In the field of cultural heritage conservation, it is still common to hear that cultural heritage has an intrinsic value worth conserving. Herewith I take a look at the notion of intrinsic value, examining each of its possible meanings, and discussing the consequences it has on the understanding, use and protection of cultural heritage. As a result, I conclude that despite the fact that this notion has been criticized, it is still used in the way cultural heritage is conceived, both in Mexico and in the discourse of the World Heritage Centre. This notion is also incorporated implicitly in the Mexican heritage legislation, as well as in the practice of conservation. The resulting conception constitutes an essentialist and uncritical perspective than emphasizes heritage cultural values but overlooks the social agents that confer such values.