Mexico rejects Royal Caribbean water park project

Mexican authorities have rejected Royal Caribbean’s planned Perfect Day Mexico water park on the country’s Caribbean coast following opposition from residents and environmental groups.

Environment minister Alicia Barcena confirmed the decision Tuesday (May 19), saying the project would not move ahead because of concerns about its environmental impact.

Royal Caribbean told Reuters it regretted the decision, but respected Mexico’s environmental authorities.

The cruise company said it remains optimistic about investing in Mexico and plans to speak with stakeholders in the coming weeks about local job creation and environmental infrastructure.

The project was expected to open in fall 2027 in Mahahual, a beach town near a coral reef. 

Marketed as Royal Caribbean’s “biggest, baddest, boldest destination,” Perfect Day Mexico was set to include beach clubs, pools, bars and more than 30 waterslides.

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum also raised environmental concerns during her daily morning press conference Monday, according to Reuters.

“We must not do anything that affects that area, which has a very important ecological balance, and is particularly important for the reefs,” Sheinbaum said.

Royal Caribbean, which offers several cruise itineraries in Mexico and the Caribbean, had positioned Perfect Day Mexico as part of its broader strategy to expand investment in land-based destinations.

Environmental concerns

Mahahual, which has fewer than 3,000 residents, is known for clear, warm waters and its proximity to the Mesoamerican Reef, the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere.

The reef draws scuba divers who come to see fish, coral and other marine life. 

The surrounding coast is also a nesting area for turtles and leads into mangrove forests and tropical jungle that are home to jaguars.

Greenpeace warned the region was at a “crucial juncture,” saying the project and its connection to expanded cruise tourism could have significant environmental consequences.

Public opposition also gained momentum online. 

As previously reported, a petition calling for the project to be stopped was launched in July 2025. It recently surpassed four million signatures.

Petition organizers say the planned 90-hectare, or 222-acre, water park would be built on protected mangroves and threaten the local way of life, public access to beaches and the survival of marine life.

The area is near the route of the Mayan Train, a government project intended to bring development to Indigenous Maya communities beyond the busy beaches of Cancun. 

The rail project has also drawn criticism from local groups and environmentalists.

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