Cozumel, Q.R. — The 2026 edition of the Sacred Mayan Journey that takes place each Spring has been cancelled. On Thursday, hosting company Xcaret announced the cancellation of this year’s journey due to its ongoing legal issues.
Earlier this month, Mexico’s highest court denied Xcaret the right to continue using Mayan symbols throughout its company. The ruling came after the local Mayan community filed a complaint against the company for usage rights.
The decision was made after members of the Supreme Court agreed that the definition of Mayan community and people are made up of 1,021 communities, not only the Great Mayan Council with whom Xcaret had a usage agreement.
On Thursday, Iliana Rodríguez, Corporate Director of Sustainability and Institutional Relations at Xcaret, made the announcement at a press conference. During the one-hour conference, she said “We don’t want to be a pretext for generating friction.”
Grupo Xcaret has said that the 2026 edition of the sacred pilgrimage has been voluntarily suspended to protect the long-term viability and proper development of this activity as an act of respect for the tradition.
“We are doing this to avoid the possibility that holding this event could be interpreted as an act of rebellion or confrontation with the authorities responsible for cultural heritage in our country, who have not specifically requested any action in this regard, so it is a voluntary act,” they said.
The event is held during the month of May off the mainland of Riviera Maya from where hundreds canoe to the island of Cozumel. The journey, in its 19th season this year, attracts nearly 2,000 visitors for the one-day event.
On Thursday afternoon, the Cozumel Business Coordinating Council (CCE) released a statement on the impact of the Xcaret announcement.
“The Cozumel Island Business Coordinating Council expresses its concern regarding the suspension of the 2026 Sacred Crossing, an emblematic event that not only represents a cultural manifestation of great historical value, but also a driver of social integration, regional identity and economic development for various destinations in the Mexican Caribbean, including our island.
“While we recognize and support the importance of protecting the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, we agree that such protection must be accompanied by legal certainty, clear guidelines and well-defined mechanisms that allow for the responsible continuation of activities that strengthen both the culture and the regional economy.
“For Cozumel, these types of events are neither insignificant nor secondary. They are part of a tourism, cultural and social ecosystem that generates opportunities for service providers, local communities and productive sectors that depend directly on tourism.
“The cancellation or suspension of these events sends signals of uncertainty that can negatively impact the perception of the destination and investment planning.
“It is estimated that this event generates a total estimated flow of between 1,500 and 2,000 additional direct visitors to the island, with a conservative estimated economic impact of more than 20 million pesos per edition through a significant increase in hotel occupancy, restaurant consumption and the contracting of transportation services, tours, etc., particularly in areas near the arrival points to Cozumel.
“It directly involves more than 330 people in the community, in addition to local residents who handle logistics, suppliers and tour operators.
“It directly contributes to the promotion of the island by being featured in audiovisual content and national and international tourism campaigns showcasing unique experiences that position Cozumel as a cultural destination, not just a sun and beach resort, with an estimated media exposure value of $1.5 million USD.
“The cancellation of the event therefore represents a negative impact not only in economic terms, but also on the projection of Cozumel’s cultural and tourist identity.
“From the sector, we respectfully but firmly call upon the relevant authorities to establish, through institutional dialogue, clear, transparent and applicable rules that allow for the protection of cultural heritage without hindering economic development or the promotion of our traditions.
“The lack of clear guidelines puts at risk not only cultural events, but also the stability of numerous economic activities that depend on the correct interpretation of the law.
“We reiterate that the business sector is not against cultural protection; on the contrary, it has been an active ally in its dissemination, preservation and promotion. However, it is essential to avoid hostile scenarios that could lead to the cancellation of events that generate identity, social cohesion and economic well-being.
“Cozumel cannot afford to lose events that strengthen its identity, generate well-being for its communities and position the island internationally.
“Legal rights are not a luxury; they are an indispensable condition for preserving our culture and sustaining our economy,” the CCE (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial de Cozumel) said in a statement Thursday.
