On the sun-drenched coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, a fierce debate is unfolding over the fate of Punta Colorada, the last untouched beach in Puerto Escondido. Environmentalists, local residents, and government officials are locked in a struggle that pits conservation against development, and at stake is a fragile ecosystem home to endangered species as well as the future of tourism in the region.
According to a report published on September 3, 2025, by UnoTV, Punta Colorada is under threat from a proposed tourism project that would see the construction of seven hotel lots, five commercial lots, and 13 residential lots sprawled across 111 hectares within a designated ecological reserve in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec. The land, currently owned by the Government of Oaxaca, has become the battleground for competing visions of progress and preservation.
The roots of the controversy stretch back to 2023, when a judge issued a definitive suspension halting construction of the tourist complex. The legal intervention was prompted by a groundswell of opposition from activists and local residents who feared the irreversible consequences of large-scale development on a pristine landscape. As Almendra Gómez Leyva, an activist from the association Salvemos Colorada, put it, "This type of exploitation implies a great environmental harm because these 111 hectares of Colorada are the last part of low deciduous forest in Puerto Escondido, the last green part." Her words echo the growing anxiety felt by many who see the project not as progress, but as a looming threat to their natural heritage.
For biologists and environmentalists, the dangers are clear and immediate. Alison Raymundo Pérez, who oversees the Punta Colorada turtle conservation camp, warns, "The development has many impacts: first, deforestation; second, excessive lighting; and third, the total transformation of a natural area into an urban one." The region is a vital habitat for an array of species, including bats, lizards, and two critically endangered sea turtles—the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). Both species rely on the undisturbed beaches for nesting, and any disruption to this delicate balance could have devastating consequences.
Beyond the environmental toll, critics argue that the project would also restrict public access to Punta Colorada, effectively privatizing a space that has long been shared by locals and visitors alike. Gómez Leyva is unequivocal in her assessment: "More than development, it is a dispossession because these types of hotels privatize the beach and limit access for locals to enjoy it." The prospect of losing the last open stretch of coastline has galvanized the community, sparking protests and a sustained legal battle to halt the project.
Municipal authorities have found themselves in the eye of the storm. Miguel Ángel Olvera Jiménez, the president of San Pedro Mixtepec, has sought to clarify the government's position, stating, "In case it was to be done, it was going to be put to public scrutiny, in a citizen consultation. That was the last thing mentioned; we have no further information." His comments reflect the uncertainty surrounding the project’s future, as well as the mounting pressure on officials to balance economic ambitions with environmental stewardship.
While the proposed development has been stalled by the courts, the legal struggle continues. As of September 2025, citizens and environmentalists are maintaining a legal injunction (amparo) to prevent any advancement in the ecological reserve. The case has become a rallying point for conservationists across Mexico, who see Punta Colorada as emblematic of broader challenges facing the nation’s protected areas.
Meanwhile, in a nearby corner of Oaxaca, another story of tourism is unfolding—one that offers a stark contrast to the high-stakes battle at Punta Colorada. On September 4, 2025, the Dirección de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo in the municipality of Jiménez announced the formation of its first group of local guides. The initiative, led by Marcos Merendón, aims to strengthen visitor attention and promotion by equipping residents with the skills and knowledge needed to showcase their community’s unique assets.
The program in Jiménez is emblematic of a growing movement within Mexico to foster sustainable tourism—one that benefits local economies without sacrificing the environment. By empowering residents to serve as ambassadors for their hometowns, officials hope to create a model of tourism that is inclusive, respectful, and rooted in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The contrast with the situation in Punta Colorada could not be more striking.
As the debate over Punta Colorada rages on, it raises fundamental questions about the path forward for tourism in Mexico and beyond. Can economic development coexist with environmental protection? Is it possible to welcome visitors without destroying the very landscapes that draw them in the first place? For many in Oaxaca, the answer lies not in grandiose resorts or exclusive enclaves, but in community-driven initiatives that place stewardship at the heart of the tourism experience.
The battle for Punta Colorada is far from over. With the legal injunction still in place and a citizen consultation promised if the project advances, the future of the beach hangs in the balance. What is clear, however, is the determination of local residents and environmentalists to defend their last stretch of wild coastline. Their efforts have already set a precedent, demonstrating the power of collective action in the face of powerful interests.
In the end, the story of Punta Colorada is more than a local dispute; it is a microcosm of the global struggle to reconcile growth with conservation. As one beach stands on the brink, the choices made in Oaxaca will resonate far beyond its shores, offering lessons—and perhaps warnings—for communities everywhere.
