Cozumel Councilor Defends Xcaret After Cancellation of Sacred Maya Crossing

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — A Cozumel councilor has publicly defended Grupo Xcaret following the tourism company’s cancellation of the 2026 Sacred Maya Crossing event, criticizing the federal government for what he called undermining cultural promotion.

Roberto Marin Flores, a councilor for the Movimiento Ciudadano party in Cozumel’s municipal government, issued a statement arguing that the event’s suspension “cannot be read as an isolated incident.” He warned that decisions lacking legal certainty jeopardize investment, culture, and community development.

“When a government does not provide legal certainty, it puts investment, culture, and our community’s development at risk,” Marin Flores said in the statement, expressing solidarity with the tourism consortium and those who participate in the annual representation.

The councilor’s remarks respond to Grupo Xcaret’s announcement that it canceled the 2026 edition of the crossing amid a legal dispute. Maya dignitaries opposed to the leadership of the Gran Consejo Maya have filed litigation over the use of symbols, rituals, and cultural heritage without consent and payment to Maya communities in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Marin Flores maintained that the crossing has been part of Cozumel’s identity for 19 years. He asserted that “when a government attempts to silence a company that promotes our culture, justifying cultural protection, what it actually does is muzzle those who are fighting to amplify our traditions.”

The councilor added that the Sacred Maya Crossing represents “living culture, identity, and the effort of generations that have kept our Maya roots present.” He cautioned that the island cannot afford to lose spaces that project its cultural wealth.