Royal Caribbean Plans Mahahual K'iin Community Center
Chosen through a community vote, the center’s name means “the sun of Mahahual,” and plans call for a soccer pitch plus basketball and volleyball courts.
Royal Caribbean Group plans to develop the Mahahual K'iin Community Center in Mahahual, Mexico, where the company owns and operates the Port of Costa Maya, expanding a community space that has operated since 2014. The facility is planned for education, recreation, cultural programming and local gatherings, with flexible programming space and outdoor sports areas.
The project would increase capacity for local programs in a location designed to be easier for residents to reach. It also comes while Royal Caribbean’s larger Costa Maya destination plan remains unresolved after Mexican authorities declined to approve Perfect Day Mexico in its current form.
Expanded facilities planned for Mahahual residents
The new name, chosen through a community vote, means “the sun of Mahahual.” Royal Caribbean said the future center is planned for the heart of town, with spaces for workshops, education and community-led events, plus a soccer pitch and basketball and volleyball courts.
“This next phase is about turning commitment into action by creating a welcoming place where children can learn, families can gather and neighbors can connect,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
Senaida Gomez, director of the Mahahual K'iin Community Center, said the expansion would “strengthen our programs and create safe spaces for children, young people and families.”
Costa Maya context and next steps
Royal Caribbean’s roughly $292 million purchase included the Costa Maya cruise port and surrounding properties in Mahahual. The deal closed in September 2024. The company took administrative control of the port in July 2025.
Costa Maya had been the proposed site for Perfect Day Mexico, a Royal Caribbean private destination plan that included a large water park, retail areas and beach clubs. The project was originally planned to open in 2027 but drew opposition from environmental groups; Mexican authorities declined to approve the plan in May, and Royal Caribbean Group and the Mexican government have been discussing other locations.
BNP Paribas analyst Xian Siew has estimated that the destination delay could run nine to 12 months, pushing a possible opening into late 2028.
Construction on Mahahual K'iin is planned to begin after Royal Caribbean obtains the required permits and approvals. The company has not disclosed a project budget or target opening date for the center.
