"Chichén-Itzá is an icon of the Maya Civilization and its last big city in the Post-Classic Maya. Its location near Cancún's resort area brings more tourists than it can handle, creating a crowded environment at peak times. The construction of a light and sound show system that is played every night damaged the original structures and transforms this historical site into an amusement park ride. Its removal is recommended."
"Unauthorized vendors are allowed to park their tables/blankets all over the park, diminishing its aesthetic appeal. Far fewer fauna are present (varied birds and lizards) than just a few years ago, probably due to the high influx of tourists. Very little is done to integrate tourists to the locale and their proper role at the site."
"The finest structures can be observed but not climbed, and most structures have trilingual interpretive signage in Spanish, English, and Maya for those who care to read them (not most tourists). What is needed is a serious dialogue, at the community level, of the environmental and social sustainability of tourism at Chichén."
"I would have given it the lowest score, but the archaeological site itself is spectacular, even though they are determined to make it Disney, Mexico."
"Little self-guided interpretation is available, but there is room for it. Good public transportation, but site managers could use the expertise and knowledge of the local people more effectively. Site condition is okay but threatened by over-visiting, climbing, and lack of maintenance."
"One of the major problems is that the Maya aren't earning much from their cultural heritage—but everyone else is."
"Overdevelopment of the town has long ago turned Chichén-Itzá into an example of what goes wrong in tourist development of archaeological sites. Maya culture is objectified and on display as a kind of 'quaint' product, and few visitors are aware that what they see is a modern contrivance. Still, the on-site museum, while architecturally undistinguished and too closely integrated with shops, is a good source of reliable interpretation."
Mexico: Guanajuato
Score 79
"A lot of repaving in traditional style .... It advertises World Heritage more than any other site I have visited. Safe atmosphere—tourism police are very visible and reassuring. A winner—not too many gringos."
"Sprawl on the edges but the historic center is in great shape. The city highly deserves its status as a living monument."
"Delightful town to wander. Old buildings tastefully converted into hotels and restaurants."
"Charming, peaceful, welcoming city, few of the urban problems evident in larger Mexican cities. Hiking in the surrounding hills revealed significant erosion and overgrazing, but where forest remnants could be found, they were magical places."
Mexico: Oaxaca and Monte Albán
Score: 69
"Tourist interest in Oaxaca is twofold: first, the colonial city, which is largely intact, though in places in a poor state of conservation, and second, the pre-contact city of Monte Albán, one of the most imposing and best-managed archaeological sites in Mexico. Visitor facilities would benefit from further investment."
"Oaxaca has an energetic, enlightened populace. The social/cultural integrity is extremely high—the artistic community includes painters, weavers, ceramicists, woodworkers, and chefs from the culinary arts. Oaxaca is the place many Mexicans visit when they take a vacation and want to see Mexico. Good pre-Columbian archaeological sites, as well as colonial churches and monasteries."
"It seems that the growth of tourism is compromising some of the character of Oaxaca. There is a large amount of redundant vendors in all of the popular tourism locales. The architecture, including Monte Albán, is well preserved and makes this area wonderful for walking and enjoying the rich heritage."
"Considering the volume of tourism it receives, I think Oaxaca is doing a good job of keeping tourism focused on the cultural jewels of the region: fine arts and ancient traditions, indigenous languages, cuisine, etc. The biggest challenge will be for the city's infrastructure to cope with the continued growth."
"Oaxaca is overwhelmingly populated by artists and people with artistic sensibilities, and they have done a fine job of retaining its historic character and protecting the place they love. Unlike other parts of Mexico where tourism equals environmental and cultural destruction, Oaxaca's commercial success depends on its continued self-preservation. That dependency will help safeguard its future."
"More trees should be planted (rather than cut down to clear space for vendors' stands at the plazas)."
Mexico: Sian Ka'an and environs
Score: 58
"Sian Ka'an and the whole of Costa Maya are under extremely high tourism pressure. Only thanks to the World Heritage and Man and Biosphere status has Sian Ka'an managed to remain relatively undeveloped to date. Sian Ka'an, with its important forest, mangrove, sea grass and coral reef areas is of high environmental and ecological quality and therefore has great aesthetic appeal to visitors. The site also offers a number of activities (diving, fishing, hiking, bird-watching, etc.) that help to make it a valuable experience for a visitor."
"Global warming. This is a fragile area that was hit by the edges of two hurricanes last year. With increased severity and number of hurricanes, it will get hammered more and more, and the complex relationship between the land, lagoons, and reef will be disrupted. This is one of the few areas where the local Maya actually can make a direct living from tourism, working primarily as guides in the lagoon areas. The NGO 'Amigos de Sian Ka'an' has been really helpful, and now there are others getting involved. Cesiak, an eco-hotel in the biosphere, is a good example of an eco-hotel."
"Tourism development inside Sian Ka'an is still bearable, but outside areas are quickly becoming overdeveloped. Local people benefit from the development, but it should be considered how much development is too much, and what kind of visitation is desirable to sustain the features the current visitors are interested in seeing. Tourists could be better informed on their impacts to the fragile environment than they currently are. Many tour operators are also not acting in a sustainable manner. Enormous amounts of rubbish on beaches (even in Sian Ka'an) diminish visitor appeal and the overall quality of the site."
"Those who visit are thrilled by the multilevel rain forest, and by vibrant Maya communities in planned visits. Civil strife is always possible and has added security concerns which far outweigh environmental risks."
"Relentless development pressure and increasing visitation. Local private operators continue to minimize financial benefits to local communities. There is mounting tension and discord between the different communities. Continued meddling by international NGOs often creates more conflict at the local level and gives an unfair advantage to the select few who participate in their specific programs."
