Environmentalists and locals demand stop to luxury condo project on Yucatán dunes
Protesters in Yucatán forced a temporary shutdown of the Dunas Tourist Complex after the federal environmental agency cited irreversible damage to the coastal dune ecosystem.
A 14-tower, 138-apartment luxury resort called the Dunas Tourist Complex is under construction on the Chuburná dunes in the municipality of Progreso, Yucatán. The dunes host endangered species such as the Mexican sheartail, the Yucatán wren and three sea-turtle species, and serve as a natural buffer against storms. Local resident Karen Sosa joined a Mérida protest on July 31 demanding that the project be permanently stopped, its permits cancelled, and the area designated a Protected Natural Area.
The following day, the federal environmental watchdog PROFEPA ordered a temporary shutdown, citing violations of permit conditions and irreversible ecological harm. Designia Desarrollos declined comment, while experts like Gabriela Mendoza warned that such coastal developments undermine biodiversity and climate resilience. The controversy reflects a broader pattern of real-estate speculation in Yucatán, where luxury projects profit from foreign retirees while many locals earn far less than the price of the new apartments.
Why it matters
The case highlights how unchecked coastal development can destroy fragile ecosystems and deepen social inequality.
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