Based on the analysis of two legal experiences that look place in Mexico and Peru, this article examines the way in which the development of the legal protection of cultural heritage is related to the concepts of cultural rights and sustainable development. On one hand, a recent reform to the Mexican Constitution, which acknowledged the access to cultural rights, imposes the need to clarify its definition and the way it should be articulated. On the other hand, Peru recently issued two laws in order to promote investments in public and private works, which shows us that many Governments do not understand that cultural heritage protection and sustainable development can be complementary.