Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday conditioned Royal Caribbean’s planned “Perfect Day” water park in Mahahual, Quintana Roo, on the preservation of the local ecosystem, stating that “there cannot be a project that damages the reef in that area.”
Speaking at her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that while some criticisms are made just for the sake of criticizing, the environmental concerns in this case are legitimate and are being reviewed by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). She emphasized that the core of the environmental impact assessment (MIA) is the conservation of the reef system.
“If it is going to be built, it has to be in another location that allows the project to go ahead without causing damage, or under certain conditions set by the Environment Secretariat,” Sheinbaum said.
The president’s remarks came hours after Greenpeace Mexico activists scaled scaffolding at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City to unfurl a banner reading: “Semarnat Presents: Perfect Day, The Decision. Water slides or environmental protection, that is the question.”
Project Scope
The “Perfect Day” project includes 31 water slides on more than 825,404 square meters of land, plus 404,088 square meters of federal maritime-terrestrial zone (ZOFEMAT), totaling 825,808.89 square meters — equivalent to 82.58 hectares.
Activist Cristóbal González said Royal Caribbean plans to build on land classified as an Ecological Park under local urban development plans, where all four mangrove species found in Quintana Roo are present.
According to Greenpeace, the project involves deep foundations and mangrove alteration, threatening reef ecosystems, the karst system, and the aquifer that supplies Mahahual. It would directly affect endangered species such as the jaguar and the white turtle. The organization warned that approval would open southern Quintana Roo to the same model of mass tourism that has caused “irreversible damage” elsewhere on the Yucatan Peninsula.
$600 Million Investment
Royal Caribbean announced the $600 million investment in October 2024. By July 2025, the company had taken over management of the Costa Maya port and acquired 45 additional hectares adjacent to the existing port, aiming to expand the development for the exclusive use of 20,000 cruise passengers per day.
No Environmental Authorization Yet
Semarnat confirmed that Royal Caribbean has not received any environmental authorization for the development, construction, or operation of the park. The agency said it is conducting a comprehensive review of the environmental impact statement.
“The agency is carrying out a comprehensive review of the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the proponent. As part of the technical process, Semarnat has identified various elements requiring specialized analysis, including observations related to projected infrastructure, mitigation measures, and potential impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems,” the agency said.
Semarnat noted it will consider more than 14,000 public comments received during the consultation period, as well as technical information from communities, specialists, and environmental organizations.
“Semarnat reiterates that environmental decisions are made based on technical, legal, and scientific criteria, prioritizing ecosystem protection and the public interest. The evaluation process continues in accordance with current environmental legislation,” the agency stated.
Previous Actions
In late January, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) shut down construction and activities at “Perfect Day” for lacking the required environmental impact authorization from federal authorities.
In March, Greenpeace Mexico asked Royal Caribbean to halt the development in Mahahual and redirect the investment toward environmental restoration instead of advancing a project that, the organization said, would irreversibly compromise one of the last biodiversity refuges in the Mexican Caribbean.
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