Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) announced the opening of new free and public access points to the beaches of Tulum, Quintana Roo, as part of the first agreements reached through the Coordinating Committee for Strategic Actions in Tulum, with the participation of federal, state, and municipal authorities.
Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora emphasized that these measures stem from a guiding principle: “Beaches are public properties and must not be privatized.” The new access points are located within the Jaguar Park and the hotel zone of Tulum.
“The goal is to ensure that beach access remains free and open for everyone — both locals and visitors — every day of the year, while also ensuring that tourism development is sustainable, benefiting both the local community and those who visit this Protected Natural Area,” Rodríguez Zamora said.
According to Sectur, the southern access to Jaguar Park is already in operation, while the traditional access will open in the coming days. Both will allow visitors to reach the beaches in compliance with the Protected Natural Area’s regulations.
In addition, two new public entrances have been opened in the hotel zone: at the beaches known as Conchitas (kilometer 4.5) and Del Pueblo (kilometer 5.5), both now available for public use.
The announcement fulfills the instruction of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, issued during her morning press conference on October 8, to guarantee free access to Mexico’s beaches and promote a fair and sustainable tourism model.
These actions follow a series of visits, site inspections, and working meetings held in Tulum and Mexico City, involving federal, state, and municipal authorities as well as representatives from the tourism sector.
As part of the agreements, the government also established a unified rate system for national and foreign visitors entering Jaguar Park and the Tulum Archaeological Zone, effective from mid-November through the end of December.
On Sundays, entrance fees to the Archaeological Zone will be $3.20 USD (60 pesos) for Mexican visitors and $11.76 USD (220 pesos) for foreign visitors, while access to Jaguar Park will remain free on that day.
Rodríguez Zamora explained that all access points will operate according to the Protected Natural Area’s regulations and will be in operation at the three main entrances to Jaguar Park: North (home to the CATVI Visitor Center), Central or Traditional, and South. Between the latter two, a public and free corridor will be established for recreational and sports activities.
The Minister confirmed that Tulum residents will continue to enjoy free year-round access to the Protected Natural Area and the facilities of Jaguar Park.
“No visitor should ever have to pay to access the beaches — not at any time of the year,” Rodríguez Zamora reiterated.
These initiatives are part of a broader coordination effort that includes 14 federal agencies, the Mundo Maya Group, the Government of Quintana Roo, and the Municipal Government of Tulum. Together, they are defining a comprehensive strategy based on six pillars: tourism dynamics, regulation, urban-environmental management, infrastructure and urban development, tourism promotion, and price monitoring.
Related: Mexico Reaffirms Its Commitment to Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism
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