Chichén Itzá Fee Hike to Affect Cancún Tour Operators

Cancún’s Increase to Archaeological Zone Fees Will Impact Tourist Transport Companies

Receptive travel agencies have warned that the increase in access costs to Chichén Itzá, approved by Congress and effective starting in 2026, will affect tourist transport companies.

Sergio González Rubiera, president of the Mexican Association of Receptive Travel Agencies (AMATUR), recalled that the Chamber of Deputies approved an increase in the entrance fee to Chichén Itzá and other archaeological zones, which will take effect in 2026.

The adjustment, which is part of the Federal Rights Law, establishes a cost of 104.50 pesos for nationals and a significant increase for foreigners. The objective is to generate more income for the maintenance, restoration, and operation of these sites.

González Rubiera stated that for AMATUR, after theme parks, Chichén Itzá is the most sold excursion with estimates of 40% of their sales.

Tour operators indicate they will have to absorb the increase approved by the Chamber of Deputies. He added that 70% of tourists who go to Chichén Itzá come from Cancún and the Riviera Maya, so he emphasized that Chichén is a very important, highly sold product.

“They increased it to more than double and that obviously hits us operators because we have to absorb the cost, eventually it could be adjusted with tourists because that is not something that can be done overnight, meanwhile as I said we will have to absorb that cost, I really think there was very little sensitivity from the deputies to have approved all those increases,” he said.

When asked if with the upcoming access increases they have an estimate of by what percentage tourist arrivals to these archaeological zones could decrease, this is what he commented.

AMATUR considers that the increase will mainly affect receptive travel agencies.

“Look, I don’t think it will decrease and the Deputies know that and that’s why they approved it, because the tour is very in demand, tourists want to continue visiting it and as I told you, those it will hit are us who have to absorb that cost,” he reiterated.