Tourists Slam Hidden Fees at Tulum’s Jaguar Park

Tulum, Quintana Roo — National and international tourists visiting the Tulum archaeological site during the summer vacation period have voiced dissatisfaction over mandatory fees associated with access to the so-called Jaguar Park, which they describe as excessive, confusing, and lacking clear justification.

Confusion Over Pricing and Access

Javier Martínez, a visitor from Veracruz who arrived with his wife, expressed frustration over the lack of transparent information when purchasing tickets. “They tell you one thing, then another. They give you a price that supposedly includes everything, and then you end up having to pay again. They told us it was 250 pesos per person, but later another 100 to enter the archaeological zone—350 pesos per person in total. It’s expensive, and it’s not clear from the start,” he said.

Martínez also noted that the promised access routes were not respected. Despite paying for entry to Jaguar Park, they were unable to visit the viewpoints and only wanted to enter the ruins. “We wanted to visit the archaeological site, but they told us it’s no longer possible without paying for the whole package. They should organize this better,” he added.

Chaotic Experience for Visitors

María Torres, a tourist from Mérida, Yucatán, agreed that the experience was chaotic. “It’s disorganized. It’s very frustrating to make multiple payments just to enter the archaeological zone. This doesn’t happen in Uxmal or Chichén Itzá,” she stated. She also criticized the poor condition of basic services, such as restrooms and water fountains, which were either in disrepair or non-functional.

Foreign Tourists Also Affected

The situation has also impacted international visitors. José Hernández and Antonio Oliva, both from Spain, traveled with their families and expressed surprise at the high costs. Antonio paid 455 pesos for each of his eight family members, in addition to tickets for the archaeological site. “It’s too much. We came to see the ruins, and they forced us to pay for the entire park access, even though we didn’t use it,” he said.

José, meanwhile, reported paying for his children under 13, despite the tickets stating that minors were exempt. Both said they would reconsider returning to the destination after this experience.

Guides Raise Concerns Over Unprecedented Fees

Even local tour guides have been affected by the new policy. One guide with over 35 years of experience in the area explained that visitors are now required to pay for a wristband to enter, a practice historically managed exclusively by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). “This has never been done before. It’s not right to charge for entering an archaeological zone under INAH’s jurisdiction,” the guide said.

The controversy follows recent protests by INAH personnel in Tulum, who accused Grupo Mundo Maya of “usurping functions” by imposing these fees.