The inspiration, meaning, and craftsmanship behind the piece that celebrates excellence at the golf tournaments at El Camaleón Mayakoba.

Surrounded by mangroves, tropical jungle, and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, El Camaleón is one of Mexico’s most iconic golf courses. Designed by Greg Norman and renowned for its seamless integration with nature, it has earned global acclaim and a place in history: it’s the first and only course in the world to have hosted PGA TOUR, LIV Golf, LPGA, AJGA, and LACC tournaments.

In May 2025, this extraordinary course welcomed the LPGA Riviera Maya Open, marking the tournament’s return to Mexico after an eight-year absence. A celebration of elite women’s golf, the event reaffirmed Mayakoba’s standing as a destination where sport, culture, and artistry are in constant dialogue.

Within this context, the trophy awarded to the champions at El Camaleon, takes on a deeper meaning. Designed by renowned Mexican artisans at the Jacobo and María Ángeles workshop, this wood-carved sculpture is not just a prize; it’s a reflection of the inner strength, patience, and precision that define the game of golf. 

Based in San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico, their studio is internationally acclaimed for preserving and reimagining Zapotec iconography through masterful craftsmanship, especially in the creation of alebrijes, brightly painted figures that blend animal forms with mythological elements. Their pieces have been exhibited in major museums and collected around the world, each one a testament to cultural heritage and artistic innovation. This trophy is no exception. Every detail, every brushstroke, is meant to honor more than victory alone: it celebrates a way of playing, and a way of living.

El Camaleón: A Watchful Figure In Stillness

The trophy depicts a chameleon: a creature that shares its name with the course and also carries symbolism of transformation and control. It’s not a passive figure; its stillness is deliberate, focused.

“I imagined that moment just before a golfer takes the shot,” explains Ricardo Ángeles, son of Jacobo and María Ángeles and now the creative lead of the workshop. “The chameleon is still, but alert. It’s conserving energy, ready to act with precision.”

Its colors, carefully chosen, echo the landscape of Mayakoba. A warm-toned orange body contrasts with green accents that evoke the course’s lush surroundings. A bold crest adds depth and character. Nothing is ornamental: every element is there with intention.

The Visual Language Of Zapotec Symbolism

Beyond form and posture, the trophy is a surface for storytelling. Its patterns draw on the symbolic language of Zapotec culture, each element selected to narrate a journey of effort, transformation, and meaning.

“In Zapotec tradition, symbols are not used to decorate; they describe,” Ricardo explains. “A house on a mountain, with the sun and a butterfly, isn’t just a beautiful scene. It tells a story of balance, of life in harmony.”

The motifs on the trophy are abstractions inspired by Zapotec codices, reimagined by the workshop’s design team. Among them:

• The house, a symbol of shelter, doesn’t refer to the individual; it speaks of community. A reminder that no triumph is built alone.
• The ant, marching forward as a group, carries leaves larger than itself. It represents collective work, quiet perseverance, and how one leads the path for the next.
• The sun, appearing after the storm, marks the moment when it is safe to begin again. For ancient Zapotec farmers, this was the time to plant new hope.
• The butterfly, delicate and fleeting, is a lucky reward that reveals itself only when the world around it is in harmony.
• The mountain, sacred for its closeness to the heavens, is a symbol of clarity, connection, and reverence.
• The snake, drawn in sharp, triangular lines, represents channeled energy and power in motion, with purpose.
• The labyrinth, going from head to tail along the chameleon’s back, represents a path filled with decisions, detours, and growth. It’s a reminder that every victory begins with choosing again and again to be there and be better.

Each stroke adds a layer of meaning. Together, they transform the trophy into an object that honors the moment of triumph and the personal journey that made it possible.

A Craft Rooted In Precision

Each trophy is hand-carved from copal wood, a material native to the region and considered sacred in many Mesoamerican cultures. Soft enough to shape but demanding in its handling, copal allows for intricate forms while requiring care and respect.

The process involves 11 artisans, from wood selection and treatment to carving, painting, and finishing. The sculpting alone can take up to three weeks, while the painting process may last over a month.

Although the trophy’s design remains consistent year after year, no two pieces are the same. “The structure is identical, but each one has its own energy,” explains Ricardo. “The brushstrokes, the pigments, the small details… every piece is unique.”

That commitment to detail extends far beyond the object. The Jacobo and María Ángeles workshop is the only one of its kind with an active landscape restoration program: a long-term initiative that gives back to the land that provides for their craft. The wood becomes art, and the art becomes regeneration.

A Tribute To Discipline

For its creators, the trophy is more than a ceremonial gesture. It’s a shared message across two worlds –sports and craftsmanship– that recognizes a common value: discipline.

“We believe the piece demands the same qualities as the sport: focus, endurance, consistency,” says Ricardo. “Technology will evolve, but discipline, when it’s rooted in passion, will always be a uniquely human strength. We put as much discipline into creating this trophy as the champion put into earning it.”

Built with care and intention, the trophy for those who win at El Camaleón is a profound celebration of victory. It carries the story of those who shaped it and the one who earned the right to hold it and call it their own.

At Mayakoba, every gesture has meaning. Click here to book your stay and discover the place where art, excellence, and nature meet in perfect harmony.

Looking for more inspiration for your next trip to Mayakoba? Check out these stories:

• El Camaleón Mayakoba: A Legendary Golf Course
• Best Golf Courses in Mexico: Everything You Need To Know About El Camaleón In Mayakoba
• El Camaleón Golf Mexico is a Course for Champions