Maya Saltworks of Xtampú Nearing Extinction—Only 13 Pools Left

Yucatán, Mexico — The Maya saltworks of Xtampú, located between the municipalities of Dzemul and Telchac, faces imminent threats due to natural phenomena and real estate developments. Once home to over 100 salt pools, the site now has only 13 remaining, marking a drastic decline in its capacity for traditional salt production.

A Centuries-Old Tradition Under Threat

José Chi Aké, a member of the local cooperative, explained that the saltworks have been passed down through generations for decades. However, recent infrastructure projects and environmental disruptions have severely impacted operations. The area was rendered inactive for years after Hurricane Isidoro flooded the site in 2002.

"From more than 100 pools, only about 13 remain," Chi Aké revealed. A report from three years ago documented 33 pools, indicating a 60% reduction since then.

Real Estate Developments Exacerbate the Crisis

A luxury complex with a yacht club, located 4.2 kilometers away, has further disrupted the saltworks. To accommodate yacht access, developers altered water flow by creating a passage beneath a nearby road, allowing seawater to flood the salt pools.

"For the yachts to enter, they needed deeper water, so they redirected the sea toward the lagoons. This caused the salt pools to overflow beyond their water limit," Chi Aké stated. "They claim they’re not responsible because they’re far away, blaming climate change instead. But it’s the seawater from their development that’s flooding us."

Ecological and Economic Consequences

The excess seawater has rendered the pools unusable for salt harvesting and altered the local ecosystem. "You can see fish in them now," Chi Aké noted. The once-iconic "pink lagoon," caused by algae pigmentation, has also faded due to the influx of seawater.

Despite these challenges, the saltworks remain a cultural and tourist attraction, offering affordable tours (20 pesos) and additional services like body exfoliation and local product sales. The site was previously featured in two Yucatán tourism campaigns under the last administration.

Legal Protections and Cultural Preservation

The saltworks fall under constitutional protections for Indigenous territories, which guarantee the right to conserve productive lands and sacred sites. However, real estate expansion continues to threaten the area, including attempts to divert water from Dzemul in collaboration with local officials.

The survival of Xtampú’s saltworks now hinges on enforcing these legal safeguards to preserve both its biocultural heritage and the livelihoods of the Maya community that has depended on it for centuries.