Mexican Supreme Court Strips Xcaret of Right to Use Mayan Symbols in Tourist Attractions

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Mexico’s Supreme Court has revoked a measure that allowed Xcaret, the ecotourism giant operating in Cancún and the Riviera Maya, to use Mayan symbols in its attractions, following a complaint filed more than three years ago by indigenous community members.

The constitutional tribunal voted 7-2 to withdraw the authorization that favored the company, in a case that Justice Loretta Ortiz Ahlf described as “highly pressured.”

The majority of justices supported the proposal from Justice María Estela Ríos González, who argued that the federal judge’s authorization for Xcaret to continue using Mayan symbols for commercial purposes did not align with constitutional protections for the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples.

“The legal protection of the cultural heritage of the Mayan indigenous people is a matter of public interest by law, and the complaining party (Xcaret) did not demonstrate having a right to exploit and commercialize elements and cultural heritage of the Mayan people,” she told the court.

The dispute originated with a 2022 complaint from the Gran Consejo Maya, which invoked rules protecting the cultural heritage of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples, overseen by Indautor, Mexico’s copyright institute.

In 2023, the Gran Consejo Maya—a collegial body recognized by Quintana Roo state laws—reached an agreement with Xcaret and withdrew from the dispute. However, the legal process could not be stopped because the Mexican state had begun pursuing it independently.

Indautor members in October 2024 requested that Xcaret stop using Mayan symbols in its attractions, including ecotourism parks, hotels, and websites.

The company sought an injunction, and in February 2025, a federal judge granted a permanent suspension—the same measure the Supreme Court nullified on Thursday.

The two dissenting votes came from Justices Yasmín Esquivel Mosa and Arístides Rodrigo Guerrero García. Esquivel Mosa argued that using Mayan symbols in such businesses promotes tourism, while Guerrero García voted against because he requested a hearing to listen to more stakeholders involved in the matter—a request that was ultimately dismissed.

The legal process, conducted as an injunction trial, is not yet concluded. A final ruling must still be issued, leaving open the possibility that Xcaret could reverse today’s decision.

Following the ruling, Xcaret issued a statement saying it will comply with the court’s decision and clarified that its attractions will continue operating normally.