Royal Caribbean’s Mega Project Continues Deforestation Despite Closure

Mahahual, Quintana Roo — The Perfect Day Mexico development project, backed by Royal Caribbean, continues clearing rainforest in Mahahual despite a federal environmental closure order issued last month, according to a local advocacy group.

The civil association Defendiendo el Derecho a un Ambiente Sano (Dmas) released videos showing heavy machinery from the U.S.-based cruise line removing vegetation across a 107-hectare site. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) had ordered the project closed on January 30.

“Royal Caribbean continues knocking down and devastating the rainforest for the Perfect Day Mexico project,” said Dmas lawyer Antonella Vázquez, warning the situation could escalate into an “ecocide.” The group has called on federal authorities to intervene due to the violation of the closure order.

Project executives claim they have demolition permits from all three levels of government for structures that Profepa closed last week, and that these works are not currently part of the Perfect Day Mexico development.

Profepa officials announced they are preparing a new inspection visit to verify the reports and take appropriate legal action.

Dmas argues the project has faced irregularities from the start. The promoting company secured land-use changes approved by the Othón P. Blanco municipal council in November 2025, modifying the Urban Development Program without following procedures established in the Human Settlements Law.

To approve such changes, the company should have presented technical studies, specific documents, and submitted the proposal to a Urban Development committee for consultation. Instead, the council voted in favor without following legal procedure.

As a result, Dmas filed an injunction on January 16 against the municipality and Quintana Roo’s Secretariat of Sustainable Urban Territorial Development (Sedetus) for issuing a Congruence Report despite violating settlement laws.

The Sixth District Court in Quintana Roo issued a definitive suspension that nullifies the land-use changes and prevents them from being translated into licenses, permits, certificates, or any related procedures until the case is resolved.