Playa del Carmen Halts New Jungle Clearing in Playacar Development

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Municipal authorities have shut down a residential development in the Playacar Phase 2 complex after residents reported unauthorized jungle clearing that displaced local wildlife.

The Secretariat of Sustainable Territorial and Urban Development of Playa del Carmen sealed the Macondo project on June 17 following a court-ordered suspension. The Second Collegiate Circuit Court of Quintana Roo had granted an injunction halting construction and requiring verification by environmental and urban development agencies.

The legal action was initiated by a resident of the condominium master plan, supported by lawyers from the civil association Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (DMAS).

During an inspection on June 17, officials found a closure seal already placed by the secretariat, along with a summons issued by the municipal government against the developer.

According to indirect amparo file 638/2026, a federal judge is expected to announce on Monday whether to grant a definitive suspension of the works, which would result in a complete halt until the entire environmental protection legal process concludes.

The Macondo development, covering approximately three hectares, is located at the southern end of the Playacar Phase 2 master plan. Although the land is privately owned, it contains significant green area reserves that influence the coastal ecosystem beyond its boundaries.

In May 2025, controversies arose over other developments within the same residential complex, primarily for lacking environmental impact permits. Those projects led to the deaths of white-tailed deer due to the absence of a wildlife management plan.