Miles and miles of deserted white sands line the coast from Punta Herrero to Xcalak. This is the Costa Maya, one of Mexico´s hidden treasures. A new destination, it´s the Caribbean as it should be, exciting, exotic and full of promise.

A chain of reefs, part of the second longest barrier reef in the world, shadows the Costa Maya. Behind the reef, the Caribbean is a patchwork of rippling turquoise and blue. Small waves caress the shoreline.
The reef is an underwater garden of corals and sponges inhabited by multicolored fish, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine creatures. Visibility reaches 210 feet in some places and there are plenty of snorkel and dive sites, many of them unexplored. Expert divers can experience the thrill of venturing where no man has been before.

The Costa Maya offers fishermen twin challenges; sport fishing and fly fishing. The deep waters beyond the reef are the realm of marlin, sailfish and dorado, not to mention a host of lesser species. Tarpon, snook and permit are abundant in the coastal lagoons of Sian Ka´an and the Costa Maya. In keeping with the ecological creed of the Mexican Caribbean, all fishing is catch and release.
The area has great potential for nautical tourism; yachtsmen can explore the bays, channels and lagoons along the coast and sail south through the Zaragoza Channel to the Chetumal Bay-Rio Hondo waterway.

Chinchorro, reefs of legend

A two-hour boat trip across a deep channel is Chichorro Bank (19 miles offshore), the largest coral atoll in the Americas. Some 240 square miles of jagged reef and a shallow reef lagoon with three cays scattered over its surface, Chinchorro is Costa Maya´s greatest attraction.

Spectacular coral formations and abundant marine life aside, Chinchorro offers divers excitement few other reefs can match: it´s a ships´ graveyard. The sea floor is littered with the wrecks of vessels that have foundered on the corals over the centuries. Divers can explore Spanish galleons and the rusting hulks of modern cargo ships.

In order to protect Chinchorro´s reefs and marine life, the Mexican government recently declared it a reserve.

Dive excursions to Chinchorro can be arranged in Majahual or Xcalak.

Communications

Access to the Costa Maya has improved dramatically and more investment in land, air and sea communications and transport links is foreseen.

By land

Highway 307 is the state´s north-south highway which links Cancun and all the points in the Riviera Maya to Chetumal. The turnoff to Costa Maya is clearly marked just after the community of Limones. From there, the road traverses a stretch of jungle to Cafetal and then turns south to Majahual. The jungle disappears and is replaced by marshland and mangroves nearer the coast . From Majahual there are road links north to Placer, Uvero and Punta Herrero, and south to the fishing community and frontier post of Xcalak.

By air

Visitors whose final destination is Costa Maya can fly to the international airports of Cancun or Cozumel. There are regular connections from both cities to Chetumal, the nearest large airport to the Costa Maya. The airports that have been built in Pulticub, Majahual and Xcalak will initially receive regular shuttle flights on smaller planes from Chetumal and other cities in Quintana Roo and the Maya World.

By sea

Costa Maya is being promoted as a cruise ship destination and a staging post on the nautical tourism route through the western Caribbean. Yachtsmen sailing south from Isla Mujeres and Cozumel and the Riviera Maya will find a variety of idyllic spots awaiting them along the Costa Maya. They can explore Xcalak-Chetumal Bay-Hondo River waterways before continuing on their voyage south through Belizean waters to Rio Dulce in Guatemala and the Bay Islands in Honduras. Marina facilities are being built at several spots along the coast to cater for yachts.
Visitors bound for the Costa Maya from Chetumal no longer have to drive to Limones and take the Cafetal-Majahual road to the coast. They can now hop on a ferry which will take them across Chetumal Bay to La Aguada, on the outskirts of Xcalak. From Xcalak transport will be available to take them to their final destination.

Coastal communities

Apart from the occasional ranch or tiny village , the Costa Maya is virtually uninhabited, one of the things that makes it so precious in the eyes of visitors searching for communion with nature.
The fishing villages of Majahual and Xcalak are the Costa Maya´s most important communities. Already the site of several hotels, both offer plenty of business opportunities.
The Costa Maya is the Mexican Caribbean´s newest destination. With 29,500 hectares of land available for hotels and other projects, it is an exciting prospect for investors.

Ecotourism

The beaches of the Costa Maya are backed by palm groves, dunes, wetlands and a web of lagoons, with the jungle stretching away into a hazy distance. Bird watching trips to Sian Ka´an and Uaymil reserves and the Xcalak area are available and a host of mangrove-rimmed canal await discovery.

A Plan for Development

Tourism development along the Costa Maya is see as a means of stimulating the economy of Southern Quintana Roo, by providing an alternative to the traditional activities of farming and forestry. State authorities believe that it will create jobs and additional revenue and in a long term could also generate opportunities in the light industry, commerce, services and even the agricultural sector.
With almost three million tourists visiting Cancun alone every year, there is certainly a large potential market for Southern Quintana Roo, particularly as more and more people are looking for ´´ back to nature ´´ destinations and new experiences. Statistics for 1999 point to a 38.7% increase in the number of European visitors to Cancun, from the previous year. In view of their preference for the Riviera Maya, it is this sector, in conjunction with special interest groups (divers, fishermen, ecotourists, etc.), that is likely to be attracted to the Costa Maya.
Furthermore, given the success of Cancun and the dramatic growth of tourism on the Riviera Maya , development is inevitable in the south, along the Costa Maya.

Low impact tourism

The kind of tourist development envisaged for the Costa Maya and for Southern Quintana Roo as a whole, is low impact and low density. This means small groups visiting nature reserves, beaches, reefs, archaeological sites and Mayan communities; hotels that blend into the natural setting and controlled development that doesen´t place a strain on local resources. In a nutshell, the Costa Maya will always be an exclusive destination.

Development Zones

The University of Quintana Roo formulated the Ecological Plan for development of the Costa Maya. Maps of the Coast were drawn up showing the geographical distribution of ecosystems along the shoreline and their health in different areas. The coast was then divided into units or lots, and the development areas were identified. Planners utilized National Ecology Institute regulations to map areas suitable for:

-Sustainable Use
-Conservation, limited development potential
-Protection, due to the immense value of the ecosystems
-Restoration. This policy has not been applied to the Costa Maya, because area ecosystems show few changes caused by development

Depending on its ranking, each lot - 82 coastal units and 25 marine units - is subject to different environmental controls which determine the kind of development which can take place.
All projects must be low density, thus avoiding overcrowding, uncontrolled growth and damage to the environment.

A Master Plan

An American company called Koll International developed the Costa Maya Master Plan. It proposed the creation of 18 tourist centers along the coast, some with marinas, golf courses and other facilities. However the authorities recently decided to revise the Master plan and make it more flexible, thus rendering the area more attractive to developers.

Government Support

By 1998 the state government and federal authorities had already invested $ 120 million Pesos in Costa Maya infrastructure.

Highways upgraded, Limones - Costa Maya, Work underway on Route 307, Tulúm - Chetumal stretch to be four-lane highway. New roads, Majahual - Xcalak · Xcalak - La Aguada · Majahual - Placer. Access roads to Laguna Agua Dulce and Punta Herradura · Rio Huach Bridge

Electricity Is now available along the Costa Maya

Ports, Docks in Chetumal, Majahual and Xcalak improved, New cruise ship terminal in Majahual, Docks and terminals for tenders, Chetumal Bay ferry service with new boats, marina facilities
And waiting room at La Aguada, Dredging of the Zaragoza Canal, Visitors´ Center on the Chinchorro Atoll.

Airports, new airstrips and terminals an Xcalak and Pulticub, larger airport in Majahual.

Public sector investment doesn´t end here, there are more projects in the offing, with an investment of at least 100 million pesos more, making the Costa Maya an increasingly attractive investment option for Mexicans and foreigners alike.

Hotels

Currently operating in the Costa Maya are 22 exclusive hotels. They collectively offer 222 rooms, diving, sport fishing and other services. In the short term more tourist development are expected along the ´´corridor´´ . Several will open in a few months time and construction of the rest is expected to start soon.
Costa Maya hotels exemplify the concept of rustic luxury. They blend into the idyllic setting and offer guests a range of services without the undesirable aspects of modernity.

Construction styles

Resort developments favor the architectural styles of the Tropics. There are thatched bungalows inspired by the timeless Mayan dwelling, Mediterranean-style villas and tropical palapas which could have been transported from the South Pacific. Some developers are even contemplating luxury stilt hotels or floating eco-establishments.
Native building materials, for example, stone, tropical hardwoods, marble and thatch are popular and environmentally friendly.

Other developments

Apart from hotels and residential properties, there is scope for investment in tourism-related services such as restaurants and bars, marinas, boat charters, dive and sport fishing companies, travel agencies and transport, among others.

Building regulations

In keeping with Costa Maya environmental regulations, all hotel developments must be low density projects. Depending on the area in which the project is located, between 10, 15 and 35 rooms are permitted per hectare. A maximum of three stories is allowed for buildings.
Hotels and residential projects must have their own water purification and waste treatment plants.
The regulations stipulate that at least 50% of the land should be left as green areas, either as gardens or with their original vegetation. Areas affected by construction must be reforested and gardens planted with species native to the area.

Making your investment work

Government planners expect the number of visitors to the Costa Maya to grow around 25% annually. The area is suitable for adults and families alike and its exclusivity means that investment returns are likely to be higher than in the larger resorts in northern Quintana Roo. In fact, Costa Maya investors can expect returns at least 15% higher than in other areas.

Publicity

The Promotion of Southern Quintana Roo as ´´The Road to Mayan Adventure´´ began in 1998 with the launch of a publicity campaign geared towards domestic and international markets. Sponsored by the State Tourist Board, the campaign highlighted the natural and historical attractions in the area, including the Costa Maya. It also positioned Chetumal as the gateway to Southern Quintana Roo and the sites of interest in neighboring Campeche, Belize and Guatemala.
A general brochure and three theme booklets (Nature, Underwater World, History and Traditions) were published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Dutch. They were sent to travel agencies in the resorts of the Mexican Caribbean, other parts of the country, United States, Canada and Europe, and distributed in international travel fairs. Other promotional materials include videos, posters and a website. Promotion has since continued in Mexico and abroad, with particular emphasis on the Costa Maya.