Resumo: At the end of the twentieth century, in the Yucatan Peninsula, there was an expansion of social enterprises that provided tourism services. Most alternative tourism companies opted for Cooperatives as the form of organization, and they have operated since then mostly in the rural territory of the peninsula. Their organization has been linked to the guidelines of the State and external agents, so that the living conditions of farmers may be improved. By studying some concrete cases, we have discussed the concept of social economy developed by Latin American authors and seldom used in the study of tourism co-operatives in Mexico. This concept has been considered as a tool of analysis because it provides elements for the critical interpretation of these organizations.
