Tulum, Quintana Roo — A citizen-led petition on Change.org is calling for the administrative separation of the Tulum Archaeological Zone from the adjacent Jaguar Park, citing a 33.1% drop in visitors during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Launched on May 26 by Valeria del Carmen López Blanco, the petition has gathered more than 2,800 signatures. It argues that unifying the two sites and introducing regulated fees has restricted traditional access for locals and tourists alike, hurting businesses, transporters, and tour guides in the area.
According to data from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the archaeological site received 257,978 visitors in January–March 2026, down from 385,879 in the same months of 2025. The decline follows a weak 2025, which ended with 1,031,443 visitors — the lowest annual figure in 15 years, excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
The site is managed jointly by the Mexican Army (Sedena) and Grupo Mundo Maya. Since Jaguar Park opened, a tiered fee system has been in place: 415 pesos for foreign visitors, 255 pesos for Mexican nationals, and 105 pesos for Quintana Roo residents. The fee includes mandatory transport via electric golf carts.
Critics say the compulsory charge has turned a public beach and free-access area into a restrictive, commercialized space. Although entry is free on Sundays and alternative pedestrian routes exist, visitors and service providers report ongoing operational difficulties. Tour operators say the higher final cost has led to cancellations by wholesalers, reducing the number of independent travelers.
The petition states: “The history of Tulum belongs to the people. The economy of Tulum must benefit Tulum. And the future of Tulum must be decided by its people.” It explicitly demands removing private companies from managing access and logistics.
Signatories argue that separating Jaguar Park from the archaeological zone would restore direct, simplified entry without commercial intermediaries, helping to reverse the visitor decline and revive the local economy that has built the region’s tourism infrastructure over decades. The petition remains open for signatures.
