reject the project, even as the company was reportedly seeking to withdraw it. “We know the company is also looking to desist from the project, but we, as SEMARNAT, are not going to approve it,” Bárcena said during a press conference. The announcement followed mounting public pressure and a federal review of the project’s potential environmental impact.
The project had been promoted as a large-scale cruise tourism development in Mahahual, with water attractions, pools, restaurants, bars, beaches, and more than 30 waterslides. Royal Caribbean had positioned the site as part of its “Perfect Day” destination model, similar to its private-island experience in the Bahamas. The project was expected to open in 2027 and attract thousands of visitors per day to a community of fewer than 3,000 residents, reports MBN.
However, the proposal triggered strong opposition because of its location near the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. Activists argued that the development could affect coral reefs, mangroves, coastal ecosystems, protected species, and the aquifer system that supports Mahahual. In a press release shared by environmental organizations, campaigners said the decision goes beyond Mahahual because the area forms part of an interconnected ecological network that includes Banco Chinchorro, Xcalak, Sian Ka’an, Cozumel, Puerto Morelos, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala.
SEMARNAT had previously clarified that the project did not have environmental authorization for development, construction, or operation. On May 12, the ministry said it was conducting a comprehensive review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA) submitted by the project’s promoter, including observations related to projected infrastructure, mitigation measures, and possible impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.
The decision also follows a controversial legal process. Earlier this month, a federal court in Quintana Roo dismissed an amparo promoted by citizens and environmental organizations against land-use changes linked to the project. MBN reports that the ruling cleared the way for land-use modifications that favored the Royal Caribbean development, leaving the final environmental decision in SEMARNAT’s hands.
Environmental groups argued that the court decision limited citizens’ ability to challenge a project with broad territorial and ecological implications. Greenpeace Mexico warned that the project reflected a wider pattern of tourism and real estate expansion in fragile ecosystems, while organizations such as Salvemos Mahahual and DMAS pushed for SEMARNAT to reject the authorization.
Public pressure became a central factor in the case. A Change.org petition opposing the project gathered more than 4 million signatures, while SEMARNAT reportedly received more than 14,000 citizen opinions during the public consultation process. The campaign against “Perfect Day México” also included public statements, digital actions, and demonstrations from local residents, scientists, environmental defenders, and civil society organizations.
President Claudia Sheinbaum had also called for a detailed review of the project, she said the government would not do anything that put the area’s ecosystem at risk and emphasized that SEMARNAT was responsible for determining whether the project could proceed.
For environmental organizations, SEMARNAT’s announcement represents a precedent for how Mexico evaluates tourism infrastructure in ecologically sensitive areas. The decision suggests that investment projects tied to cruise tourism, coastal real estate, and major visitor flows will face stronger scrutiny when they overlap with reefs, mangroves, and local communities.
Royal Caribbean has not closed the door to future investment in Mexico. According to Reuters, the company expressed disappointment but said it respected Mexican environmental authorities and remained interested in pursuing responsible investment opportunities in the country.
