Mexico Supreme Court Orders Consultations in 573 Maya Communities Over Xcaret Case

Mérida, Yucatán — The first community assembly in Yucatán stemming from a Supreme Court ruling will take place Sunday in the community of Santa María Chi, launching formal consultations across 573 Maya communities in the state.

The process stems from the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation’s (SCJN) resolution 4/2025, linked to an indirect amparo lawsuit (1649/2024) filed in a federal administrative court in Mexico City. The ruling requires communities to define mechanisms for participation and adherence regarding collective representation and indigenous cultural rights.

According to organizers, assemblies have already begun in Quintana Roo and Campeche, meaning the process will now extend across all three states of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The SCJN’s decision is tied to legal and community debates over the use of Maya cultural elements in tourism projects and shows, particularly the case of Grupo Xcaret and its so-called Sacred Maya Journey.

A key point of the ruling is that indigenous cultural rights must be discussed and authorized through collective community mechanisms, not solely by civil associations, councils, or representatives without an express mandate from each community’s assembly.

The consultations will include community meetings to inform residents about the legal implications of the ruling and to define collective positions on cultural heritage, community consent, and potential compensation or retribution mechanisms.

The Santa María Chi assembly is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and will be the first of several meetings planned across Yucatán in the coming weeks.