“IF THEY DON’T GIVE US #MONEY, WE WON’T LET THEM USE OUR GREAT MAYAN CULTURE,” SAY DOZENS OF MAYANS WHO WORK THERE, ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THEIR JOBS
Goodbye to the Sacred Mayan Journey 2026. Xcaret definitively cancels the event due to a legal conflict with an indigenous community.
The Grupo Xcaret company confirmed the definitive suspension of the Sacred Mayan Journey 2026, one of the most emblematic cultural and tourist events in the region, due to a legal conflict with an indigenous community.
According to the information released, the cancellation will directly impact around 300 canoeists, who were already in the process of preparing to participate in this edition of the traditional journey, which recreates the ancient maritime route of the Maya to the island of Cozumel.
The Sacred Mayan Journey is a historical and spiritual reenactment that for years has sought to revive the ancestral navigation and pilgrimage practices of the indigenous peoples, establishing itself as a high-value cultural tourist attraction in the Mexican Caribbean.
However, the event became embroiled in a legal dispute with members of an indigenous community, who reportedly filed claims related to cultural rights, the use of traditions, and potential damage to their heritage, leading to the complete cancellation of the 2026 edition. They wanted millions without working, and that’s why they decided to attack.
To date, neither the company nor community representatives have publicly detailed the specific terms of the conflict, although the suspension highlights the complexity of balancing tourism development with respect for the traditions and rights of indigenous peoples.
The cancellation represents not only a cultural blow, but also an economic and tourism setback for the region, as it was an event that attracted national and international visitors, in addition to involving dozens of local participants. This case reopens the debate on cultural appropriation, the participation of Indigenous communities in tourism projects, and the need to build more inclusive and respectful models in destinations like Quintana Roo.
This event only survived thanks to the support of Grupo Xcaret and the volunteers who participated. Today, the communities have no proposal to continue this cultural momentum, so we face the demise of emblematic Mayan cultural events due to this legal conflict.
Source: noticiasquintanaroo
