Xcaret Group Ordered to Reforest Area After Unlawful Development

Xcaret Group Ordered to Reforest Triple the Area Impacted by Hotel Development

The Xcaret Group has been mandated by the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk of Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) to reforest an area three times the size of the land it unlawfully developed for the Occidental at Xcaret Destination Hotel in the Riviera Maya. The reforestation project aims to compensate for environmental damage caused by the unauthorized construction of three walkways.

What Happened?

The affected area totals 893.86 square meters, but Xcaret must now reforest 2,681.60 square meters as a penalty. This decision stems from inspections conducted on March 2 and 3, 2017, on Lot 8 of the Xcaret Master Plan, located at kilometer 281 of the Chetumal–Puerto Juárez federal highway in the municipality of Solidaridad. The inspections revealed the unauthorized structures as part of a larger environmental review.

Environmental Requirements

The reforestation project must include native plant species from the medium subperennial jungle, such as Thrinax radiata and Coccothrinax readii. The goal is to restore forest cover and preserve essential environmental services like biodiversity, water filtration, and carbon sequestration.

Semarnat justified the mandate under resolution 23/MP-0112/03/24, tied to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

Accountability for Xcaret Group

The companies involved include “Promotora Xcaret,” “Desarrollo Flamenco Riviera,” and “Destino Xcaret,” which developed the hotel under its original name, Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret Hotel. The penalties were formally outlined in a December 12, 2022, notice sent to the legal representative of “Desarrollo Flamenco Riviera S.A. de C.V.” and acknowledged by the agency on January 7.

The primary shareholders of Desarrollo Flamenco Riviera include Miguel Quintana Pali and the Constandse Madrazo brothers—Marcos, Oscar, and Carlos.

Ongoing Obligations

The reforestation initiative will be monitored over a three-year period to ensure an 80% survival rate of the planted specimens. Any trees that fail to thrive must be replaced. Additionally, the group must present a protocol to prevent spillage of hazardous substances near the walkways.

Other restrictions imposed include:

• A ban on vegetation removal.
• Prohibition of open-air burning of solid waste or plant residues.
• A ban on the extraction, capture, or sale of protected flora and fauna.
• Restrictions on discharging any pollutants into the soil.
• A rule against feeding wild animals.

Broader Environmental Violations

This case is part of a larger EIS compliance procedure linked to Profepa’s resolution PFPA/4.1/2C.27.5/00016-17/003-2022, issued on February 16, 2022. The company was also instructed to restore 22,210 square meters of land to its original state, exceeding the limits authorized by permits issued in 2000 and 2016.

The violations involve 12 structures, including soil invasions such as a flamingo pond measuring 25.37 square meters, used for food storage.