The Costa Maya is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and starts in the south at the Belize border and continues for approximately 100 miles north terminating at the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. The world’s second largest barrier reef passes just off-shore from the Costa Maya and it is known for its world class snorkeling, scuba diving and fly fishing.
There are only two towns with any appreciable population, Mahahual is located near the center of the Costa Maya and is close to a cruise ship port. Several thousand people live there, many of whom are employed by businesses that cater to the tourists that disembark from the cruise ships. Mahahual has seen rapid growth over the last decade including construction of small hotels and condominiums. Xcalak is a small village located in the southern part of the Costa Maya that has approximately 400 inhabitants who make their living from fishing and servicing eco-tourists that come there for sport fishing and diving. There is a growing ex-pat community there as well.
The Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak is a ecologically protected area that starts at the border of Belize and includes Xcalak and the coast north to a point approximately halfway between Xcalak and Mahahual. Both Mahahual and Xcalak are departure points for dive trips to the Chinchorro Banks atoll reef system that is located approximately 20 miles offshore.
From Mahahual north to the Sian Kaan and from Mahahual south to Xcalak there is beachfront property that is divided into parcels of various sizes. Although a number of houses have been built on the coast there are still miles of undeveloped beachfront property there. There are regulations in place that prescribe what can be built on these lots and how much vegetation can be removed to accommodate construction. There are protected species of plants that cannot be removed as well. There are many things to consider when purchasing a building lot or existing house in the Costa Maya. We have been guiding our clients through this process for the last 15 years.
