Mahahual, Q.R. — The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has released a statement on Perfect Day Mahahual. The government agency reported Tuesday that Royal Caribbean’s request to build a 90-hectare waterpark was denied.
The government agency said the decision was made through the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk (DGIRA) after an investigation. However, since July of 2025 when the purchase of land was official, over 4.8 million signatures against the project have been collect.
While the Government of Mexico publicly announced the project had not been approved May 19, environmentalists wanted more.
A change-of-land-use was granted to Royal Caribbean earlier this year that caused friction with Mahahual residents. Environmentalists were demanding the government put in writing the formal cancellation of the Royal Caribbean project.
After the announcement, hundreds of environmentalists protested the Mahahual project in Mexico City. It was the second consecutive day the government received social pressure to officially announce the cancellation of the cruise port project.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) submitted a lengthy public statement. They said after carrying out the corresponding technical, environmental and legal analysis, three projects linked to Perfect Day Mahahual were denied.
The companies involved in the Royal Caribbean project, Cielo Asoleado S. de RL de CV and Promociones Turísticas Mahahual, SA de CV, were formally notified of its cancellation.
According to Semarnat, the Perfect Day Mexico beach club in Mahahual and the procedures related to the project “Construction of a Pier for Private Use Cruise Ships, Port Terminal in Mahahual, Q. Roo” were denied.
“As a result of the technical review carried out by the DGIRA, it was identified that these projects had a functional, operational and environmental relationship with each other, so the environmental authority determined the need to analyze them in an integrated and not fragmented way in order to adequately assess their possible cumulative and synergistic impacts on the coastal and marine ecosystems of the region,” they said.
The Perfect Day project, submitted on December 9, 2025 proposed the demolition of existing infrastructure and the construction and operation of a water park made up of six sections.
The development included artificial beaches and rivers, an artificial canal for trajineras (traditional boats), support infrastructure, a Wastewater Treatment Plant with an injection well, and a Reverse Osmosis Plant (ROP) for drinking water supply, with extraction wells and brine disposal.
The project was planned for a total area of 82.58 hectares, including 16.38 hectares subject to land use change.
As part of the environmental assessment procedure, authorities identified several relevant elements, including the presence of mangrove vegetation within the project polygon.
A possible non-compliance with respect to the distances provided for in NOM-022-SEMARNAT-2003; which refers to the protection of mangroves due to the proximity of the work. Possible effects arising from saltwater intrusion associated with the Reverse Osmosis Plant.
Risks of alteration to the hydrological balance of the aquifer. Insufficient environmental prevention, mitigation and compensation measures as well as the lack of sufficient analysis on possible impacts on aquatic and reef ecosystems within the area of influence of the Protected Natural Area Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve.
They also identified the possible impact on species listed in NOM 059 of Semarnat, noting that regarding coral reefs, although they are in a vulnerable state, they are slowly recovering from previous environmental impacts.
During their review, they “identified 33 environmental impacts without the presentation of measures to mitigate, prevent and compensate for said impacts, among others.”
In their statement, the government said they “identified that the promoter had submitted two other projects linked to the “Perfect Day” development, specifically “Beach Club Perfect Day Mexico, Mahahual, Quintana Roo” and “Private Cruise Docks”, so it was technically unfeasible to analyze these projects independently.”
