Bacalar Ejido Members Seek Governor’s Help to Resolve INAH Land Compensation Dispute at Ichkabal

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — Sixteen months after signing an agreement with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to begin the expropriation of 113.78 hectares housing the Ichkabal archaeological zone, the president of the Bacalar ejido commission, Refugio Cano Gómez, said negotiations over the parking lot area remain stalled.

“We still have an issue with the parking lot, and that’s what I’ve come to discuss with the governor. We already have the agreement with INAH — she even witnessed the signing — but we want to see if through her mediation we can finalize the expropriation, open the archaeological zone, and resolve the parking lot situation,” Cano said.

He explained that INAH has yet to fulfill 25% of its obligations. “We’re missing 25% of the compensation payment. We’ve had meetings with INAH, but there’s no date to resolve the parking lot issue,” he insisted.

In January 2025, Governor Mara Lezama witnessed the signing of a prior occupancy agreement for the 113 hectares of the Ichkabal archaeological zone between INAH Director Diego Prieto and ejido authorities. At the time, Lezama called the signing a historic moment, saying, “I am pleased that the ejido and INAH have reached this definitive agreement and that dialogue has prevailed.” The agreement initiated the expropriation process for the 113.78 hectares of ejido land that make up the core area of the vast archaeological site.