Some fights aren’t about money, but about dignity. In Tulum, that fight has found its battleground on the white sands of the Caribbean coast, and for once, the tide seems to be turning in favor of the people.
This past Friday, Governor Mara Lezama emerged from a high-level meeting with military and federal officials, calling it “highly productive.” The agenda? Restoring something that never should have been taken away: free and full access to Tulum’s beaches for its residents.
At the center of it all was General Adolfo Héctor Tonatiuh Velasco, Director of Grupo Mundo Maya, a quasi-governmental body tasked with overseeing tourism and conservation in parts of Quintana Roo. Alongside his team, the general sat down with state and municipal authorities after a growing wave of frustration, and protest, from locals over restricted access to public coastal areas.
Who Owns the Beach in Tulum?
That’s the question many in Tulum have been asking in recent months. While Mexico’s constitution guarantees public access to all beaches, in practice, barriers, physical and bureaucratic, have kept locals out. Private developers, hotel chains, and now even federal tourism projects like Parque del Jaguar have been accused of prioritizing profits over people.
On Monday, before the meeting, protestors gathered outside local government offices, demanding that previously broken promises about access be honored. Their chants echoed a sentiment that’s been building for years: enough is enough.
“Access to the beach is not a luxury. It’s a right,” one protestor told The Tulum Times, waving a cardboard sign smudged by rain.
Two Doors to the Sea, For Now
In response, Lezama’s government and Mundo Maya have agreed to open, or reopen, two key access points. First, a pedestrian path through Playa Mangle in the southern zone. Second, a local-only access through Parque El Jaguar, available to any Tulum resident presenting an INE (official ID).
It’s a partial victory, but a meaningful one.
“This is just the beginning,” Lezama said in a statement. “We will continue working tirelessly to ensure that both locals and visitors can enjoy the natural beauty that Quintana Roo offers.”
The language is cautious but optimistic. And maybe that’s appropriate. After all, locals have heard promises before.
A Complicated Relationship with Grupo Mundo Maya
Grupo Mundo Maya has come under increased scrutiny in recent months. While its mission includes preservation and cultural promotion, residents argue that it has sometimes acted more like a private developer than a public steward.
Monday’s protest stemmed largely from accusations that Mundo Maya had not upheld previous commitments. Specifically, locals say the group failed to ensure free access to the Jaguar Park archaeological zone on Sundays, something previously agreed upon.
Tulum Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo confirmed that Friday’s meeting included urgent calls to fix these breaches of trust.
“We can’t talk about sustainable tourism if the community is excluded from the spaces we are trying to protect,” he said earlier this week.
Looking North: A Third Access on the Horizon
In what could be the most impactful development yet, a formal request was submitted during the meeting to federal authorities, including the Institute for the Administration and Appraisal of National Assets and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, to open a third public access point in the northern zone near Jaguar Park.
City Hall Secretary General Johnny Monsreal Padilla confirmed the paperwork was received. An answer is expected within 20 business days.
It’s a bureaucratic process, yes, but one with real implications for thousands of residents and workers who rely on those beaches not just for leisure, but for livelihood.
A Small Story That Says a Lot
On Tuesday, a local vendor named Lidia stood near the southern access point, baskets of mango slices and tamarind candies balanced in her arms. For years, she sold snacks to tourists on the beach, until fences and guards made her daily route a gamble.
“They used to tell me I couldn’t be there, that I needed a permit, that it was private now,” she said, not bitter, just tired. “Now they say I can pass again. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Her words linger. They speak not just to policy, but to the weariness of being pushed aside in your own town.
Why This Matters Beyond Tulum
The battle for beach access in Tulum reflects a broader tension playing out across Mexico’s tourism corridor. From Cancún to Playa del Carmen, public space is shrinking under the weight of mega-developments and militarized conservation.
What sets Tulum apart is the growing chorus of voices refusing to stay silent. With The Tulum Times documenting these developments and bringing local voices into the spotlight, pressure is mounting on both government and private entities to act with transparency and equity.
Access to nature shouldn’t be a privilege negotiated behind closed doors. It should be a birthright, reaffirmed in policy and protected on the ground.
The Road Ahead: Deadlines and Decisions
Another meeting is scheduled for September 22. This time, stakeholders will review the progress, or lack thereof, on commitments made. The municipal government has also pledged to appoint an official responsible for monitoring access through Playa Mangle, ensuring that no more unofficial restrictions are quietly reintroduced.
Whether this marks a turning point or a brief pause in a longer fight remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: the people of Tulum are watching. And they’re not asking for much, just the right to walk barefoot on the sand their parents once called home.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation on The Tulum Times’ social media.
Do you believe beach access should be guaranteed no matter the project or policy? Why or why not?