Resumo: As part of a doctoral dissertation, and through theoretical, descriptive and observational research based on correlational descriptive and experimental theoretical methods, the leading role of the landscape and its resources in the creation and consolidation of coastal tourist destinations is examined, particularly in the case of Cancun. The study also considers the need for the conservation of the landscape in order to ensure its continuity and that of tourism in the destination. Due to the beauty of the landscape, its virgin beaches, its jungle areas and the low population density, the territory of Cancun was chosen to create a high density tourism resort. The construction of the tourism infrastructure modified the original landscape of the destination, giving rise to a new one, anthropized, but with a unique physiognomy that has allowed it to remain among the favorite destinations of international tourism. However, it is important to analyze how the development of a destination can lead to the transformation of the territory in such short periods of time and, in spite of continuing to preserve its value for tourism, in the short or medium term, landscape transformations can be so profound that they impede the existence of quality or exceptional landscapes to be offered by tourism.
