Punta Venado hotel project sparks environmental warnings in Mexico

Biologists and activists are warning of imminent and irreversible environmental damage due to a proposed hotel project in Punta Venado, located near Playa del Carmen. The site is situated between two ecological conservation zones, including part of the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Protected Natural Area. Experts, including Patricia Ocaña Luna, president of the Colegio de Biólogos de Quintana Roo, warn that construction could disrupt the jaguar biological corridor and threaten protected species such as sea turtles, mangroves, and coastal dunes.

Activists from the group Cenotes Urbanos allege that the developer, Oleum Joint Venture S de RL de C. V, omitted critical ecological data from its Regional Environmental Impact Statement (MIA-R) submitted to Semarnat. Specifically, they claim the developer failed to disclose the presence of endangered coral reefs and seagrasses located at shallow depths in the area. While authorities have granted partial authorization for the project, known as the “Complejo ecoturístico Riviera Maya,” critics argue that the development prioritizes economic gain over the preservation of vital ecosystems already facing degradation from water quality issues and reef bleaching.