Mexico’s Supreme Court Halts Xcaret’s Commercial Use of Mayan Symbols

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Mexico’s Supreme Court has revoked a suspension that allowed Grupo Xcaret to continue using Mayan cultural symbols and expressions in its tourism parks and advertising campaigns. The decision stems from a legal challenge filed by Indigenous communities and cultural authorities.

The court’s ruling, based on a draft by Justice María Estela Ríos González, overturns an injunction granted in February 2025 by a federal court in Mexico City. That injunction had permitted the company to keep using Mayan iconography in its parks, shows, and promotional materials.

With the new decision, the tourism company must remove images, symbols, and cultural representations linked to Mayan peoples and suspend their commercial use at least until the main lawsuit is resolved.

The legal conflict arose after Mayan communities and the National Copyright Institute accused the company of cultural appropriation for using traditional elements in tourist attractions, advertising, and experiences at its facilities.

The Supreme Court’s decision relies on a constitutional reform published in September 2024, which recognizes Indigenous peoples’ autonomy to preserve and protect their material and intangible cultural heritage, as well as their collective intellectual property over such elements.

Experts note the case could set a precedent in Mexico for protecting Indigenous cultural heritage and spark debate between the tourism industry and the rights of original peoples. Grupo Xcaret currently operates parks and tourism complexes in destinations including Playa del Carmen, Cancún, and Tulum, where Mayan culture forms a central part of its tourism offerings.