Nearly three years ago, one of the ten cenotes at the Xibalba theme park, owned by the Xcaret group, was closed. Now, it's expected that the park may open its doors as early as December. This follows a sanction by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) for damage caused by opening one of the cenote walls.

The Xcaret group had invested over 2,000 million pesos in the Xibalba theme park, located on a ranch spanning more than 250 hectares. The park features ten cenotes scattered across the property. The project aimed to transform these cenotes into tourist attractions, complete with restaurants and even underwater music in one of them.

However, the project faced criticism for damaging the underground rivers near the Playa del Carmen-Tulum highway during the construction of the Mayan Train's seventh section. As a result, the federal government halted the park's construction, although work continued on the other cenotes.

Following backlash against the government, the park was shut down through Profepa, leading to a legal battle between the Xcaret group and Profepa. Although fines have been paid, the company has been unable to reach an agreement with federal authorities for reopening.

Now, there are rumors that the park may reopen this December, once Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo assumes the presidency. Even if the closed cenote remains off-limits, operations could begin in other areas, potentially drawing in 2,500 tourists daily.

The Xcaret Group has built around 34 hotel rooms in the park area, which won't be enough to accommodate all visitors. This could benefit local tourism service providers, a factor the federal government should consider before reopening the theme park.

The park is already completed, and its closure is preventing the creation of about 500 direct jobs. Local Mayan communities that produce crafts are also missing out on potential benefits. The theme park is located seven kilometers north of the Yalcobá precinct, and 32 km from the city, making local hoteliers the most likely to benefit, as it takes at least three days to visit all the park's facilities.