Tulum, Q.R. — Tulum boatmen say they are concerned about being displaced from the Jaguar Park by new Mundo Maya vessels. The tourist service providers say they are worried about the arrival of new tourist boats belonging to the company that manages the park.
The local boatmen expressed their concern Wednesday after learning of the possible entry of new tourist boats operated by Grupo Mundo Maya to provide tours in Tulum’s Jaguar Park. Local boatmen were summoned to a meeting at the park’s south end Wednesday where they say they left with more questions than answers.
Fortino Aquino Torres, a retired Colonel and current administrator of the Parque del Jaguar de Tulum, lead the Wednesday meeting. He avoided direct answers to the press about the January 2026 arrival of new tourist boats owned by Mundo Maya.
Tulum boatman Nelson Barrera criticized the disorganization and lack of official communication regarding the alleged operating plans for new vessels.
“There’s so much lack of communication. We came simply to ask if this report is true, to find out where we stand. There’s no certainty,” he said adding that instead, they will go to the Harbor Master’s Office to see if Grupo Mundo Maya is processing permits.
Tulum boatman Lenín Pacheco Aguilar with cooperative Dorados de Playa Maya, said the meeting was tense and that they left without many answers.
He said they are already feeling the heavy impact that managing company Mundo Maya is having on park tourism with a sharp decline in numbers. According to Aguilar, of the 18 tourist boats that belong to his cooperative, only five are in operation and when in use, do not exceed 30 percent of the boat’s permitted capacity.
Aguilar says people who do come to Tulum are opting to visit cenotes or head to a beach where there are no charges. He also pointed out that the presence of National Guard and the heavy park restrictions are having an effect since people are not allowed to enter with their own drinks.
“They can’t bring in a soda, a beer or water. It’s no longer possible, it’s pointless,” he stressed. “Since this park thing started, our occupancy rates has been very low. People prefer to go to a cenote, to a free beach…interest in the Tulum park beach is gone. We have no work, we’re starving,” he said.
Pacheco Aguilar said the concern about new boats by Mundo Maya has been around since last year. “This is something we have been hearing since last year. Now it seems like it’s going to happen and that has us very worried.”
He said the local boatmen fear they will be the next to be displaced like what has already happened to taxi drivers, artisans and other service providers. “They’ve already kicked out the taxi drivers and the artisans, now it’s just us left,” he said. “The Parque del Jaguar did not benefit us. On the contrary, it is killing us.”
