{"id":36269,"date":"2025-05-21T13:01:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/?p=36269"},"modified":"2025-05-21T13:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:01:59","slug":"sayulita-stands-up-march-to-defend-mal-paso-and-our-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/sayulita-stands-up-march-to-defend-mal-paso-and-our-beaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Sayulita Stands Up: March to Defend Mal Paso and Our Beaches"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><em>Community Action Sparks Historic Agreements \u2014 But the Fight Is Far from Over<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><img width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-public-id=\"wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"cld-overwrite alignleft size-large wp-post-36269 wp-image-36297\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1024,h_576,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"\" data-version=\"1747852900\" data-seo=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1024,h_576,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA 1024w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_300,h_169,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_768,h_432,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1536,h_864,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA 1536w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_2048,h_1152,c_scale\/v1747852900\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6859\/IMG_6859.jpg?_i=AA 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>A Movement Rooted in Protection and Unity<\/h3>\n<p>A powerful community-led march took place in Sayulita to <strong>protest the Belmond hotel development<\/strong> and defend <strong>Mal Paso beach<\/strong> \u2014 one of the region\u2019s most ecologically and culturally important areas. Concerns over <strong>privatization, deforestation, and restricted beach access<\/strong> brought residents, environmental advocates, and local leaders together in a unified call for accountability.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mal Paso<\/strong>, a remote and beloved beach located north of Sayulita, has long been accessible via an ancestral trail connecting to San Pancho. The recent closure of this trail and surrounding access points raised red flags for the community \u2014 sparking outrage, but also unprecedented momentum.<\/p>\n<h3>March Summary &amp; Goals<\/h3>\n<p><strong>By Jessica Adams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The march was sparked by the community\u2019s concern after the <strong>closure of public beach access<\/strong> and the <strong>ancestral path between Sayulita and San Pancho<\/strong>. That collective pressure led to something rarely seen: a <strong>formal meeting with the developers<\/strong>, local associations, and the municipal and state governments \u2014 where key agreements were reached.<\/p>\n<h4>\u2705 What We Achieved:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Protection of the ancestral path<\/strong> as an ecological trail<\/li>\n<li><strong>Guarantee of public access points<\/strong> to the beach<\/li>\n<li><strong>Commitment to honor the 10% land donation<\/strong> required by law for public use<\/li>\n<li><strong>A formal commitment by the developers to reforest<\/strong> areas impacted by deforestation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36271\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36271\" style=\"width: 451px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img width=\"451\" height=\"254\" data-public-id=\"wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid wp-post-36269 wp-image-36271\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_451,h_254,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1747793833\" data-seo=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_300,h_169,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1024,h_576,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA 1024w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_768,h_432,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1536,h_864,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA 1536w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_2048,h_1152,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793833\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6876\/IMG_6876.jpg?_i=AA 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36271\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photography by Greer Fawcett \/\/ @greerfawcett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During the march, <strong>Jessica Adams L\u00f3pez<\/strong> \u2014 representing <strong>Grupo Pro Sayulita<\/strong> and the legacy of her grandmother, T\u00eda Adriana \u2014 reminded everyone that this fight is <strong>bigger than any single development<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #ccc; margin: 20px; padding-left: 15px;\"><p>\u201cWe want future developers and governments to respect the community, our lands, and our heritage. We want them to integrate into Sayulita, not just come in and do as they please.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She also emphasized the power of <strong>unity<\/strong> \u2014 not just within Sayulita, but across the entire bay:<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #ccc; margin: 20px; padding-left: 15px;\"><p>\u201cWhat\u2019s happening here is happening all across Mexico \u2014 beaches being taken, traditions erased. This movement is about protecting what belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>More Than Mal Paso: A Fight for All Beaches<\/h3>\n<p>While the Mal Paso agreements marked real progress, <strong>the fight is far from over.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many residents remain concerned about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ongoing deforestation of the jungle<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The <strong>illegal wall built on federal land<\/strong> at the beach before the cemetery (official name unknown)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This sacred beach \u2014 known for its calm waters and long history as a gathering place for local families \u2014 was suddenly closed off. Its privatization became a <strong>symbol of what\u2019s at stake<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to <strong>redirect the march toward the wall<\/strong> was intentional:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To draw <strong>national attention<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>To demand that <strong>SEMARNAT<\/strong> <strong>remove the illegal wall<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>And to <strong>restore the federal beach for public access<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It was also a powerful show of <strong>solidarity between Sayulita and San Pancho,<\/strong> sending a clear message:<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"border-left: 4px solid #ccc; margin: 20px; padding-left: 15px;\"><p><strong>We are organized. We are united. And we are ready to defend our beaches.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><img width=\"1024\" height=\"532\" data-public-id=\"wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid alignleft wp-post-36269 wp-image-36272 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1024,h_532,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1747793947\" data-seo=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1024,h_532,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA 1024w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_300,h_156,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA 300w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_768,h_399,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA 768w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_1536,h_798,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA 1536w, https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/sayulitalife\/images\/w_2048,h_1064,c_scale\/w_1920\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1747793947\/wordpress_assets\/IMG_6897\/IMG_6897.jpg?_i=AA 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><em>Photo by Greer Fawcett \/\/ @greerfawcett<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"525\"><strong data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"94\">Important Sayulita &gt; San Pancho Ancestral Trail Update:<\/strong><br data-start=\"94\" data-end=\"97\" \/>The ancestral trail connecting Sayulita and San Pancho crosses private property that is currently under construction. Due to safety concerns and liability risks\u2014particularly as trees are being cleared and heavy equipment is in use\u2014the trail must remain closed to the public until construction is complete. We understand how important this trail is to the community and visitors, and we appreciate your patience during this time.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"965\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Beach access to Playa Mal Paso remains available, and efforts are underway to improve access from the Kestos area (North Beach, Sayulita). Additionally, the government is collaborating with landowners between Sayulita and San Pancho to establish official beach access points along the coast (commonly referred to as <em data-start=\"843\" data-end=\"860\">ventanas al mar<\/em>), though this process will take time. For now, please plan to access Playa Mal Paso via the beach route.<\/p>\n<h3>About the Author: Jessica Adams L\u00f3pez<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Jessica Adams L\u00f3pez<\/strong> is a community organizer and passionate advocate for Sayulita\u2019s cultural and environmental heritage. She manages her grandmother\u2019s historic hotel \u2014 originally known as Villa Buena Salud, later renamed T\u00eda Adriana\u2019s Bed and Breakfast, and now proudly operating as Hotel Sayulita Central.<\/p>\n<p>As the granddaughter of T\u00eda Adriana, one of the town\u2019s earliest and most respected foreign residents, Jessica honors her roots by fighting for sustainable development, the protection of public spaces, and the unity of the community.<\/p>\n<p>Through her work with Grupo Pro Sayulita and other grassroots efforts, she continues to defend the soul of Sayulita \u2014 for the families of today and generations to come.<\/p>\n<p><em>\ud83d\udcf8 Photo credit and heartfelt thanks to local photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greerfawcett.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Greer Fawcett<\/a> for generously capturing the spirit and strength of this movement.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Community Action Sparks Historic Agreements \u2014 But the Fight Is Far from Over A Movement Rooted in Protection and Unity A powerful community-led march took place in Sayulita to protest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":36275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sayulita-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sayulitalife.com\/sayulero\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}