Long ignored by investors that mainly had their eye on Cancun and Playa Del Carmen for many years, the attention is now drawn towards the southern part of the State of Quintana Roo, to a place called Mahahual. Mahahual, a traditional fishing village, is located on Mexico's Southern Caribbean in the southern most part of the State of Quintana Roo. Known as the Mayan Coast (“Costa Maya”), the town of Mahahual is at the geographic center of the coast. Having slumbered for hundreds of years, this once sleepy fishing village is now beginning to awaken to the attraction of eco-tourism. Located just south of the huge 1,500,000 acre Sian Ka'an wildlife preserve, Mahahual has recently been discovered by tourists from North America and has been welcoming cruise ships since 2002. It is the second largest cruise ship destination in Mexico.

An ancient maritime trading post of the Mayan Empire is brought anew as the most adventurous port of call in the Mexican Caribbean. Abundant with unexplored natural wonders and nestled in the jungle are mysterious Mayan sacred ruins. Because of its tropical location, latitude 18 degrees, 40 minutes north, or only 1,120 miles north of the equator, Mahahual's crystalline clear waters are always warm. A chain of reefs, part of the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest in the world, shadows the Costa Maya and behind this massive natural barrier the sea is calm and the waves caress the shore. Here divers can discover countless beautiful coral formations, sponges, sea turtles, dolphins, sea horses, manatees, and thousands of sport and reef fish. Mahahual is natural springs, lagoons and rivers. Explore the jungle, nature reserves, archaeological sites and enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean jungle and its numerous forms of wildlife.

As the Caribbean’s newest cruise ship destination, Mahahual is now home to a new cruise ship dock and mall. A new power station and water plant were recently completed. New roads and electrical lines are now being installed on Costa Maya both north and south of Mahahual. To further attract nautical tourism, several marinas have been targeted for completion along Costa Maya at Xcalak, Mahahual and El Uvero.

The Costa Maya is a government sponsored investment to rejuvenate the economy of the southern part of the State of Quintana Roo. As government improvements along the Costa Maya progress, real estate prices continue to rise, but are still well below the prices to the north. Improvements include new roads and highways, fiber optics, electricity, marinas, and three airports. Major private sector improvements include a cruise ship dock, an oceanfront shopping mall, resort hotels, a beach club/marina, and professional golf course. Between 1997 and 2002, Playa Del Carmen became the fastest growing city in the world with over 5,000,000 tourists each year. In its 2003 Summer Report, AMDENTUR reported an increase in real estate sales values that almost tripled for this time period. The Costa Maya is being developed by the same Federal and State Development Agencies that developed Playa Del Carmen and Cancun. As we approach 2009 we have already seen a spike in real estate transactions in the Costa Maya region and it is estimated that real estate values in the Mahahual area will outperform those of its northern counterparts.

Mahahual real estate is an unusually good value, especially compared to coastal living in many other parts of the world. Mahahual has retained its natural beauty, even with its close proximity to Cancun just to the north. Environmental regulations protect Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya from becoming another tourist spot in the Caribbean. Real estate in the area is, for the most part, zoned for residential living to preserve its natural beauty. Real estate prices along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline fluctuate dramatically based on location. Properties in well known tourist spots like Cancun and Acapulco consistently sell for more than one million dollars while plots in lesser known spots like Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya region sell for as low as $60,000 USD.

Mahahual and the surrounding Costa Maya area are fast becoming the focus of those wishing to purchase Caribbean real estate and achieve a life of purposeful relaxation. The average monthly temperature in the area ranges from 73 degrees Fahrenheit to 82 degrees Fahrenheit; warm enough to leave the windows open all year long and let the sweet tropical breezes fill your beachside home.  With new foreign-friendly real estate ownership options and an increased willingness for American banks to write loans for homes in Mexico, anyone can own a tranquil plot of Mexican Caribbean real estate by searching in the gorgeous natural regions like Mahahual. 

When one looks beyond the stunning natural wonders…..
One discovers a wonderful secure investment.