Quick answer: Royal Caribbean wants to turn Playa Mía, a beach park on the west coast about 17 km south of downtown, into a private Royal Beach Club for its cruise passengers, with room for up to 4,000 visitors a day on about 17 hectares. The project still has no federal environmental permit: Mexico's environment ministry, Semarnat, is reviewing it. In late October the national parks commission, CONANP, gave an opinion that the project is not viable at the site, and on November 2, 2026 local environmental groups reported that a road and a wooden gate had been cut into the mangrove next to it, which they say has no permit. Royal Caribbean has listed a December 2026 opening, but that now looks uncertain. Playa Mía is open as usual.
What is the Royal Beach Club Cozumel?
Royal Beach Club is Royal Caribbean's line of private beach clubs for its cruise guests, with pools, cabanas and food and drink included in a day pass. The Cozumel club would replace today's Playa Mía beach park. According to the environmental impact study, the plan includes about 2,000 loungers and 24 over-water palapas, and the study itself acknowledges clearing about 1.7 hectares of vegetation. Royal Caribbean says the site already has buildings and infrastructure.
Why is it controversial?
- Mangroves and wildlife. The site sits next to mangrove and coastal forest, which are protected in Mexico. Environmental groups say the project would damage them.
- Beach access for locals. Opponents say Playa Mía is one of the last beaches on that stretch of coast where residents can still get to the sea. About 19,000 signed comments were sent to Semarnat during the public consultation in February and March 2026.
- CONANP's opinion. The parks commission's regional office judged the project unfeasible. It isn't a final decision: Semarnat makes the call after reviewing all the technical opinions.
- The new road. On November 2, activists said workers had opened a path through the mangrove and put up a gate. Their lawyers are preparing a complaint to Profepa, Mexico's environmental enforcement agency, for possible work without a permit. We haven't seen a response from Royal Caribbean or the authorities yet.
It's the second big cruise project in question this year: in February Semarnat cancelled the fourth cruise pier for good.
What it means for visitors
Nothing changes for now. Playa Mía still operates as a beach park, and the island's other beach clubs and public beaches are open. If you've booked a Royal Caribbean cruise for December or January expecting the new beach club, check with the cruise line before you go. We'll update this story when Semarnat decides.
Questions and Answers
Is the Royal Beach Club Cozumel open?
No. As of November 2026 the project is still waiting for its federal environmental permit from Semarnat, so the planned December 2026 opening is uncertain. Playa Mía still operates as a beach park.
Where is the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel?
At Playa Mía, on the west coast about 17 km south of downtown San Miguel, south of the cruise piers.
Why are people against the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel?
Environmental groups say it would damage mangroves and coastal forest and take away one of the last beaches on that stretch where locals can reach the sea. The national parks commission (CONANP) has called the project unfeasible.
More Cozumel news and guides:
- Latest Cozumel news
- Cozumel beach clubs
- Cozumel's record cruise year, without a fourth pier
- Cozumel cruise port guide
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Top photo: loungers and palapas on a beach on Cozumel's west coast (not Playa Mía). "Beach Chairs In Cozumel Mexico" by Dronepicr, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Resized.
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